Lincoln Road Mall in Miami Beach, FL (est. pop. 79,616), is one of the nation’s longest-lived pedestrian malls — the road has been closed to vehicle traffic for more than six decades. But that doesn’t mean all is well for the sun-soaked pedestrian mall. In recent years, a whole laundry list of merchants have closed…To read more — login/subscribe
After decades providing free on-street parking, downtown Jackson, MI (est. pop. 31,206), planned to install parking meters this summer. In March, the Jackson City Council unanimously approved the proposal to change how visitors pay for parking. Then, in a dance familiar to any downtown leader who has tried to raise parking rates, a public outcry…To read more — login/subscribe
In Columbus, OH (est. pop. 909,074), the job market is booming, and the population is growing. But the supply of housing hasn’t kept pace. To spur new building — along with greater density and more transit options — the city has overhauled its zoning code over the past few years. Under its longstanding zoning code,…To read more — login/subscribe
Ziplines, those high-flying, fast-moving tourist attractions, typically are located in natural areas — across gorges, or on mountainsides. But a new trend finds ziplines and bungee jumping coming to downtowns. In Spokane, WA (est. pop. 229,451), a proposed project would allow visitors to zipline along the Spokane River downtown. Spokane Skylines would be built and…To read more — login/subscribe
Most cities have at least one vacant lot. Unfortunately the owners are often in no hurry to develop or sell them. On the other hand, there are lots of short term uses for these lots. Lots to Love, a Pittsburgh-based organization provides step-by-step instructions for transforming vacant lots into well-used spaces. Lots to Love suggests…To read more — login/subscribe
Becoming a Certified Local Government qualifies city centers for funding and technical assistance not available to other communities. Administered jointly by the National Park Service and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in each state, the program requires a community to commit to historic preservation in order to be certified. Some of the many cities…To read more — login/subscribe
Art lights up downtown during slow month Large-scale light installations that blend contemporary art and technology are making their mark, lighting up the night from New Orleans and Baltimore to Sydney and London. “Many of these free light festivals include interactive displays that turn spectators into participants who can change colors or patterns by moving…To read more — login/subscribe
San Francisco’s Entertainment Zone is just one block long. The Downtown San Francisco Partnership has broken the ice on California’s entertainment zone policy — and after debuting outdoor public drinking, the group reports no hangover. The district in 2024 became the first place in the nation’s largest state to allow outdoor consumption of alcohol on…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown populations continue to zig while national demographic trends zag. People living downtown are younger, more racially diverse, and better-educated than the nation as a whole, according to a new study by the International Downtown Association (IDA). The report, The Value of U.S. Downtowns and Center Cities, compiled more than 100 metrics across dozens of…To read more — login/subscribe
