Many downtowns offer gift certificates or custom currency that can be redeemed with local eateries and merchants. The offerings are typically limited to a handful of locally owned cafés, restaurants, and gift shops. But in Thomasville, GA (est. pop. 18,539), Downtown Dollars are so widely used that a consumer might be able to survive on…To read more — login/subscribe
When new bike share stations were installed in downtown West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 109,767), they were located directly on city sidewalks. It’s an option that’s feasible so long as certain guidelines are met. The National Association of City Transportation Officials says cities often put bike stations on sidewalks if road space is unavailable,…To read more — login/subscribe
San Diego’s North Park neighborhood was built in the 1920s. In the 2020s, it’s turning into a hub for high-end food, microbrews, and other hallmarks of urban affluence. The Urban Land Institute calls the neighborhood the “Brooklyn of San Diego.” The commercial district is filled with yoga studios and fitness centers. There’s an independent bookstore,…To read more — login/subscribe
Funding public art Haikus popped up on sidewalks in the Bluebird Business Improvement District in Denver, CO. In 2019, students from a local high school selected poems, created laser-cut stencils, and painted the poems on sidewalks. The project was funded with a $5,000 grant from the P.S. You Are Here grant program. Since 2014 the…To read more — login/subscribe
During a trip to the Gulf Coast, Main Street Alabama President Mary Helmer Wirth stopped by a popular bar in Fort Walton Beach, FL. She was struck by the way the establishment combined shipping container buildings and outdoor seating in an inviting way. That visit sparked an idea: What if Alabama’s downtowns could find a…To read more — login/subscribe
In downtown Fargo, ND (est. pop. 123,736), the city has spent millions to develop downtown parking garages. In Breckenridge, CO (est. pop. 4,938), city officials introduced paid parking — but ever so cautiously. The two cities illustrate varying approaches to the age-old challenge of providing enough parking for visitors while not making rules so loose…To read more — login/subscribe
With new federal guidelines in place as of April 1, downtown leaders should gear up for an accelerated release of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Main Street America says. ARPA, the stimulus package enacted in March 2021, includes $350 billion directed to states and local governments. The idea is to help local…To read more — login/subscribe
