Bike corrals have recently appeared on the streets of Kalamazoo, MI. They are part of a pilot project that aims to remove bicycle hoops and racks from city streets to free up space for pedestrians, café dining, and other uses. During the pilot, corrals will be set up at seven different locations for about one…Continue reading
In Berkeley, CA (est. pop. 123,065), Telegraph Avenue has emerged as a battleground over cars and their place in a pedestrian-friendly area. A handful of university students and activists want the street turned into a pedestrian plaza, but merchants say the proposal is bad for business. Telegraph Avenue is near the campus of the University…To read more — login/subscribe
The coronavirus pandemic has unleashed a new wave of migration, one that sees Americans moving out of high-cost states and into lower-cost states. The Pew Research Center estimates 71 percent of Americans are working from home, up from 20 percent before the coronavirus outbreak. More than half of those people want to continue working remotely,…Continue reading
Battle Creek, MI (est. pop. 51,505), is using generous incentives to attract tenants to its downtown district. Battle Creek Unlimited Inc. offers subsidies of as much as $200,000 to breweries and restaurants. New Holland Brewing Co. landed the first incentive; it used the money toward a $1 million renovation of an 18,000-square-foot building. The total…To read more — login/subscribe
In an effort to reduce touch points amid the pandemic some cities are de-activating beg buttons and automating crossing signals. Chapel Hill, NC, was among the earliest cities to make the switch with 30 signal locations automated in late March. To read more — login/subscribe
In Kansas City, MO (est. pop. 509,247), downtown leaders are in the midst of an ambitious project to build a four-block-long park over Interstate 670. The $217 million plan — known as the South Loop Project — is being driven by Port KC, the Downtown Council of Kansas City, and the City of Kansas City.…To read more — login/subscribe
Most of downtown Dayton, OH (est. pop. 137,581), has become an outdoor drinking district, a move downtown leaders say creates cultural vibrancy and economic vitality. The Dayton City Commission approved legislation in May that replaced the original Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in the city’s entertainment hub, known as the Oregon District, with a new…To read more — login/subscribe
In Miami, FL (est. pop. 449,484), downtown has transformed in recent decades. Through the 1990s, the city center was mostly a 9-to-5 district — workers commuted in from the suburbs, then left. But that has changed in a big way. Downtown Miami now has 150,000 residents, along with supermarkets, restaurants, bars, and even a bowling…To read more — login/subscribe
In early March, Daniel McGinn was gearing up for public hearings on an area development plan for the city of Corpus Christi, TX. Then the coronavirus pandemic erupted, and in-person gatherings of large groups were off the table. “Our first instincts were just to cancel the meetings,” says McGinn, planning director at the city of…To read more — login/subscribe
In big cities and medium-sized metro areas, downtown leaders take for granted that the city center will be filled with grocery stores, fitness facilities, and pet-adoption centers. It’s a different story in small downtowns, however. Consumers in rural areas might have to drive for hours for basic services. That reality caught the attention of William…To read more — login/subscribe
