The City of Grand Junction, CO, and the Downtown Development Authority are moving forward with the conversion of a section of a surface parking lot to a public plaza. The plaza will provide an informal gathering space as well as a central location for concerts and events. Importantly, it will allow main street to remain…To read more — login/subscribe
After a contentious election season, the planning commission in Petoskey, MI, will review its political sign regulations. Those standards currently include a 15-day period to remove signs after an election, and size limits depending on the area of the city. But, city officials say a wave of complaints this year has prompted a second look…To read more — login/subscribe
During the holiday season, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance and VAE Raleigh, a nonprofit community arts center, joined forces to present the Illuminate Art Walk. The walk, which ran from Dec. 11 to Jan. 8, featured 18 light installations throughout downtown. Visitors were encouraged to plan their own self-guided walking tour and to stop in for…To read more — login/subscribe
Columbus, OH (est. pop. 902,073), faced a problem familiar to many car-centric cities. There wasn’t enough parking, yet downtown workers were reluctant to take public transit. So downtown leaders spearheaded a solution, in the form of a program that gives free bus passes to many downtown workers. The program was a success — transit ridership…To read more — login/subscribe
In Chandler, AZ (est. pop. 261,149), city officials are combatting the coronavirus downturn by marketing local businesses to consumers. An “I Choose Chandler” video ad reminds viewers that the city’s restaurants, gyms, clothing boutiques, and barbershops are open for business. The spot takes a subtle dig at online retailers, and the campaign urges local residents…To read more — login/subscribe
In Wilmington, DE (est. pop. 70,164), two long-vacant lots are part of the Wilmington Alliance’s Vacant to Vibrant initiative. The economic development organization aims to provide much-needed green space, stabilize a marginalized downtown neighborhood, and empower residents to engage in the planning process. The project was anything but easy, writes Laura Semmelroth, director of creative…To read more — login/subscribe
Turning a vacant lot into an urban park can be done on a modest budget, writes Sandra Albro in the 2019 book Vacant to Vibrant: Successful Green Infrastructure Networks. Albro, project manager for several initiatives, describes projects in Gary, IN, Cleveland, and Buffalo. Each covered just one vacant lot, and costs ranged from $7,000 to…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown leaders have long debated the pros and cons of parallel parking vs. diagonal parking. Hollister, CA (est. pop. 37,835), is trying a different approach: It’s one of a handful of cities using back-in angled parking. In 2018, the city introduced back-in parking at San Benito High School. Now, it’s adding the angled spots downtown.…To read more — login/subscribe
Gregory Allen has the unwieldy job title of “site-specific ranger,” but he describes his role simply. He greets every visitor to his stretch of the Memphis riverfront, offers help when it’s needed, and attempts to defuse problem situations. “Our job is to create a welcoming and friendly environment,” says Allen, a U.S. Navy veteran who…To read more — login/subscribe
