Critics of free public parking once seemed to be kooky proponents of a fringe theory. Now, though, downtowns everywhere are reshaping their parking regulations. The new book Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar outlines the evolution of parking in America’s cities. He reports that the mass rethinking of parking originated with…To read more — login/subscribe
Dogs bring new life to underused park This summer, the City of Jackson, MI, opened its first dog park. The downtown has seen a housing boom in recent years, with hundreds of new apartment units added. The park, which is located a short walk from downtown, will give local dogs a place to roam off-leash…To read more — login/subscribe
In the 1990s, downtown Macon, GA (est. pop. 156,197), was beset by vacancy and decay. Today, the city is in the midst of a dramatic turnaround that garnered it one of three 2024 Great American Main Street Awards. The honors went to NewTown Macon, the city’s downtown organization. Its results have been impressive — downtown…To read more — login/subscribe
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…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown leaders in West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 117,253), have launched an effort to ease the daily traffic crunch by giving drivers more alternatives. The West Palm Beach Mobility Coalition, or WPBgo, is a nonprofit that seeks to reduce traffic and improve mobility in and around downtown. The group’s director, Jonathan Hopkins, previously ran…To read more — login/subscribe
The typical American roadway was built to invite speeds well above the posted limit, says Jeff Speck, a prominent proponent for walkability. However, Speck says, it’s possible to redesign streetscapes so that pedestrianism is more inviting and less frightening. “People will choose to walk when walking is useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting,” Speck writes in…To read more — login/subscribe
When new bike share stations were installed in downtown West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 109,767), they were located directly on city sidewalks. It’s an option that’s feasible so long as certain guidelines are met. The National Association of City Transportation Officials says cities often put bike stations on sidewalks if road space is unavailable,…To read more — login/subscribe
The City of Round Rock, TX, the Greater Round Rock Community Foundation, the Round Rock Chamber and Dell Technologies announced a new collaboration to assist local small businesses impacted by the coronavirus. Each organization has committed $25,000 to establish the Round Rock Cares fund. The fund also received over $4,000 in public support within its…To read more — login/subscribe
In a handful of downtowns, such as Berkeley, CA, and Charlottesville, VA, college campuses and downtowns have grown up together over a period of decades. But most downtowns have to work to bring in college campuses and their steady streams of students. Sometimes, the strategy works — expanding colleges can help fill downtown vacancies while…To read more — login/subscribe
A reopening of the U.S. economy doesn’t mean activity levels in downtowns will immediately return to normal. As the coronavirus pandemic has dragged on, it has become clear that consumers and merchants will take time to resume old behavior patterns, says Matt Wagner, vice president of revitalization programs at Main Street America. That means downtown…To read more — login/subscribe
