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 groupās director, Jonathan Hopkins, previously ranā¦To read more — login/subscribe
As the COVID-19 pandemic created a mental health crisis, urban planners Jenny Roe and Layla McCay formulated a new way of thinking about the role of urban design in fostering healthy environments. Their new book, Restorative Cities: Urban Design for Mental Health and Wellbeing, outlines seven concepts that are fundamental to this emerging topic ofā¦To read more — login/subscribe
Boston recently joined a growing number of cities that have made nighttime management a priority. Boston hired its first nightlife economy director, making the position part of the mayor's cabinet. In most cities, the position ā often called night mayor ā aims to rein in rowdy nightlife. In Boston, the challenge is to liven thingsā¦Continue reading
Wheeling, WV (est. pop. 27,062), was recently recognized by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia for its faƧade grant program. Hereās a rundown of how the program works. First, applicants must submit the following information to the city: ā¢ Completed application See the complete faƧade improvement program guidelines. ā¢ Photographs of existing faƧade ā¢ Plansā¦To read more — login/subscribe
With the US economy increasingly driven by the tech sector, a growing number of downtown leaders in mid-sized cities are looking for ways to spur innovation in their cities. One example is in Fort Wayne, IN (est. pop. 263,814), where a rusting manufacturing hub has been transformed into an innovation district. Another case study isā¦To read more — login/subscribe
Amid a nationwide housing shortage, many planners and downtown leaders have focused attention on eliminating parking requirements. Minimum parking counts discourage new development by raising the cost to build, the argument goes. The American Planning Association (APA) says parking costs as much as $5,000 per surface space and up to $50,000 per space in multilevelā¦To read more — login/subscribe
T-Mobileās latest round of Hometown Grant winners will use the money for a variety of projects, ranging from park upgrades to building renovations. T-Mobileās five-year initiative gives up to $50,000 to smaller cities investing in downtown improvements.Ā In Payson, UT (est. pop. 21,093), the grant will be used to revitalize The Sideshow, a vacant downtownā¦To read more — login/subscribe
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. āThere are fears about these programs, but it has gone very well,ā Rucker says. Cities throughout the country have experienced the downsides of scooter sharing. St. Louisā¦To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown Walla Walla, WA (est. pop. 32,731), has reopened after the coronavirus shutdown, but with a number of new twists. A block near Main Street is closed to traffic and is now a plaza for outdoor dining. Main Street itself will close one night a week. Sidewalk liquor consumption is now allowed, within limits. Andā¦To read more — login/subscribe
For decades, packed trains and buses have served as a sign of economic vitality. Workers cramming onto public transit at rush hour reflected robust labor markets and viable levels of urban density. The coronavirus pandemic is changing all that. As the country reopens, transit officials are being forced to rethink how many people they canā¦To read more — login/subscribe
