Workers in downtown Grand Rapids, MI (est. pop. 197,423), will plant thousands of flowers and shrubs this year along with hundreds of trees. The total budget is north of $300,000 — and downtown leaders say the investment is worth every penny. “It’s incredibly important for a lot of reasons,” says Melvin Eledge, director of operations…To read more — login/subscribe
Office conversions are having a moment — the topic is the subject of news stories, webinars, and conference sessions. With office space experiencing heightened levels of vacancy and housing units very much in demand, the concept of repurposing underused office space to in-demand residential space is a compelling one. But an office-to-residential conversion is not…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
From a pop-up drive-in movie theater to a downtown-backed delivery service, communities across the United States are coming up with creative ways to come back from the coronavirus crisis. In May, Main Street America announced that eight downtowns had won grants of $10,000 each for innovative proposals. The grants — to six small towns, one…To read more — login/subscribe
Main Street America is giving grants of $8,500 each to a group of cities that have developed creative strategies to bring traffic back downtown. The winning ideas run the gamut — some focus on placemaking, others on community engagement, others on supporting small businesses. Most of the recipients have populations of less than 50,000, and…To read more — login/subscribe
Back in the 2000s, there was little reason to visit downtown Sisters, OR (est. pop. 2,643). The main thoroughfare was a high-speed freight route, and there were few reasons for traffic to slow, or for visitors to stop. The sidewalks were narrow and poorly maintained. And the mix of businesses was uninviting. But Sisters has…To read more — login/subscribe
The downtown district in West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 117,253), is home to three state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. A fourth dispensary is also set to open in the urban core — but downtown leaders say that’s enough pot shops for now. However, state law might tie the city’s hands. In November, the West Palm…To read more — login/subscribe
When it comes to business signage, many commercial areas are a free-for-all of ads of all shapes, sizes, and colors. If your downtown could be described as an "ugly, cluttered, sign-overloaded district," it’s time to clean up, says Ed McMahon, chairman emeritus of Main Street America and a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute.…Continue reading
In the 20th century, many cities tried to contain creeks, streams, and small rivers with concrete culverts and other engineering projects. In the 21st century, growing numbers of imprisoned waterways are being set free. Restoring waterways to something like their natural order is a process known as “daylighting.” The restoration projects are gaining attention globally…To read more — login/subscribe
President Joe Biden has unveiled a policy designed to spur conversions of empty commercial buildings to residential use. The plan calls for public financing of office-to-residential projects, the sale of some federal properties, and targeted tax incentives. "Office and commercial vacancies across the country are affecting urban downtowns and rural main streets," the White House…Continue reading
