In Denver’s Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood, downtown leaders have activated streets and alleyways over the past five years, an initiative that has contributed to the neighborhood’s revitalization and strong sense of place. The effort links Dairy Block, Market Station, and McGregor Square, creating what LaDonna Baertlein, director of business development at design firm DigStudio, calls…To read more — login/subscribe
Pittsburgh’s newly elected mayor says his top priority for downtown will be cleaning up the city center. During a recent meeting with downtown stakeholders, the mayor-elect said he had been walking down Smithfield Street with a state representative when the pair encountered “feces right on the street.” “Downtown is not as clean or as healthy…To read more — login/subscribe
In an effort to bring new technology to historic downtowns, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul launched DRIve EV Downtown. The program brings fast-charging stations for electric vehicles to downtowns in New York that are revitalizing and developing. The first stations will be installed in Amsterdam, NY (est. pop. 17,836). Next up are downtowns in Utica,…To read more — login/subscribe
Holiday deal and scavenger hunts The Downtown Holiday Deal Hunt got shoppers in Reno, NV, to explore new businesses and shop locally. The key to the program is that anyone who shops, eats, or plays at participating businesses has a chance to win prizes ranging from a 10 percent discount to $100 gift cards to…To read more — login/subscribe
The Colorado Springs Gateways Initiative was a clear win for the city’s downtown. The new landmark signs at the entrance to downtown are eye-catching, and the project was honored with an award from the International Downtown Association. Downtown leaders in Colorado Springs, CO (est. pop. 478,215), began planning the project in 2016, and physical installations…To read more — login/subscribe
The 37-story office building at 100 N. Main St. in Memphis, TN (est. pop. 651,088), is a reminder of both downtown’s promise and its challenges. The tower is the tallest structure in the downtown skyline. Yet it has sat empty since 2014. Thieves have harvested the copper wiring. And vandals have knocked books from the…To read more — login/subscribe
A series of public art projects — including an innovative lighting installation in a formerly dreary underpasses — has helped Lynn, MA (est. pop. 94,300), shake off its malaise. The initiative, known as Lynn Lights, garnered media attention and won praise from groups such as the Center for Community Progress. Lynn was once known as…To read more — login/subscribe
Free parking is the downtown amenity that urban purists love to hate. On the other hand, paid parking is the toll that downtown merchants despise. Alex MacLachlan of the Escondido Downtown Business Association is in the latter group. When the city council in Escondido, CA (est. pop. 151,619), proposed charging for parking at the city’s…To read more — login/subscribe
In downtown Anchorage, AK (est. pop. 288,000), Town Square Park was once a hub of antisocial activities. Through sustained efforts, the Anchorage Downtown Partnership turned the public space into a hub for community activities. The success story shows downtown leaders can make a difference without a big budget. In Anchorage, Town Square Park was transformed…To read more — login/subscribe
