Downtown leaders in Grand Forks, ND (est. pop. 56,556), had a question: Could serving a free hot meal to hundreds of people, and encouraging them to talk to their neighbors, improve community pride and engagement? That is the premise behind Grand Forks’ Longest Table events. The experiment kicked off in 2018, when organizers assembled a…To read more — login/subscribe
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the retail landscape was changing dramatically. The COVID-19 recession has accelerated merchants’ move back to Main Street, says Robert Gibbs, director of Gibbs Planning Group Inc. Some 75 percent of suburban shopping malls and 60 percent of large outdoor shopping malls, or power centers, will close by 2025, Gibbs predicts.…To read more — login/subscribe
As your downtown grows more sophisticated, and as retailers increasingly look to invest in main street locations, developing credible and comprehensive recruitment data is ever more important. Emily Brett, senior manager of economic development at the Downtown Denver Partnership, offers these tips for developing recruitment data, and producing meaningful reports, without breaking your budget: •…To read more — login/subscribe
In Chicago and Reno, NV, downtown leaders are trying a new approach to homelessness. Instead of viewing homelessness as a criminal problem, these cities aim to guide troubled people toward solutions for their deep-seated issues. Both downtowns have hired social workers to work on the front lines. This new breed of downtown ambassadors is charged…To read more — login/subscribe
When protests in downtown Dallas turned violent in late May, protesters broke windows worth $5 million. Downtown Dallas Inc. turned lemons into lemonade — it used the boards as a canvas for a public art project. “We’re working with them to make sure it’s a pleasant and artistic experience, as opposed to just boards on…To read more — login/subscribe
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many downtowns to rethink their outdoor spaces. By summer, downtown leaders had adapted — vacant lots, sidewalks, and even streets gave way to al fresco dining. Now, though, the changing of the seasons will present a new challenge: Are downtown visitors willing to sit outside when the weather turns cold? “Everybody…To read more — login/subscribe
In normal times, Las Vegas’ casinos, conventions, and concerts bring a steady stream of visitors. During the coronavirus pandemic, however, Sin City has seen its famed Strip go unusually empty. To give local merchants a boost, the Downtown Vegas Alliance launched a “Playcation” promotion aimed at residents who are already in Vegas. “Downtown small business…To read more — login/subscribe
The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District in Washington, DC, is using rain gardens to both beautify streets and to ease flooding from heavy rains. The BID spent $1 million to install two full blocks of rain gardens on sidewalks along 19th Street, says David Suls, the organization’s senior director of planning and policy. When a…To read more — login/subscribe
The Thanksgiving Day parade in downtown Charlotte is a bona fide happening. The 74-year-old parade is the third-largest such event in the nation. It’s such a big deal that the parade airs live on Charlotte’s CBS affiliate and is syndicated to other television markets throughout the Southeast. The coronavirus pandemic didn’t care about any of…To read more — login/subscribe
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) has released a new guide, Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery. The online guide provides cities with strategies they can use to redesign and adapt streets for new uses during the pandemic and recovery. The report compiles successful practices from cities worldwide such as converting curbside lanes…To read more — login/subscribe
