The latest round of urban flight has spawned one of the great debates of the COVID-19 pandemic. Will Americans resume their shift toward urban living when the coronavirus is brought to heel? Or will they decide the suburbs suit them? Prominent economists disagree. Some say the luster of city centers already had begun to fade…To read more — login/subscribe
Every successful urban district struggles with parking — how to provide enough spaces, how to price those spaces properly, how to enforce violations. In his book Walkable City Rules, city planner and urban designer Jeff Speck offers some contrarian advice about parking. Downtown leaders need to stop serving the parking monster, and instead make parking…To read more — login/subscribe
Lancaster City, PA, is home to a thriving downtown arts community, centered on the city’s Gallery Row. Throughout the year, a half dozen events ensure that streets, restaurants, and galleries are filled with browsers, shoppers, and diners. Events include an en plein air painting day with artists working on the sidewalks in front of galleries.…To read more — login/subscribe
The Soundwalk app gives city dwellers more reasons to get outside and explore. During the height of the pandemic in New York City, composer Ellen Reid created original music to accompany a stroll through the city’s iconic Central Park. Reid utilized the Soundwalk app. The mobile app allows artists to compose audio and map it…To read more — login/subscribe
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
