Global pandemic creates challenges, disruption for downtowns
April 1, 2020
Downtowns are positioned to rebound strongly from the coronavirus pandemic. When that rebound might occur, however, is uncertain. That’s according to downtown leaders interviewed by Downtown Idea Exchange as the global pandemic spread. “Will we come back? Absolutely,” says Dewitt Peart, president of the Downtown Austin Alliance in Austin, TX (est. pop. 964,243). However, Peart…To read more — login/subscribe
Ambassador program fights negative perceptions In an effort to improve safety, and the perception of safety, more ambassadors are patrolling downtown Louisville, KY. In September, Louisville Downtown Partnership doubled the number of ambassadors from 18 to 36. Ambassadors are involved in cleaning projects, regular check-ins with businesses and property owners, hospitality services, and escorting people…
It’s a challenge for cities of all sizes: What to do with the outdated warehouses and abandoned factories on the fringes of the core commercial district? In Houston, a group of entrepreneurs has an intriguing solution. Developers hope to transform the city’s East End into a walkable, mixed-use district. While the area has welcomed new…
Long before anyone had heard of COVID-19, Middlebury, VT, faced a threat of a different type. An infrastructure project was set to tear up roads and disrupt the downtown for six years. Middlebury’s leaders decided to make the best of a tough situation. They formed a group, named it Neighbors, Together, and began searching for…
In Peoria, IL (est. pop. 110,915), the city is about to install 72 new wayfinding signs downtown. The total price tag will be $833,000, amounting to nearly $12,000 a sign. The city council signed off on the investment in June — with assurances that the new generation of wayfinding signs is far more advanced than…
Eye-catching murals draw attention to garage A public art project is bringing new life to the Midtown Parking Deck in downtown Lynchburg, VA. Each of the four floors boasts a unique design ranging from geometric to floral patterns. The lively new look was created to beautify and to dispel some misconceptions about downtown parking. Susan…
Dogs bring new life to underused park This summer, the City of Jackson, MI, opened its first dog park. The downtown has seen a housing boom in recent years, with hundreds of new apartment units added. The park, which is located a short walk from downtown, will give local dogs a place to roam off-leash…
Rock Springs, WY (est. pop. 23,319), is a small city in a conservative state, and its gay community long maintained a low profile. That began to change about two years ago, when a downtown bookstore hosted a gathering for the LGBTQ community. Before the first such event at Sidekicks Wine & Book Bar, Chad Banks,…
Even before the pandemic, owners of aging office buildings were struggling to lure tenants and bolster rental rates. When the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a glut of office space and a shortage of housing, that trend accelerated. Now, downtowns across the country are seeing older office buildings convert to residential space — a welcome trend for…