City approves outdoor drinking zone — but only amid strong pushback
August 1, 2022
Downtowns nationwide have embraced outdoor consumption of alcohol. In Ohio, for example, dozens of municipalities have legalized public drinking at designated places and during certain times. In North Carolina, downtowns likewise have begun to accept the concept. But in Wisconsin, the idea of designated outdoor refreshment areas, or DORAs, has met local resistance. In late…To read more — login/subscribe
The city of Boston recently joined a growing roster of cities that have made nightlife management a priority. Boston recently hired its first nightlife economy director, making the position part of the mayor’s cabinet. “We are working to create more opportunities for residents and businesses to help our night scene grow and bolster our local…
By ushering in a new age of public meetings on Zoom, some predicted, the coronavirus pandemic was poised to intensify public engagement in downtown planning. Instead, researchers report, the opposite happened: If anything, public discourse grew more passive. That’s the conclusion of three academics who interviewed municipal planners about how the pandemic has affected discourse…
In mid-October, the Downtown Development Authority in West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 111,952), launched a three-month pilot project to sponsor the downtown’s on-demand electric shuttle. The service, provided by an operator known as Circuit, offers rides throughout downtown and the town of Palm Beach. “We’re constantly looking for opportunities to reduce congestion and…
In late March, Downtown New Jersey announced plans for a series of virtual forums for business owners and those involved with the management of downtown business districts. The forums will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas about best practices related to downtown economic development in light of the coronavirus. The first of the live web…
In some ways, the economic trajectory of Clarksdale, MS (est. pop. 15,124), is similar to that of other small cities in the Deep South. Per capita income is less than $20,000, and the poverty rate is north of 40 percent, according to the Census Bureau. But Clarksdale has created a downtown success story based on…
Waterloo, IA (est. pop. 66,934), launched an electric scooter program in 2021, and the roll-out has been generally smooth, says Jessica Rucker, executive director of Main Street Waterloo. “There are fears about these programs, but it has gone very well,” Rucker says. Cities throughout the country have experienced the downsides of scooter sharing. St. Louis…
In Winnipeg, MB (est. pop. 750,000), downtown cleanups are a community effort. This year, nearly 700 people turned out for the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s Downtown Spring CleanUp. “This annual event is more than just picking up litter, it is an opportunity to come together as a diverse and vibrant group of community members, business…
The recovery from the coronavirus crisis threatens to be arduous and slow-moving. But architects Alan Pullman and Shannon Heffernan say there are steps cities and their downtowns can take now to speed the revival. Pullman and Heffernan, of urban design firm Studio One Eleven in Long Beach, CA, urge cities to use “parklets” and “flex…