Davenport, IA (est. pop. 102,080), suffered devastating flooding in the spring of 2019. After the Mississippi River rose well beyond flood level, a flood wall broke, and downtown was inundated. The result of the historic flood was disruptive, to state the obvious. Downtown streets were under water for weeks, and typical downtown activity ground to…To read more — login/subscribe
In big cities and medium-sized metro areas, downtown leaders take for granted that the city center will be filled with grocery stores, fitness facilities, and pet-adoption centers. It’s a different story in small downtowns, however. Consumers in rural areas might have to drive for hours for basic services. That reality caught the attention of William…To read more — login/subscribe
After an increase in pedestrian deaths along two main drags, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in January lowered the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph along Third and Hamilton avenues in Brooklyn. According to the city’s Department of Transportation, there were six pedestrian deaths recorded on Third Avenue in 2019, up…To read more — login/subscribe
A public space in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 111,389), stands as a centerpiece of the city’s redevelopment. The manicured lawn offers views of the Intracoastal Waterway and glimpses of the mansions of Palm Beach. An indoor pavilion hosts weddings and other events. The park also attracts homeless people. To…To read more — login/subscribe
After the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a lower court’s ruling, Boise, ID (est. pop. 228,807), can’t bring misdemeanor charges against people who sleep on the streets if they have nowhere else to go. The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the constitutional issues raised by Martin v. City of Boise is the latest development…To read more — login/subscribe
Roger Brooks relishes the opportunity to visit a downtown for the first time. By casting a fresh, critical eye on the business district, Brooks, a branding and tourism expert, can find many areas for improvement. Sometimes he spots a conspicuous lack of benches along downtown pathways and in public spaces. He might recommend sprucing up…To read more — login/subscribe
In recent years, scooter-share companies went from a hipster hallmark to the bane of downtown leaders. Now, after the vehicles have become nearly ubiquitous in some downtowns, electric-scooter companies are downsizing. Electric scooter-rental startup Lime cut 14 percent of its workforce as it exited a dozen markets in the U.S. and abroad. Lime said in…To read more — login/subscribe
For many downtowns, attracting and keeping businesses is a daunting task. Downtown merchants often are independent businesses that lack sophisticated support networks and deep reserves of capital. Some downtown leaders have taken pains to make life easier for business owners. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) points out several successful examples of downtowns that are…To read more — login/subscribe
Historic rehabilitation initiatives typically target old buildings. In Greenwood, MS (est. pop. 14,280), a preservation project spruced up an abandoned rail bed. Main Street Greenwood’s Rail Spike Park is a 1.7-mile long trail that turned a symbol of blight into something much more uplifting. The park serves as the southern boundary of downtown Greenwood, and…To read more — login/subscribe
The Soup Stroll in downtown Schenectady, NY, welcomes crowds downtown to sample soups at over 30 restaurants. Held on a chilly Saturday in January, the Soup Stroll runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with restaurants offering everything from Bratwurst Cheddar Ale Soup to Chocolate S’more Soup. Soups are provided in 3 oz. sample sizes…To read more — login/subscribe
