The San Marcos Main Street Program kicked off its annual Love Letters from Downtown campaign by opening its Valentine mailbox in the city’s appropriately named, Kissing Alley. All letters posted in the mailbox are imprinted with a custom hallmark that reads, “Sent from Kissing Alley.” The decorated mailbox is open for business from late January…To read more — login/subscribe
Enhanced lighting is high on wish lists for downtowners in Schenectady, NY. Also known as Electric City, Schenectady was once the headquarters to Edison Machine Works and General Electric. At a public workshop in the upstate New York city, citizens provided input on how to spend a $10 million Downtown Reinvestment Initiative investment from the…To read more — login/subscribe
The Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District is a regional destination for employment and recreation in the heart Fort Wayne, IN. It is also the subject of a travel writing course at Homestead High School, where students were tasked with researching and writing 500 word essays about a single downtown block. The ultimate goal for the…To read more — login/subscribe
Outdoor seating has been an indicator of vibrancy in the Philadelphia Center City District since sidewalk cafes were first authorized in 1995. The district says that the benefits of outdoor seating are many, “For restaurants, cafés and retail establishments, outdoor seating is good for business, expanding capacity and serving as an invitation for passersby to…To read more — login/subscribe
In Milwaukee, WI, an annual installation of sculptures from around the world attracts attention and visitors during the summer months. In Lakewood, CO, a four-mile long art trail is winning kudos for bringing new energy to a long-neglected neighborhood. The two projects offer differing strategies for using public art as a downtown development tool. In…To read more — login/subscribe
Vicksburg Main Street was prepared for a big night when a mini-disaster struck. Hours before hundreds of conference-goers were coming to an evening shopping event in Vicksburg, MS (est. pop. 22,961), a water pipe broke on Washington Street, the town’s main thoroughfare. “The street was dug up,” says Kim Hopkins, head of Vicksburg Main Street.…To read more — login/subscribe
Event management expert Lynn Fuhler looks at downtowns near her home base of Winston-Salem, NC, and sees no shortage of “trails” — themed walking or driving tours that draw in customers by playing up assets that local folks might take for granted. Downtown Asheville, NC, for instance, offers architectural tours showcasing the city’s 1920s buildings.…To read more — login/subscribe
The Quilt Trail of northeast Tennessee brings together more than one hundred sites displaying traditional quilt crafts. The trail runs through six counties and two downtown areas. Downtown Greeneville boasts several quilt locations including a history museum, town hall, library, historic inn, and others. While fragile quilts are housed indoors, building exteriors are decorated with…To read more — login/subscribe
Parking requirements designed for suburban shopping areas are sapping the life from downtown business districts, argues Charles L. Marohn Jr. “We don’t need the miles and miles of asphalt dictated by local governments’ minimum parking mandates,” says Marohn, president of the nonprofit organization Strong Towns and author of the 2019 book Strong Towns. “Communities have…To read more — login/subscribe
