Downtown Idea Exchange

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

 

Memphis isn’t the only place where Reimagining the Civic Commons is reshaping shared spaces. This nationwide initiative aims to foster engagement, equity, environmental sustainability, and economic development by revitalizing and connecting public places such as parks, plazas, trails, and libraries. Demonstration projects in 10 cities, show a “portfolio approach” to the work. Instead of concentrating…To read more — login/subscribe

 

San Diego’s Little Italy is a bustling neighborhood that’s home to thousands of new housing units and dozens of thriving businesses. There’s a food hall and many independent businesses, along with a Shake Shack, an art supply store, and several galleries. Amid the hive of activity, Marco Li Mandri, head of the Little Italy Business…To read more — login/subscribe

 

The coronavirus recession has devastated independent restaurateurs, but it hasn’t stopped the spread of commercial kitchens, those facilities that serve as co-working spaces for food trucks, caterers, and other food producers. Commercial kitchens are coming to downtown Orangeburg, SC (est. pop. 13,120), Oak Creek, WI (est. pop. 35,843), and other locations. Orangeburg City Council recently…To read more — login/subscribe

 

American vehicles keep growing bigger and bigger, a reality that presents safety challenges for pedestrians in urban centers. David Zipper, a visiting fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government, says downtown leaders need to find ways to stem an onslaught of oversized vehicles. “It’s an urban safety crisis,” Zipper…To read more — login/subscribe

 

As temperatures dipped in Syracuse, NY, the Syracuse Economic Development Corporation announced a new round of COVID-19 grant funding. Businesses with 50 or fewer full time employees are eligible for grants between $2,500 and $10,000. The funds can be used to purchase outdoor equipment such as tents, awnings, enclosures, or heaters, as well as technology…To read more — login/subscribe

 

City government, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals worked together in Ottawa, KS, to develop a much needed downtown event space. The successful project won a 2019 Crown Communities award from American City and County. The Legacy Square project features 20,000 square feet of green space, covered canopies, public restrooms, benches, and other amenities. A large pavilion…To read more — login/subscribe