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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Downtown Employee Appreciation Week in Wausau, WI, includes an adult ball pit, the world’s largest coffee break, DIY workshops, an ice cream social, and a succulent bar. The event, now in its fourth year, is dedicated to thanking downtown employees and introducing them to downtown amenities that they may not be familiar with. “This week…To read more — login/subscribe
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
After a tough winter, with weather that prevented many downtown merchants from opening their doors, businesses were hoping to bounce back with the Downtown Cedar Rapids Summer Passport program. Jesse Thoeming, Cedar Rapids Downtown District executive director, said in a news release that he hopes people look at this program as a sort of scavenger…To read more — login/subscribe
