A new program in Indianapolis, IN, highlights downtown as a safe area while also educating the public about safety and who to contact with questions and concerns.Downtown Indy collaborated with the city’s police department to create safety cards that highlight the joint actions of the two organizations, as well as providing phone numbers for non-emergencies…Continue reading
Valerie Marmone once ran a clothing boutique in Sacramento, so she knows firsthand how hard it is to operate a retail business in an era of tight margins and online shopping. In her post-entrepreneurial career, Marmone works as vice president of business development at the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. In that role, she runs the annual…Continue reading
A century after two small towns in Oregon lost their trolley service, the transit option is back, in a modified form. Thanks to $3 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Monmouth, OR (est. pop. 10,735), and neighboring Independence, OR (est. pop. 9,850), are now connected by a trolley. The trolley doesn’t…To read more — login/subscribe
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
Downtown Louisville, KY, is struggling with a familiar problem — work-from-home trends mean fewer workers are commuting to offices. To fight back, the city has unveiled a new incentive program to entice large office users to relocate or expand in the district. The Downtown Tenant Improvement Program aims to bring in office users by dangling…Continue reading
Downtown leaders everywhere aim to create vibrant, round-the-clock communities. But success on that front comes with an unwelcome side effect — a downtown filled with housing, restaurants, office spaces, and entertainment venues creates a lot of garbage. In cities small and large, downtown leaders are wrestling with garbage issues. In Knoxville, TN (est. pop. 192,657),…To read more — login/subscribe
Cities across the U.S. have been investing in streetcars. But in Omaha, NE (est. pop. 487,299), the city’s most famous resident says the city’s downtown streetcar project is a boondoggle. “Residents can be far better served by extended or more intensive service by the bus system,” billionaire Warren Buffett wrote in a letter to the editor…To read more — login/subscribe
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…To read more — login/subscribe
Like many cities across the country, Buffalo, NY, is home to an annual downtown Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving weekend. 2020 marks the 125th running of the race. But the sponsoring YMCA determined to host a slightly different event this year. Instead of the traditional 14,000 person run, the organization plans to host a downtown race…To read more — login/subscribe
As the severity of COVID-19 fades, American life has begun to return to normal. Americans are going to restaurants, movies, concerts, and sporting events. They’re shopping and vacationing. But they aren’t going back to offices. “Everyone’s moving back to the city. They just don’t want to go to the office,” says Sonny Kalsi, co-CEO of…To read more — login/subscribe
