Foot and bicycle races of all kinds are popular downtown. Often they are stand-alone events, which take participants on routes through the city center. Others are part of broader event such as the Turkey Trots held regularly on Black Friday. But downtowns across the country are also creating their own races based on local lore,…To read more — login/subscribe
Wayfinding program expands The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District updated and expanded its wayfinding program in May. The new signage includes pedestrian kiosks, vehicle guides, and parking “trailblazers.” The new signage replaces older signs that no longer meet Department of Transportation standards and were nearing the end of their useful life. The BID said in…To read more — login/subscribe
In Janesville, WI (est. pop. 66,113), the Business Improvement District has installed more than 30 security cameras to monitor the downtown riverfront district. The BID has also asked downtown visitors and business owners to use the P3Tips app to report public safety concerns to the Janesville Police Department and Janesville Area Crime Stoppers. No crime…To read more — login/subscribe
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
