Downtown Idea Exchange

Each month downtown leaders turn to Downtown Idea Exchange for practical news reports, how-to information, and hundreds of real-world examples of how downtowns are growing and prospering.

 


Downtown Idea Exchange, April 2020

April 1, 2020
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New streetscape calms traffic, improves pedestrian experience

March 1, 2020
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The town square of Athens, AL (est. pop. 25,176), boasts a century-old courthouse, bustling restaurants, and a church. Successful events such as a farmers market and a concert series are staged in the historic downtown. Incongruously, downtown Athens was also long home to expansive thoroughfares seemingly designed for high-speed suburban traffic, not for a quaint…To read more — login/subscribe

 

After disaster, ad campaign helps bring back visitors

March 1, 2020
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Davenport, IA (est. pop. 102,080), suffered devastating flooding in the spring of 2019. After the Mississippi River rose well beyond flood level, a flood wall broke, and downtown was inundated. The result of the historic flood was disruptive, to state the obvious. Downtown streets were under water for weeks, and typical downtown activity ground to…To read more — login/subscribe

 

In tiny towns, entrepreneurs find new uses for empty spaces

March 1, 2020
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In big cities and medium-sized metro areas, downtown leaders take for granted that the city center will be filled with grocery stores, fitness facilities, and pet-adoption centers. It’s a different story in small downtowns, however. Consumers in rural areas might have to drive for hours for basic services. That reality caught the attention of William…To read more — login/subscribe

 

To boost safety, New York City lowers some speed limits

March 1, 2020
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After an increase in pedestrian deaths along two main drags, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in January lowered the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph along Third and Hamilton avenues in Brooklyn. According to the city’s Department of Transportation, there were six pedestrian deaths recorded on Third Avenue in 2019, up…To read more — login/subscribe

 

City’s approach to homelessness ranges from mental health services to annoying music

March 1, 2020
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A public space in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 111,389), stands as a centerpiece of the city’s redevelopment. The manicured lawn offers views of the Intracoastal Waterway and glimpses of the mansions of Palm Beach. An indoor pavilion hosts weddings and other events. The park also attracts homeless people. To…To read more — login/subscribe

 

City not allowed to cite homeless for sleeping on streets

March 1, 2020
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After the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a lower court’s ruling, Boise, ID (est. pop. 228,807), can’t bring misdemeanor charges against people who sleep on the streets if they have nowhere else to go. The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the constitutional issues raised by Martin v. City of Boise is the latest development…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Fresh eyes bring new perspective

March 1, 2020
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Roger Brooks relishes the opportunity to visit a downtown for the first time. By casting a fresh, critical eye on the business district, Brooks, a branding and tourism expert, can find many areas for improvement. Sometimes he spots a conspicuous lack of benches along downtown pathways and in public spaces. He might recommend sprucing up…To read more — login/subscribe

 

After rapid expansion, scooter-share companies cut back

March 1, 2020
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In recent years, scooter-share companies went from a hipster hallmark to the bane of downtown leaders. Now, after the vehicles have become nearly ubiquitous in some downtowns, electric-scooter companies are downsizing. Electric scooter-rental startup Lime cut 14 percent of its workforce as it exited a dozen markets in the U.S. and abroad. Lime said in…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Downtown Owner’s Manual, mentorship program, help new businesses succeed

March 1, 2020
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For many downtowns, attracting and keeping businesses is a daunting task. Downtown merchants often are independent businesses that lack sophisticated support networks and deep reserves of capital. Some downtown leaders have taken pains to make life easier for business owners. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) points out several successful examples of downtowns that are…To read more — login/subscribe