Newport News, VA, has seen a sharp drop-off in sales tax revenue since the start of the pandemic and has canceled several capital projects including the construction of a downtown parking garage. Mayor McKinley Prince tells NPR that the city has to make some tough decisions. “You know we can’t jeopardize our safety services like…To read more — login/subscribe
Business owners in college towns are familiar with the annual cycle of students and revenues increasing in the fall and declining in the spring. But this year it’s different for many cities and towns. In Chico, CA, home to Chico State University and 15,000 students, the university has canceled fall classes. This leaves local business…To read more — login/subscribe
As New York City begins to slowly reopen, a new issue is emerging: public urination. More and more New Yorkers are taking to the streets and public parks with to-go cocktails and beers, iced drinks, and water bottles. With restrooms at restaurants, bars, and coffee shops closed, public urination is on the rise says the…To read more — login/subscribe
The City of Santa Monica, CA, acted quickly to make it easier for new and existing businesses to open as the city recovers from the pandemic. “We’re creating opportunities and eliminating barriers for existing and new businesses alike, while retaining the thoughtful process that protects our community values,” says Mayor Kevin McKeown. The changes will…To read more — login/subscribe
As part of the re-opening plans in Peterborough, England, the city council is providing advice for shoppers. The cathedral city joined the nation in re-opening doors to non-essential shops in mid-June. All Peterborough shops and public areas have been asked to complete the government’s Covid-19 risk assessment and to display it in their windows. The…To read more — login/subscribe
Signage is an important part of reopening in Fort Lee, NJ. The Fort Lee Downtown Business Alliance is placing signage in public areas throughout the district to promote safe distancing and to remind customers to wear face coverings. The alliance is also helping local business spread the safe-reopening message within their shops and restaurants with…To read more — login/subscribe
Restaurants and bars will spill out into downtown Stillwater, MN’s, Lowell Park this spring and summer. Located along the St. Croix River, the park features a river walk, open air amphitheater, riverfront fishing, large lawns, and a pedestrian plaza with tables and chairs. The city will add picnic tables and garbage and recycling cans to…To read more — login/subscribe
The recovery from the coronavirus crisis threatens to be arduous and slow-moving. But architects Alan Pullman and Shannon Heffernan say there are steps cities and their downtowns can take now to speed the revival. Pullman and Heffernan, of urban design firm Studio One Eleven in Long Beach, CA, urge cities to use “parklets” and “flex…To read more — login/subscribe
A play on the word “parklet,” a pedlet allows for outdoor dining on the sidewalk while the adjacent parking space is converted to a pedestrian way. This arrangement allows for unobstructed travel by both pedestrians and restaurant staff. Great Falls, MT, was an early adapter of the concept, launching its first pedlet in 2017. Last…To read more — login/subscribe
