The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) has released a new guide, Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery. The online guide provides cities with strategies they can use to redesign and adapt streets for new uses during the pandemic and recovery. The report compiles successful practices from cities worldwide such as converting curbside lanes…To read more — login/subscribe
The Hollywood Partnership is a business improvement district that provides a variety of services to businesses along the famous Hollywood Boulevard. But not every member wants the same services. In 2022 the BID created the Hollywood Partnership Community Trust, a nonprofit that hosts events and provides enhanced services to those willing to pay for them.…Continue reading
The 37-story office building at 100 N. Main St. in Memphis, TN (est. pop. 651,088), is a reminder of both downtown’s promise and its challenges. The tower is the tallest structure in the downtown skyline. Yet it has sat empty since 2014. Thieves have harvested the copper wiring. And vandals have knocked books from the…To read more — login/subscribe
Somerset, KY (est. pop. 11,998), unveiled a new wayfinding system that features directional and informational signs throughout downtown streets. The signs carry the city’s brand and logo, and their role is both practical and less obvious revealing connections, highlighting diversity, and demonstrating community pride. The network was launched in Somerset’s downtown core with plans to…To read more — login/subscribe
The 2024 Main Street Trends Survey from Main Street America offers insights into the budgets, salaries, and issues that Main Street programs are facing. When asked to identify their biggest challenges, executive directors came up with a three-way tie: Not enough variety of businesses, poorly maintained buildings, and inconsistent store hours were each cited by 31 percent…Continue reading
In addition to filling empty storefronts, a new free-rent program in San Francisco is attracting a fresh crop of local retailers. Under the program, city and business leaders offer up to six months of free rent, along with funding for start-up expenses. During the first round, landlords were hoping the economy was going to improve…Continue reading
The Downtown Manhattan Beach Farmers’ Market reopened in mid-May after a brief closure due to the pandemic. Operated by the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professional Association, the California market has been active since 2006. The market reopened with a new look and new procedures. The number of customers was limited to 35 people at…To read more — login/subscribe
Innovative hydration stations Just in time for the first major heat wave of the summer, the city of Phoenix, AZ, launched its Chilled Drinking Water pilot program downtown. The water stations provide taps for filling bottles with chilled water and two regular drinking fountain taps. The initiative aims to provide fresh water and to reduce…To read more — login/subscribe
Urban farming comes downtown Farming will soon be happening year-round in downtown Westbrook, ME. The farm, developed and operated by Vertical Harvest, will occupy a four story building with a quarter acre footprint in the heart of the small city. Vertical Harvest plans to grow two million pounds of produce annually. The farm will anchor…To read more — login/subscribe
Many downtowns have experimented with gift card programs. But the initiative in Middletown, CT (est. pop. 47,164), is going strong after 18 years. The Middletown Downtown Business District launched its gift card program in 2005. After some fits and starts, downtown leaders overhauled it in 2010 with a new technology provider, says Sandra Russo-Driska, the…To read more — login/subscribe
