The Live it Up Wausau program in Wausau, WI, seeks to attract employees to the area and give them reasons to stay. "This fits under a broad heading of employee-assisted housing or economic development homesteading," says Christian Schock, the city’s director of planning, community, and economic development. "These are programs that help employees become more…Continue reading
Every successful urban district struggles with parking — how to provide enough spaces, how to price those spaces properly, how to enforce violations. In his book Walkable City Rules, city planner and urban designer Jeff Speck offers some contrarian advice about parking. Downtown leaders need to stop serving the parking monster, and instead make parking…To read more — login/subscribe
Wilmington, NC (est. pop. 122,610), has rekindled downtown traffic with Downtown Alive, an initiative focused on social distancing and outdoor dining. In Kalamazoo, MI (est. pop. 76,557), the downtown district has introduced a new social district that allows for public consumption of alcohol. Both programs are focused on the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.…To read more — login/subscribe
A decade ago, the downtown in Lake City, SC (est. pop. 6,028), was desolate. The city’s cotton industry had long ago left town. And Lake City was no longer on the way to the beach. “It looked like a bomb went off in downtown,” says Randy Wilson, president of Community Design Solutions. The city wanted…To read more — login/subscribe
Ambassador program fights negative perceptions In an effort to improve safety, and the perception of safety, more ambassadors are patrolling downtown Louisville, KY. In September, Louisville Downtown Partnership doubled the number of ambassadors from 18 to 36. Ambassadors are involved in cleaning projects, regular check-ins with businesses and property owners, hospitality services, and escorting people…To read more — login/subscribe
Tasting rooms and events featuring local wineries and craft breweries have proved popular downtown. Now cities are finding distilleries are equally suited to the city center. The February issue of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter highlights three distilleries that are contributing to historic preservation and attracting visitors and locals alike. In one example, the St. Augustine (FL) Distillery…Continue reading
Historic buildings enhance the charm of any downtown. They create an undeniable sense of place. But maintaining, restoring, and reusing historic structures can be an expensive and complicated undertaking. To help with the challenges of historic preservation, there’s an array of funding sources, partnerships, and tax credits available to property owners and downtown leaders. The…To read more — login/subscribe
Promoting downtown coffee shops Last year nearly 500 people completed the fourth annual Drip Drive in downtown Akron, OH, and surrounding neighborhoods. In this passport-style event, participants must make a purchase at 19 of 23 participating coffee shops. Everyone who completes the challenge receives a limited-edition coffee mug, along with entry into a grand prize…To read more — login/subscribe
Somerset, KY, unveiled a new wayfinding system that features directional and informational signs throughout downtown streets. The signs carry the city’s brand and logo, and their role is both practical and less obvious revealing connections, highlighting diversity, and demonstrating community pride. The network was launched in Somerset’s downtown core with plans to expand to other…Continue reading
Community Visioning for Place Making is a fascinating and actionable guide to engaging with communities to design better public spaces. It includes 10 steps to successfully completing a Community Visioning process for any location, be that a single block, neighborhood, or city center. In addition… Continue reading
