Downtown Idea Exchange

• Curbside commerce, vacant-lot dining: Coronavirus inspires creative concepts
• Downtown takes cleaning, distancing seriously — but not too seriously
• In an era of social distancing, public engagement goes virtual
• Best practices for online public engagement
• “Environmental design” can contain crime, but only to an extent
• Coronavirus recession cuts into local budgets
• Granny flats, in-law suites — ADUs by any name can make towns stronger
• As pandemic drags on, downtowns get creative
• Annual festival transformed
• Downtown considers ground-floor housing
• Portable pop-up retail
• Iconic spaces reimagined
• Blending art and shade

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The once-bustling downtown in Ottumwa, IA (est. pop. 24,676), hopes to lure visitors and residents back to the city center. The small city has embarked on an ambitious program that includes new housing units, an overhaul of its streetscapes, and new attractions. Planning for the $6 million project kicked off in October 2017, when Main…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Attendees at the Ottumwa Better Block event ranked their favorite elements of the project. Among the 114 participants, landscaping received the highest score. For the demonstration, the sidewalks were lined with trees, flowers, corn stalks, and pumpkins to contribute to the festive atmosphere.To read more — login/subscribe

 

In a bid to boost business at downtown bars and restaurants, the city of Owensboro, KY (est. pop. 59,188), has loosened rules around outdoor consumption of alcohol. As the pandemic pushes patrons outside and leaves downtowns bereft of visitors, many cities are considering revamped codes concerning alcohol. Owensboro’s downtown, along the banks of the Ohio…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Since the coronavirus swept the United States in March, naysayers have been calling for the death of density. The script has played out that way, at least in part: Newspapers have been filled with tales of big city residents fleeing for the suburbs. But many urbanists say it’s far too soon to write the obituary…To read more — login/subscribe

 

As the coronavirus began to spread, public health advocates, government officials, and the media reached a consensus: Urban environments exacerbate the spread of Covid-19. There’s a small problem with that conclusion, however. It might not be true. In a study published in the Journal of the American Planning Association, researchers from Johns Hopkins University and…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Just six hours after the Downtown Dayton Partnership in Dayton, OH (est. pop. 140,638), unveiled a gift card promotion, the cards had sold out. It was a rare glimmer of good news in an otherwise-difficult time both for downtowns and for brick-and-mortar retailers. Downtowns across the country tried similar promotions and reported robust results. Dayton’s…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Planning new parking capacity in your downtown? It’s hard to know how much to invest, given the rapid changes in vehicle technology and the fast rise of ride-sharing companies. Some cities are moving ahead with cost-intensive parking garages anyway. And some prognosticators are advising against any investment in parking. Who’s right? Parking expert Mary Smith…To read more — login/subscribe

 

America’s densest city is also a terrifying place to be a cyclist. New York City experienced 28 cycling fatalities in 2019, the highest number in recent years. A regional planning group has a proposal for making New York City a more welcoming place for bikes. In its Five Boroughs Bikeway proposal, Regional Plan Association lays…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Newark, NJ (est. pop. 282,102), has long suffered from blight in its urban core. To tackle that problem, the city last year launched Live Local, an initiative designed to attract residents by helping them pay for rent or home improvements. Newark Alliance started Live Local in March 2019 with a goal of adding 1,500 new…To read more — login/subscribe