The official statistics say downtown Memphis, TN (est. pop. 650,618), isn’t in need of additional emergency shelter beds for homeless people. But Jared Bingham looks around and sees that the official stats don’t tell the full story — there are many people in Memphis, especially women, who need shelter. “Memphis has about 8,000 families that…To read more — login/subscribe
The Minneapolis region’s light rail transit is expanding and plans to begin serving Hopkins, MN (est. pop. 18,300), in 2023. Downtown leaders in Hopkins welcome the new train line, which transit officials expect to carry 34,000 riders a day. But Hopkins also has a challenge: The Green Line Extension of the light rail service will…To read more — login/subscribe
In January, Philadelphia’s Center City District passed the halfway point in its efforts to plant 200 new street trees. The overall goal of Plant Center City is to bring the total number of street trees in the district to 2,500. In making the announcement, the District notes the benefits of urban street trees: “Research on…To read more — login/subscribe
When workers return downtown in a number of cities, they will be greeted by a range of new parking technologies. These include touchless transactions, license plate enforcement, and new approaches to managing ride-hailing services. The City of West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 109,767), is among a growing number of cities implementing parking management technology…To read more — login/subscribe
Independent retailers have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic. Jef Buehler, head of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Neighborhood Preservation Program, offers a workaround: Merchants can find ways to share costs and space with other organizations. Buehler points to a store in Frenchtown, NJ (est. pop. 1,464). Frenchtown Home Hardware & Outdoors partnered with…To read more — login/subscribe
It’s been over a decade since Philip Walker published his piece the “Top 10 Myths of Downtown Planning,” but his analysis remains timely. Walker, head of The Walker Collaborative, says residents, city officials, and business owners often fall victim to commonly held “misinformed notions,” which can hinder downtown development. They are: • Our downtown needs…To read more — login/subscribe
In 2016, the City of St. Louis, MO, grabbed headlines when it decided to prohibit new crosswalk art projects, and to allow existing installations to fade away. St. Louis officials pointed to 2011 guidance from the Federal Highway Administration. It said that “crosswalk art is actually contrary to the goal of increased safety and most…To read more — login/subscribe
A new breed of business could lead a wave of downtown revitalization. Niche manufacturers — think craft jewelers, makers of small-batch lotions and cosmetics, and microbrewers — are a growing, but often overlooked, segment of the post-pandemic economy, says Ilana Preuss, founder of consulting firm Recast City. "There is this hidden economic engine in every…Continue reading
New Orleans’ French Quarter once was the rare entertainment district that allowed revelers to drink while they strolled public streets. However, many small cities not known as party towns are getting in on the act, a trend that has been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic and the new reality of outdoor dining and drinking. In…To read more — login/subscribe
The federal government is directing hundreds of billions of dollars to states and cities, a windfall that has downtown leaders nationwide positioning themselves to get a piece of the pie. In March, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) into law. The initiative calls for $1.9 trillion in economic stimulus, including an infusion…To read more — login/subscribe
