The coronavirus pandemic has foisted an unprecedented crisis on downtown organizations. Many organizations were blindsided by the suddenness and severity of the downturn. To help coach downtown leaders through the turmoil, the International Downtown Association (IDA) and Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA) collaborated on a game plan that spells out steps to take in the…To read more — login/subscribe
The coronavirus pandemic could permanently close millions of small businesses, including some that occupy storefronts in your downtown. With many downtowns all but closed for business, the restaurants, bars, and beauty salons that form the backbone of many commercial corridors face an existential threat. See the full report from the Main Street America survey. Of…To read more — login/subscribe
In Kennesaw, GA (est. pop. 33,700), a downtown cemetery is no longer just a final resting place. The Kennesaw City Cemetery, an eight-acre space that opened in 1863, is being transformed into a greenspace and recreation area. Under a plan approved unanimously by the city council in 2019, the graveyard will host fun runs, yoga…To read more — login/subscribe
Historic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY, hosts a sold out event called Nightfall each year. The Green-Wood Historic Fund works to maintain the cemetery’s “vibrant presence in our current time by presenting open-to-the public events such as walking tours, lectures, and performances.” During the Nightfall event, thousands of candles guide visitors along the cemetery’s winding…To read more — login/subscribe
Walkable streetscapes and new mobility options are in demand, but there’s a dark side to U.S. traffic statistics. Nationwide pedestrian deaths rose in 2019 to their highest level in three decades, even as the nation’s roadway crash fatalities overall have been falling, according to a new report. Some 6,590 pedestrians died after being struck by…To read more — login/subscribe
With their disruptions to traffic flow and parking, construction projects are the bane of downtown leaders. In a rare bright side to the coronavirus pandemic, some downtowns are using the economic pause to accelerate infrastructure improvements. In Pensacola, FL (est. pop. 52,562), Gulf Power has accelerated work on an $83 million project to improve the…To read more — login/subscribe
Twenty start-ups are headquartered at the Innovation Hub in Haverhill, MA, the newest business incubator established by the University of Massachusetts. Start-ups receive access to shared co-working space, conference rooms, and the university’s secure, high-speed wireless network. In addition, the incubator is home to the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and the Service Corps of…To read more — login/subscribe
Global City Norwich is taking a multi-year approach to downtown revitalization and filling vacant commercial space. It all starts with welcoming the many diverse communities in this Connecticut city. Global City is a unique revitalization model, says Robert Mills, president of the Norwich Community Development Corporation. “Instead of starting off by just addressing empty storefronts…To read more — login/subscribe
Bennington, VT, has won a grant to support the design and fabrication of a downtown kiosk that will display information about historic sites, cultural attractions, and other amenities in the Bennington area. The kiosk will feature QR codes that link to online maps and walking tours. Printed walking tour brochures will also be available. The…To read more — login/subscribe
The Toledo City Plan Commission is considering using empty space on the sides of buildings for advertisements. The local ABC affiliate reports that the goal is decorative as well as financial. “The idea is to change the code and allow advertisers to put up large-scale poster or LED advertisements on the side of buildings downtown.…To read more — login/subscribe
