Downtown Idea Exchange

• Facing years of construction, residents, leaders join forces
• New downtown group works to broaden office district’s appeal
• Downtown district plays hardball with sidewalk permits for eateries
• Downtown marketplace supports local retail
• Political protesters provide unexpected boost to downtown businesses
• Activating downtown alleyways brings new life
• New mayor vows to address foul smells, sights
• Downtowns look to electric vehicle chargers as redevelopment tool
• Idea Exchange: Quick Tips and News from Around the Country

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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

 

The coronavirus pandemic has upended downtown real estate markets. Many city centers suddenly have too much office space and not enough housing, a shift that has caught the attention of housing economists and developers. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently published an overview of downtown office buildings that have been converted to housing in…To read more — login/subscribe

 

The Fifth Street bridge in Augusta, GA, was built in 1932. By 2020, it was showing its age. A treacherous bump in the roadway forced motorists to slow down and the railing on the sidewalk was too low to be considered safe by modern standards. So in 2020, the city and the Georgia Department of…To read more — login/subscribe

 

In St. Albans, VT (est. pop. 6,804), a tax-increment financing district launched in 2012 has produced some noteworthy successes. But the TIF also led to a withering report from the state auditor, which said the city hadn’t complied with rules around TIFs.  On the plus side, St. Albans achieved its first success with the construction…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Walkers explore cities, downtowns The Newark Downtown District puts feet on the street with the NDD Walking Club. The club is temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, but at its height, the club attracted residents, workers, and students to the free mid-day walks. The club typically runs from May through October and offers walkers three…To read more — login/subscribe