For a year and a half, visitors to downtown Sarasota, FL (est. pop. 55,103), could travel the district via black-and-teal electric cars. But the third-party operator of the microtransit service pulled the plug so quickly that its sleek little vehicles are still stored in a downtown garage. The microtransit service's departure underscored the reality that…To read more — login/subscribe
By ushering in a new age of public meetings on Zoom, some predicted, the coronavirus pandemic was poised to intensify public engagement in downtown planning. Instead, researchers report, the opposite happened: If anything, public discourse grew more passive. That’s the conclusion of three academics who interviewed municipal planners about how the pandemic has affected discourse…To read more — login/subscribe
A creative new marketing campaign is bringing residents, employees, and visitors to York, PA. The effort includes recruitment materials, a revamped website, and guided tours. The recruitment packet was created for use by local employers. It highlights all the benefits of living in York, and includes a full-color magazine, a USB bracelet loaded with information…Continue reading
What has been described as, "a worn-out, wasted space," and, "a symbol of urban decay" in downtown Newark, NJ, is now an award-winning "outdoor living room" for city center residents, employees, and visitors. To first redevelop, and later manage, the space, the nonprofit Military Park Partnership was formed. "We also negotiated a 24-year lease of…Continue reading
Downtowns nationwide are bedeviled by a glut of one type of real estate and a dearth of another. They have too much vacant retail space, and too little residential space. Larisa Ortiz, managing director of public non-profit solutions at design consultancy Streetsense, offers a contrarian perspective on how to resolve the imbalance. “There is an…To read more — login/subscribe
…increase revenues, manage money differently, increase fund-raising, expand services, and improve productivity 64 ways to cut costs, deal with bills, modify staffing, and change services 28 ways to change how your organization works, including its mission, culture, and structure 40 ways to involve more people in solving your problem, including… Continue reading
By one measure, electric scooters have been a clear hit in Pittsburgh, PA (est. pop. 300,281). In the two months after the city launched service in July 2021, scooter operator Spin sold more than 150,000 rides. However, Pittsburgh’s program also brought complaints familiar to every city that has tried to embrace a new era of…To read more — login/subscribe
Facing years of construction, residents, leaders join forces — In Middlebury, VT, an infrastructure project was set to tear up roads and disrupt the downtown for six years. Read a full overview of Middlebury’s efforts to promote downtown during the disruption.
...New downtown group works to broaden office district’s appeal — In San Fransisco, with white-collar workers staying home rather than going to their offices, pedestrian traffic plummeted in the Financial District during the pandemic. And fewer people meant less business for the restaurants and bars in the district. Watch the promotional video below for San Francisco’s public art show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dimqa7wDWUA ...
TIF remains popular, but beware the pitfalls — Tax-increment financing (TIF) is a common tool for cities to fund economic development. City leaders assume that TIF will spur new development, increase property values, and create new tax revenue that would not have existed otherwise. Read more from David Merriman on Tax Increment Financing.
...Five strategies downtowns are using to come back from the pandemic — the wave of downtown initiatives reinforces the resilience of downtowns, not to mention the crucial importance of city centers in communities everywhere. • The Rosslyn Business Improvement District in Arlington, VA, set up an outdoor office area. Watch the video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-CpxXnefU8&t=9s • Many downtown organizations are developing programs that focus specifically on providing support for black-owned and other minority-owned small businesses. See Building on Recovery for Urban Place Management from the International Downtown Association and Stantec. ...
Like many cities across the country, Buffalo, NY, is home to an annual downtown Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving weekend. 2020 marks the 125th running of the race. But the sponsoring YMCA determined to host a slightly different event this year. Instead of the traditional 14,000 person run, the organization plans to host a downtown race…To read more — login/subscribe
