The proliferation of properties being marketed on Airbnb, VRBO, and other platforms has created concern in many municipalities. Critics say the short-term rentals disrupt neighborhood cohesiveness with constant turnover and occasional loud parties. Others point to rentals as contributing to rising real estate prices and a shortage of affordable housing. Traverse City, MI, recently banned…Continue reading
Downtowns everywhere struggle with white elephants — prominent eyesores in need of refurbishment. Usually, the cost of a rehab is prohibitive. In Cape Girardeau, MO (est. pop. 40,100), the old Marquette and H&H buildings stood as constant reminders that downtown had seen better days. The Marquette Hotel was built in the 1920s. The H&H Building…To read more — login/subscribe
In response to an increasing number of traffic fatalities involving pedestrians and cyclists, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) is pumping billions of dollars into street design. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2022 established the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, including $1 billion a year for five years to fund local enhancements…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown leaders face a parking conundrum. On the one hand, urbanists have long preached that cities underprice parking at the expense of pedestrianism. Yet visitors and merchants often hate any hint of rising parking prices and more expensive parking tickets. Add to the mix, hourly downtown workers, grappling with inflation, and it’s more difficult than…To read more — login/subscribe
Following decades of study and debate, Davenport, IA (est. pop. 101,010), will spend $1.7 million to convert two one-way streets to two-way streets. The Downtown Davenport Partnership advocated for the return of two-way traffic on Third and Fourth streets to help calm and quiet traffic, to make downtown more pedestrian-friendly, and to improve visibility and…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown leaders face a parking conundrum. On the one hand, urbanists have long preached that cities underprice parking at the expense of pedestrianism. Yet visitors and merchants often hate any hint of rising parking prices and more expensive parking tickets. Add to the mix, hourly downtown workers, grappling with inflation, and it’s more difficult than…Continue reading
In Coon Rapids, IA (est. pop. 1,244), the Main Street organization has transformed two grain bins into 360-degree murals that mark the entrance to downtown. “After many years of work, the new mural is a wonderful success, bringing a sense of place to a longstanding feature of the community,” says Katie Mason, executive director of…To read more — login/subscribe
Kiosks in Santa Cruz, CA (top), and Denver, CO (bottom). Downtowns big and small grapple with the challenge of building a roster of successful merchants. Many have taken a proactive approach by offering pop-up spaces and kiosks for start-ups seeking a place to do business without a prohibitive upfront investment. Executed properly, pop-ups and kiosks…To read more — login/subscribe
The downtown district in West Palm Beach, FL, is home to three state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. A fourth dispensary is also set to open in the urban core — but downtown leaders say that’s enough pot shops for now. However, state law might tie the city’s hands. In November, the West Palm Beach Downtown Development…Continue reading
