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
Cities from Cleveland, OH (est. pop. 362,670), to Cedar Rapids, IA (est. pop. 135,960), are exploring the concept of the “15-minute city” — A city where residents can reach their daily destinations in no more than 15 minutes. The definition is a bit fluid, according to the National League of Cities, “A 15-minute city enables…To read more — login/subscribe
In Columbus, OH (est. pop. 909,074), a program known as Ground Floor Growth seeks to activate downtown. The goal is to “fill in the gaps on first-floor retail corridors,” City Councilman Nick Bankston says. Launched in 2023, the program is a partnership between the City of Columbus, Downtown Columbus Inc., and Columbus Empowerment Corporation. Two…To read more — login/subscribe
The ADA accessible restroom is accessed via QR code. After years of complaints from transit riders about a lack of public restrooms, the Los Angeles’ Metro system is adding restrooms at transit stations. These are bathrooms with a twist — they are portable trailers that require no connections to the electrical grid or to the…To read more — login/subscribe
