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
Who’s your Emma Crawford? The Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival in Manitou Springs, CO, has been going strong for 28 years. The quirky event draws on a bit of local history to bring 10,000 spectators downtown every October. Emma Crawford, who died in 1890, was safely buried on a hilltop overlooking the city. In…To read more — login/subscribe
Hoping to reduce severe accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, many downtowns have tested traffic roundabouts as an alternative to intersections with traffic signals. One city isn’t experimenting — it’s going all in. During the past two decades, Carmel, IN (est. pop. 101,918), has invested heavily in a plan to replace traffic lights with roundabouts. After…To read more — login/subscribe
This year, Small Business Saturday — a crucial event for downtowns vying with suburban retail destinations — is scheduled for November 25. The event provides an opportunity for downtown leaders to foster community engagement, and for independent businesses to shine. But moving foot traffic and dollars from big box stores and online retailers takes focused…To read more — login/subscribe
Frank LaTorre remembers when the price tag for the Providence River Pedestrian Bridge was just $3 million. It was back in the 1990s, and the idea was to turn the Route 195 span over the Providence River into a walkway connecting the urban core. By the time the project was finally completed this summer, the…To read more — login/subscribe
Just as downtown businesses are realizing that advertising the downtown as a whole benefits individual businesses, whole communities are reaping the benefits of a more regional approach to marketing. "We know that people travel from place to place and town to town and don’t necessarily travel by county or state lines,” says Lisa Challenger, director…Continue reading
Increases in new customers, rental incomes, and property values were seen in a recent study of the impact of facade improvement programs. To help downtown professionals better determine the ROI of these types of improvements, a team at the University of Wisconsin-Extension examined the impacts of storefront improvements over the past 15 years. “The intent…Continue reading
Promoting downtown coffee shops Last year nearly 500 people completed the fourth annual Drip Drive in downtown Akron, OH, and surrounding neighborhoods. In this passport-style event, participants must make a purchase at 19 of 23 participating coffee shops. Everyone who completes the challenge receives a limited-edition coffee mug, along with entry into a grand prize…To read more — login/subscribe
Events spread out, take over streets Downtown event planners took a number of steps to ensure that summer and fall events were appropriately sized and not overly crowded. Among the strategies: Events are being scaled back and spread out across city streets and over multiple days. • The annual A Taste of Colorado food festival…To read more — login/subscribe
Wilmington, NC (est. pop. 122,610), has rekindled downtown traffic with Downtown Alive, an initiative focused on social distancing and outdoor dining. In Kalamazoo, MI (est. pop. 76,557), the downtown district has introduced a new social district that allows for public consumption of alcohol. Both programs are focused on the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.…To read more — login/subscribe
