Downtowns nationwide are bedeviled by a glut of one type of real estate and a dearth of another. They have too much vacant retail space, and too little residential space. Larisa Ortiz, managing director of public nonprofit solutions at design consultancy Streetsense, offers a contrarian perspective on how to resolve the imbalance. "There is an…Continue reading
An apartment developer hopes to prove that Americans are ready to embrace car-free living. Culdesac Tempe is a new 636-unit rental community in Tempe, AZ. When the project opens for occupancy this year, residents won’t be allowed to bring vehicles with them. “The vision of Culdesac is to build the first car-free city in the…To read more — login/subscribe
The Downtown Memphis Commission has been taking advantage of a state law aimed at fighting blight. The downtown organization makes occasional but aggressive use of the law, using it as a way to force owners of properties that are dangerous eyesores to take action. In one success story, the Downtown Memphis Commission used the Neighborhood…To read more — login/subscribe
A good plan will help revitalize a struggling downtown and sustain a successful one. This comprehensive book looks at all facets of planning for the traditional downtown or Main Street community. While the term downtown plan often brings to mind physical planning issues, author Philip L. Walker presents… Continue reading
Historic rehabilitation initiatives typically target old buildings. In Greenwood, MS (est. pop. 14,280), a preservation project spruced up an abandoned rail bed. Main Street Greenwood’s Rail Spike Park is a 1.7-mile long trail that turned a symbol of blight into something much more uplifting. The park serves as the southern boundary of downtown Greenwood, and…To read more — login/subscribe
In Greensboro, NC (est. pop. 296,725), shoppers who spent $25 downtown this summer were eligible to win $500 through a raffle. In Baltimore, downtown leaders developed a grant program to support black-owned businesses. While such efforts were born in part of pandemic desperation, the wave of downtown initiatives reinforces the resilience of downtowns, not to…To read more — login/subscribe
Parking garages take on new life In an effort to encourage owners of parking garages to activate their spaces during down times, the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative created a pop-up rooftop performance venue at a downtown parking garage. “We were hoping owners would see that garages could be put to really good use during the…To read more — login/subscribe
When downtown residents are asked what they most want to see added to the business mix, a grocery store often tops the list. Post-recession economics may reduce the likelihood of chain grocers opening in downtown locations, but have instead spurred a new crop of grocery store co-ops. The June issue of Downtown Idea Exchange looks…Continue reading
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
To draw the community into an ongoing conversation, the city of Hagerstown, MD, launched its engageHagerstown website. The city posts questions and moderates discussions about important topics that will shape the future of the downtown. The inaugural question was: “What’s your big idea for downtown?” That first question generated “a ton of feedback,” says Sarah…Continue reading
