Stockton, CA (est. pop. 310,476), has endured its share of struggles. The city filed for bankruptcy in the aftermath of the Great Recession, and its poverty rate of more than 19 percent is far above the state average. But downtown Stockton is on the mend, and its downtown is gaining momentum thanks to an unlikely…To read more — login/subscribe
The town square of Athens, AL (est. pop. 25,176), boasts a century-old courthouse, bustling restaurants, and a church. Successful events such as a farmers market and a concert series are staged in the historic downtown. Incongruously, downtown Athens was also long home to expansive thoroughfares seemingly designed for high-speed suburban traffic, not for a quaint…To read more — login/subscribe
Resilient Downtowns details innovative and successful approaches that small and mid-sized cities have used to revitalize their core downtown areas. While the downtown success stories of large cities have been well documented, those of smaller communities are less well known. With this in mind, author Michael A. Burayidi… Continue reading
…on national averages or information from neighboring communities. Instead, Willson shows how readers can confidently develop their own requirements based on local parking data, an understanding of future trends affecting parking use, and clear policy choices. Case studies are used to illustrate what works, what doesn’t, and how to… Continue reading
When it comes to bike lanes, U.S. cities are known to be well behind their peers in Europe and Canada. But that’s changing, according to the advocacy group People for Bikes. More protected bike lanes and safety-minded bike networks are being built than ever before, the group says. In hopes of inspiring other downtowns to…To read more — login/subscribe
In Wilkes-Barre, PA (est. pop. 40,805), federal stimulus money paid for a program to market downtown businesses to new customers. The money also allowed the city to add a downtown ice-skating rink. In downtown Albuquerque, NM (est. pop. 560,447), stimulus funds brought more than a dozen small businesses into a district that had been hollowed…To read more — login/subscribe
Streets make up more than 80 percent of public space in cities, but they often fail to provide the surrounding community with a space where people can safely walk, bicycle, drive, take transit, and socialize. The Urban Street Design Guide covers the principles and practices of the nation’s… Continue reading
For delivery driver Matt McCullough, finding a place to park in downtown Aspen, CO (est. pop. 7,431), was often a challenge. But a new curb-management system has made his workday much easier. Aspen is one of four cities of varying sizes testing software from Coord, a New York City-based company focused on parking programs for…To read more — login/subscribe
In the 1990s, downtown Macon, GA, was beset by vacancy and decay. Today, the city is in the midst of a dramatic turnaround that garnered it one of three 2024 Great American Main Street Awards. The honors went to NewTown Macon, the city’s downtown organization. Its results have been impressive — downtown Macon has renovated…Continue reading
