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.

 


To create a compelling brand for your downtown, avoid these common mistakes

September 1, 2019
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Cities, business districts, and commercial corridors of all sizes are embracing place branding to attract visitors, new residents, businesses, and investors. Still, many city centers have saddled themselves with words and images that are outdated and generic. Branding expert Bill Baker travels the world’s downtowns, and he sees many downtown leaders making common branding mistakes.…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Seven steps to building a brand with power

September 1, 2019
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Now that you know which brand-building missteps to avoid, here is Bill Baker’s seven-step process for building an authentic brand that resonates: • Research the current climate. Market research is the starting point for any brand-building endeavor. Look at what competitors are doing, determine what consumers think, and interview stakeholders. It’s important to remain objective…To read more — login/subscribe

 

City scrutinizes parking patterns, adjusts rates based on findings

September 1, 2019
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Many cities set downtown parking rates and then forget about them for years. A few of the largest cities have embarked on ambitious parking plans that rely on wireless sensors and real-time data to adjust prices throughout the day. Seattle (est. pop. 724,764) chose a middle route. The city carefully studies parking patterns and then…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Small city uses arts to drive decades-long renaissance

September 1, 2019
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Visitors pose for photos along the path of the floodwall murals. In the annals of cultural assets, a quilting museum and a public mural project might sound like an unremarkable pair of advantages. But Paducah, KY (est. pop. 24,879), has combined those two resources with local pride and a relentless place-building campaign to turn itself…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Historic city reimagines its past to move forward

September 1, 2019
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Once thriving, then struggling, High Point, NC (est. pop. 111,213), is on the rise again. Tens of millions of dollars of new investment are flowing into the city’s downtown. Among the new projects are a 4,000-seat ballpark for the Rockers, a team that plays in baseball’s independent Atlantic League.  Other downtown projects include a condominium,…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Millennial SWAT team identifies downtown assets and needs

September 1, 2019
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Springfield, MO (est. pop. 167,376), is working to attract millennials to live and work in the city center. Its secret weapon? A Millennial SWAT team. Read the Millennial SWAT team’s full report. The city organized millennial residents into small teams and sent them into a variety of downtowns that boast features that Springfield might want…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Opportunity Zones present potential, risk

September 1, 2019
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Billions of dollars have flowed into funds focusing on opportunity zones, a new type of tax designation that waives capital gains taxes on investments in blighted areas nationwide. In April, the U.S. Treasury Department clarified some of the guidelines around opportunity zone investments, and the new regulations sparked optimism from tax experts. “These rules could…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Cities test “smart” garbage cans

September 1, 2019
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A few cities are testing a high-tech innovation in a decidedly low-tech corner of urban placemaking. San Francisco (est. pop. 884,363) and Pittsburgh (est. pop. 302,414) are among the cities that are relying on “smart” trash bins that use sensors to alert garbage collectors as the receptacles reach capacity. While no downtown benefits from overflowing…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Artistic seating serves many purposes

September 1, 2019
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As summer rolled around, legions of beautifully decorated fiberglass dogs, cats, cows, and more were placed on temporary display in downtowns across North America.  In Athens, GA, animals were replaced with comfortable rocking chairs painted by local art students and members of an artist cooperative. The goals of the project were to beautify and to…To read more — login/subscribe