A “pawp-up” park for dogs downtown. A basketball court in a formerly unused underpass. Wayfinding signage scrawled on sidewalks with chalk. Painted pianos in public parks. Not every downtown attraction initiative needs to be a major undertaking. There’s a real role for small, inexpensive projects. Errin Welty, senior downtown development director at the Wisconsin Economic…To read more — login/subscribe
Pratt Street is a brick thoroughfare in the heart of downtown Hartford, CT (est. pop. 122,591). For all its promise, Pratt Street long has been bereft of pedestrian traffic. When the mayor proposed closing the street to cars, downtown leaders countered that further reducing activity on the street was the wrong approach. Instead, the Hartford…To read more — login/subscribe
Large-scale light installations that blend contemporary art and technology are making their mark, lighting up the night from New Orleans and Baltimore to Sydney and London. Many of these free light festivals include interactive elements that turn spectators into participants who are able to change colors or patterns by moving or playing a game. The…Continue reading
In Hailey, ID (est. pop. 8,259), Main Street is the main drag in more ways than one: It’s also State Highway 75, which means the strip caters to cars more than pedestrians and cyclists. “Main Street isn’t all that safe,” says Kaz Thea, a member of Hailey’s city council. “It’s a challenge getting across five…To read more — login/subscribe
The Thanksgiving Day parade in downtown Charlotte is a bona fide happening. The 74-year-old parade is the third-largest such event in the nation. It’s such a big deal that the parade airs live on Charlotte’s CBS affiliate and is syndicated to other television markets throughout the Southeast. The coronavirus pandemic didn’t care about any of…To read more — login/subscribe
In the summer months, downtowns everywhere expanded outdoor dining. But an obvious question loomed: What would replace outdoor dining when the mercury dropped? One downtown in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula answered that question by creating an outdoor ice-skating facility. The inspiration for the skate “ribbon” came by chance. Just before Christmas, the Portage Canal flowing between…To read more — login/subscribe
…Street Design Guide, with sections on comprehensive transit street design, lane design and materials, stations and stops, intersection strategies, and city transit networks. It also details performance measures and outlines how to make the case for great transit street design in cities. The Transit Street Design Guide is a… Continue reading
In Chandler, AZ (est. pop. 261,149), city officials are combatting the coronavirus downturn by marketing local businesses to consumers. An “I Choose Chandler” video ad reminds viewers that the city’s restaurants, gyms, clothing boutiques, and barbershops are open for business. The spot takes a subtle dig at online retailers, and the campaign urges local residents…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
Every successful urban district struggles with parking — how to provide enough spaces, how to price those spaces properly, how to enforce violations. In his book Walkable City Rules, city planner and urban designer Jeff Speck offers some contrarian advice about parking. Downtown leaders need to stop serving the parking monster, and instead make parking…To read more — login/subscribe
