Seven rules for developing downtown business recruitment data
November 1, 2020
As your downtown grows more sophisticated, and as retailers increasingly look to invest in main street locations, developing credible and comprehensive recruitment data is ever more important. Emily Brett, senior manager of economic development at the Downtown Denver Partnership, offers these tips for developing recruitment data, and producing meaningful reports, without breaking your budget: •…To read more — login/subscribe
In the 20th century, many cities tried to contain creeks, streams, and small rivers with concrete culverts and other engineering projects. In the 21st century, growing numbers of imprisoned waterways are being set free. Restoring waterways to something like their natural order is a process known as “daylighting.” The restoration projects are gaining attention globally…
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…
More than a century ago, merchants and downtown building owners used ads painted on the sides of brick buildings to drive business. From the mid-1800s until about 1950, retailers and consumer brands used these commercial messages to grab shoppers’ attention. The eye-catching signs featured bright colors and bold lettering. The sign-painting boom ended decades ago.…
For communities struggling to bring people downtown, events and other activities are a natural solution. But planning, organizing, and hosting those events requires staff time and resources. For downtown leaders who want the benefits of a full event schedule but don’t want to run events themselves, a downtown grant program is a useful tool. Whether…
In 2017 Buffalo, NY (est. pop. 255,300), became the first U.S. city to stop requiring developers to include a minimum amount of parking in new projects. Other cities followed, including Hartford, CT, and Santa Monica, CA. As the idea gains momentum, two researchers from the University of Buffalo wanted to know what happens when a…
For Canadian downtowns, post-pandemic summertime schedules are filling up with outdoor busker festivals. The events feature a variety of performers — musicians, magicians, jugglers, fire-eaters, stilt-walkers, acrobats, and specialty cyclists among others. And they hold strong appeal for audiences — there’s no cover charge, the entertainment options are broad, and tipping performers is optional. For…
A decade ago, the downtown organization in Sioux Falls, SD (est. pop. 196,528), was looking for a way to boost business during January. Downtown Sioux Falls decided to try Burger Battle, a month-long contest that pitted downtown restaurants in a competition to create the best new burger. Participating eateries debuted a new burger, and diners…
Crime is on the upswing in downtowns. Meanwhile, crime-fighting technology is growing more powerful and more widely accepted. Those two trends are intersecting in a growing use of license plate readers, or LPRs. The devices can be mounted on utility poles, streetlights, and public vehicles. In Indianapolis, city police are expanding their use of LPRs.…