In January, the city council of Portland, OR (est. pop. 635,296), adopted an emergency ordinance that lets food trucks operate in the Central City Plan District. The two-year pilot program waives city rules barring food trucks from the district. The new program expands the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Healthy Business Program, which let downtown property…To read more — login/subscribe
New York’s Central Park and Chicago’s Grant Park are just two examples of large-scale green spaces that meet the needs of a wide-range of community members. But what to do if you have limited public space downtown, or limited funds? Small-scale pocket parks are one answer. These small parks provide a welcome respite and often…To read more — login/subscribe
Albany, GA (est. pop. 67,922), hopes to boost downtown visitation by embracing its connection to the civil rights movement. One project is a publicly funded reconfiguration of the Albany Civil Rights Institute, open since 2008 and adjacent to the restored 1906 Old Mt. Zion Church, known for its connection to Martin Luther King Jr. Also…To read more — login/subscribe
Two of the nation’s historically important Chinatowns are in danger of disappearing, the National Trust for Historic Preservation says. Local activists in Philadelphia and Seattle are working to save their historic Chinatown districts. Philadelphia Chinatown, which dates to the 1870s, has more than 40 locally designated landmarks. “The resilience of Philadelphia Chinatown belies the many…To read more — login/subscribe
Outdoor ads show downtown is unique The Alliance for Downtown New York launched the Only Downtown campaign in late 2023. The goal was to renew interest in the neighborhood for commercial real estate decision makers. A series of ads ran throughout New York City and on public transit, which highlighted the diverse offerings downtown through…To read more — login/subscribe
In Wichita, KS (est. pop. 396,205), city officials are making big changes to the downtown parking system increasing hourly rates and fines, reducing the amount of free parking, upgrading parking meters, and tightening up enforcement. Wichita’s city council in early January approved ordinance updates that will allow the parking overhaul to proceed this year. Jeff…To read more — login/subscribe
In addition to a full schedule of daily, weekly, and seasonal marketing efforts, special situations often arise that call for a major overhaul or a minor tweak. A major overhaul was needed recently in High Point, NC, where the city spent months updating its dusty and out-of-date branding. Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, IN, a quick response…To read more — login/subscribe
Michigan City, IN (est. pop. 31,983), used a simple solution to address challenges with its homeless population: The city removed downtown park benches from sidewalks and moved them into storage. Problem solved? Not exactly. While the tactic does encourage problem residents to move on, taking away public seating doesn’t address the underlying causes of homelessness.…To read more — login/subscribe
It’s a challenge for cities of all sizes: What to do with the outdated warehouses and abandoned factories on the fringes of the core commercial district? In Houston, a group of entrepreneurs has an intriguing solution. Developers hope to transform the city’s East End into a walkable, mixed-use district. While the area has welcomed new…To read more — login/subscribe
