Downtown merchants will embrace automation and self-service technology. Office space will be replaced by downtown residential uses. And electric vehicles will provide new opportunities to attract visitors. Those are among the predictions made by Matthew Wagner, chief program officer for the National Main Street Center. His forecast for 2022 is wide-ranging and covers both long…To read more — login/subscribe
In Los Alamos, NM (est. pop. 13,270), a retail accelerator is helping bring new life to downtown storefronts. When downtown leaders launched the program in 2021, the business district had more than 50,000 square feet of vacant storefronts, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. The program, a venture of Los Alamos Main Street and the…To read more — login/subscribe
The 47-mile Pinellas Trail, is connecting communities and boosting local economies along the west central coast of Florida. While some communities were hesitant to have the trail pass through their city centers, others saw opportunities and positioned themselves to become a vital part of the trail system, says Lynn Wargo, president of the Dunedin Chamber…Continue reading
As more people embrace the urban lifestyle, pets are moving to city centers with their owners. That trend has increased the demand for downtown dog parks, which in turn, attract more pet-loving residents and visitors, creating a cycle of revitalization that benefits people, pooches, and businesses. Increasingly, communities are realizing that being people- friendly means…Continue reading
With construction on the rise, the Burlington Downtown Business Association is looking for ways to ease travel and parking in the city center. According to the local InsideHalton.com, the association’s proposals include requiring increased communication with downtown businesses and enhanced construction cleanup. More controversial is the proposal to require construction workers to park outside of…To read more — login/subscribe
Food and drink are key parts of any thriving downtown. The addition of outdoor dining brings added benefits for individual businesses and the downtown as a whole. Still, there’s no shortage of objections to sidewalk dining — there’s worry about loss of on-street parking spaces and sidewalk space, concerns surrounding regulations for short term uses,…To read more — login/subscribe
Lincoln Road Mall, the pedestrian mall in Miami Beach, FL (est. pop. 89,439), has bucked a nationwide trend that has seen car-free shopping zones reopen to vehicular traffic. The strip’s success is partly a result of creative promotion by the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District. In one example, the pedestrian mall hosted an outdoor exhibit…To read more — login/subscribe
City officials in Oxnard, CA (est. pop. 208,875), searched extensively for a site to build the city’s second homeless shelter. The city examined 21 possible sites, but every one of those properties met with resistance from local residents. Eventually, the city approved construction of a five-story, $34 million facility on a city-owned lot across the…To read more — login/subscribe
The Mpls Downtown Improvement District has launched an ambitious program to improve access to public restrooms. Called the 100 Restrooms Project, the initiative is a partnership of the DID and the City of Minneapolis. The project grew from community input, a detailed assessment, and a pilot project called Little Free Lavatory. For more on increasing…To read more — login/subscribe
As the severity of COVID-19 fades, American life has begun to return to normal. Americans are going to restaurants, movies, concerts, and sporting events. They’re shopping and vacationing. But they aren’t going back to offices. “Everyone’s moving back to the city. They just don’t want to go to the office,” says Sonny Kalsi, co-CEO of…To read more — login/subscribe
