Valerie Marmone once ran a clothing boutique in Sacramento, so she knows firsthand how hard it is to operate a retail business in an era of tight margins and online shopping. In her post-entrepreneurial career, Marmone works as vice president of business development at the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. In that role, she runs the annual…To read more — login/subscribe
In Dublin, GA (est. pop. 15,889), the city is using a land bank to take control of longabandoned buildings downtown. In Newburgh, NY (est. pop. 28,444), a land bank has rehabilitated dozens of dilapidated structures, many of which dated to the 1800s. And in Flint, MI (est. pop. 96,439), a land bank has demolished or…To read more — login/subscribe
With a prominent university and a thriving job market, Louisville, KY (est. pop. 602,000), has been performing well economically. New arrivals face a daunting task of learning to navigate the school district and other everyday issues. That's why the Chamber of Commerce Greater Louisville Inc. launched City Champs, which allows people considering a move to…To read more — login/subscribe
A free microtransit service in downtown Tampa, FL (est. pop. 385,423), moves 500 passengers a day, making it a marked success. The Downtowner is an Uber-style service that lets commuters summon rides with their phones. The average wait is 15 minutes, but so many commuters use the Downtowner at peak times that waits can be…To read more — login/subscribe
For a year and a half, visitors to downtown Sarasota, FL (est. pop. 55,103), could travel the district via black-and-teal electric cars. But the third-party operator of the microtransit service pulled the plug so quickly that its sleek little vehicles are still stored in a downtown garage. The microtransit service's departure underscored the reality that…To read more — login/subscribe
The age-old parking practice of using chalk to mark the tires of parked cars faces legal scrutiny - and it just might be unconstitutional. A federal appellate court has sided with a motorist who sued Saginaw, MI (est. pop. 49,366), for violating her Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search. The motorist, Alison Taylor, sued after…To read more — login/subscribe
Johnson City, TN (est. pop. 65,598), just launched free Wi-Fi service in its historic downtown. The Appalachian Regional Commission approved a $27,500 grant to the Johnson City Developmental Authority that paved the way for the Downtown Johnson City Free Wi-Fi Program, the News & Neighbor reports. The developmental authority will provide additional funds over two…To read more — login/subscribe
Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest has turned into a genuine sensation. The threedecade- old festival brings more than 100,000 music lovers to downtown Fort Collins, CO (est. pop. 165,089). One unusual feature: All concerts are free, which the Downtown Fort Collins Business Association calls "nationally unique." While many large music festivals fund themselves with ticket sales,…To read more — login/subscribe
In January, Seattle's Urban Freight Lab will install delivery lockers next to transit stops in the city center. The pilot program expands on an earlier project which demonstrated more efficient delivery after similar lockers were installed in high-rise buildings. The program is part of the Urban Freight Lab's Final 50 Feet Research Program which seeks…To read more — login/subscribe
The Frederick Historic District in Maryland encompasses the core of the city and contains residential, commercial, and religious buildings dating as far back as the late 18th century. See the details and application Given the construction methods, materials, and density downtown, fire safety is a concern. To encourage property owners to install sprinklers, the city…To read more — login/subscribe
