Downtown Idea Exchange

Each month downtown leaders turn to Downtown Idea Exchange for practical news reports, how-to information, and hundreds of real-world examples of how downtowns are growing and prospering.

 


Downtown Idea Exchange, January 2020

January 1, 2020
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Shared kitchens sprout nationally, fill vacant space and foster startups

December 1, 2019
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In Tucson, AZ (est. pop. 545,987), and Boston, shared kitchens have attracted dozens of entrepreneurs who run catering businesses and food trucks. The concept is taking off nationally, in big cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta and smaller cities like Shreveport, LA, Harrison, MI, and Loveland, CO, where community kitchens act as incubators…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Holiday drawing drives traffic to downtown shopping district

December 1, 2019
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In an effort to bring shoppers downtown and compete with nearby areas, a Canadian improvement district dusted off a classic downtown retail promotion and added some aggressive marketing techniques. The Glebe Spree, hosted by the Glebe Business Improvement Area (BIA) of Ottawa, ON, Canada, is a program that runs from November 15 through December 31.…To read more — login/subscribe

 

To manage parking, small city gets creative

December 1, 2019
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Little Estes Park, CO (est. pop. 6,248), sees far more vehicle traffic than most towns its size. As a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park gets 4.5 million visitors a year, most of them crammed into a tourist season from mid-May through October. “We have such intense traffic congestion,” says Vanessa Solesbee, parking…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Garbage can makeover creates a facelift for modest investment

December 1, 2019
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St. Paul, MN (est. pop. 306,604), has long faced perceptions that its downtown is unsafe. The St. Paul Downtown Alliance has made strides on that front with an inexpensive makeover of downtown trash bins. St. Paul’s sidewalks are lined with decades-old concrete containers. Over the years, the garbage receptacles have been covered with graffiti. The…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Educational series connects downtown merchants with business services

December 1, 2019
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Downtown Mesquite, TX (est. pop. 142,874), positions itself as a destination for authentic local flavor. But the small business owners who contribute to the historic heart of the city don’t always have a sophisticated grasp of business management or how to tap into the resources that will help them succeed. To address this reality head-on,…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Hip-hop signs ease pain of downtown road closing

December 1, 2019
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An eight-month road closure in downtown Hartford, CT (est. pop. 122,591), caused shoppers, commuters, and business owners to groan. While construction disrupted downtown businesses, the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID) used whimsical construction signs to make light of the inconvenience and to stress that this, too, shall pass. HBID recognized that traditional construction signs blend…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Closing main drag to cars speeds bus travel

December 1, 2019
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The M14 bus usually crawls across one of Manhattan’s busiest crosstown thoroughfares at 5 mph. After New York City officials barred car traffic along 14th Street, however, the buses suddenly zipped so quickly that bus drivers had to slow down to stick to their schedules. New York City’s promising results could offer an alternative to…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Porch parties, street market among redevelopment strategies for historic area

December 1, 2019
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In Birmingham, AL (est. pop. 209,294), a downtown group is encouraging economic growth through porch parties, a street market for vendors, and pop-up space. REV Birmingham has been focusing on redevelopment of the Woodlawn neighborhood, a historic area located just east of downtown. From April through October, Woodlawn business owners and residents host monthly porch…To read more — login/subscribe

 

What are porch parties?

December 1, 2019
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REV Birmingham provides guidance and a small stipend to encourage local residents and business owners to host Porch Parties and spur entrepreneurial growth. It’s easy says the organization: • Choose a 2nd Tuesday between April and October. • Invite your Woodlawn neighbors, family, and friends. • Host a small gathering in your front yard, back…To read more — login/subscribe