Promoting downtown coffee shops Last year nearly 500 people completed the fourth annual Drip Drive in downtown Akron, OH, and surrounding neighborhoods. In this passport-style event, participants must make a purchase at 19 of 23 participating coffee shops. Everyone who completes the challenge receives a limited-edition coffee mug, along with entry into a grand prize…To read more — login/subscribe
In downtown Fargo, ND (est. pop. 123,736), the city has spent millions to develop downtown parking garages. In Breckenridge, CO (est. pop. 4,938), city officials introduced paid parking — but ever so cautiously. The two cities illustrate varying approaches to the age-old challenge of providing enough parking for visitors while not making rules so loose…To read more — login/subscribe
For decades, packed trains and buses have served as a sign of economic vitality. Workers cramming onto public transit at rush hour reflected robust labor markets and viable levels of urban density. The coronavirus pandemic is changing all that. As the country reopens, transit officials are being forced to rethink how many people they can…To read more — login/subscribe
For Canadian downtowns, post-pandemic summertime schedules are filling up with outdoor busker festivals. The events feature a variety of performers — musicians, magicians, jugglers, fire-eaters, stilt-walkers, acrobats, and specialty cyclists among others. And they hold strong appeal for audiences — there’s no cover charge, the entertainment options are broad, and tipping performers is optional. For…To read more — login/subscribe
Making the most of downtown’s murals A2AC Murals brings large, vibrant works of art to the public in Ann Arbor and the South East Michigan area. The program is run by the Ann Arbor Art Center and funded through Patronicity and a matching grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The center encourages people to…To read more — login/subscribe
As part of the re-opening plans in Peterborough, England, the city council is providing advice for shoppers. The cathedral city joined the nation in re-opening doors to non-essential shops in mid-June. All Peterborough shops and public areas have been asked to complete the government’s Covid-19 risk assessment and to display it in their windows. The…To read more — login/subscribe
The good news for America’s downtowns is that the U.S. economy has made a robust recovery from the pandemic. People are traveling, dining out, shopping, and otherwise going about their lives. The bad news? Downtown streets are once again overwhelmed with delivery trucks, rideshare vehicles, and side hustlers dropping off meals and groceries. In one…To read more — login/subscribe
Major transformation of Eugene, OR’s, downtown riverfront is underway, it will turn an inaccessible riverfront lot into a vibrant, active, and accessible riverfront district and community destination. Currently, the area is surrounded by several hundred feet of chain link fencing which is expected to be in place for at least a couple of years, says…To read more — login/subscribe
