One downtown has dealt with a crush of Uber and Lyft drivers by directing the vehicles into designated rideshare hubs. Before the coronavirus shutdowns silenced downtown Orlando, FL (est. pop. 285,705), city officials say designating locations for drivers to pick up downtown patrons improved traffic flow during the late-night rush hour when bars closed and…To read more — login/subscribe
…illustrated and include photos and measured plans and elevation schematics that demonstrate how the street works. Cases are largely based on examples from North America but also include notable examples from around the world. Best practices. Based on the case studies and the authors’ work, the best practices section describes… Continue reading
…the way, it provides an overview of the grantseeking process, and advice on developing and sustaining relationships with funders. Real-world examples, sample materials, and worksheets support you as you work through 12 steps to create your own grant materials. Step one guides you through the process of developing a… Continue reading
Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest has turned into a genuine sensation. The threedecade- old festival brings more than 100,000 music lovers to downtown Fort Collins, CO (est. pop. 165,089). One unusual feature: All concerts are free, which the Downtown Fort Collins Business Association calls "nationally unique." While many large music festivals fund themselves with ticket sales,…To read more — login/subscribe
In Lakewood, CO, a four-mile long art trail is winning kudos for bringing new energy to a long-neglected neighborhood. The 40 West ArtLine includes 70 works of art, among them interactive sculptures, murals along the walking and biking path, and installations on fences that border the ArtLine. Modeled in part on the Boston Freedom Trail,…Continue reading
In downtowns large and small, curbsides are getting congested. Everyone, it seems, craves a parking spot along Main Street. Delivery drivers, bikeshare stations, and Uber operators compete with local residents for that increasingly scarce metered spot by the curb. “In our rapidly changing world, the humble curb is seeing a convergence of competing uses,” write…To read more — login/subscribe
Capitol Beer Fest, Concerts in the Park, Dress Up Wine Down, Farm to Fork Festival. Those are just some of the many annual festivals and special events held in downtown Sacramento, CA. This busy schedule is made possible in part by the city’s special event grant program. The program was designed to support start-up events…To read more — login/subscribe
Memphis isn’t the only place where Reimagining the Civic Commons is reshaping shared spaces. This nationwide initiative aims to foster engagement, equity, environmental sustainability, and economic development by revitalizing and connecting public places such as parks, plazas, trails, and libraries. Demonstration projects in 10 cities, show a “portfolio approach” to the work. Instead of concentrating…To read more — login/subscribe
Bike libraries — a concept that lets people check out bicycles like books or DVDs — are popping up across the country. A list of U.S. bike lending libraries curated by StreetsblogMASS includes nearly three dozen programs, located in states such as Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, and Vermont. Some of the programs offer access to e-bikes,…To read more — login/subscribe
The impact of Coronavirus will be big, deep, and constantly in the news, but downtown leaders must carry on. Interviews with economic development professionals and others suggest a range of strategies for supporting at-risk businesses, protecting the downtown’s market position, and growing the local economy in the months ahead. In this and future eNewsletters, we…Continue reading
