Urban planners have long criticized local rules requiring new residential development to include parking spaces equal to or greater than the number of units in the project. It’s a practice that makes housing expensive and reinforces car-centric development patterns, they argue. In downtown San Diego, a developer and city officials are trying a different model.…To read more — login/subscribe
Roundabouts are a popular way to smooth traffic flow at busy intersections. What about less hectic crossings where you’d like to slow vehicles? Mini-roundabouts have been shown to increase safety at intersections, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). Some best practices for mini-roundabouts include: • Crosswalks should be marked to clarify where…To read more — login/subscribe
…reference that developers, architects, engineers, planners, and others have turned to for practical how-to information on the best practices for parking development and operations. Updated throughout, the fifth edition includes over 100 charts, tables, graphs, and photographs that highlight key points in the text and provide invaluable real-world data…. Continue reading
In late March, Downtown New Jersey announced plans for a series of virtual forums for business owners and those involved with the management of downtown business districts. The forums will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas about best practices related to downtown economic development in light of the coronavirus. The first of the live web…To read more — login/subscribe
Wondering what downtown retail will look like in 2020 and beyond? The team at Stores, the magazine of the National Retail Federation has published its annual consumer trends predictions for the year ahead. Two trends likely to impact downtowns are: Read the full article • Consumers’ appetite for resale and recommerce continues to grow. Figures…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown leaders have long debated the pros and cons of parallel parking vs. diagonal parking. Hollister, CA (est. pop. 37,835), is trying a different approach: It’s one of a handful of cities using back-in angled parking. In 2018, the city introduced back-in parking at San Benito High School. Now, it’s adding the angled spots downtown.…To read more — login/subscribe
In an effort to bring shoppers downtown and compete with nearby areas, a Canadian improvement district dusted off a classic downtown retail promotion and added some aggressive marketing techniques. The Glebe Spree, hosted by the Glebe Business Improvement Area in Ottawa, ON, Canada, runs from November 15 through December 31. Shoppers receive blank passports, and…Continue reading
Several downtown projects received BUILD Grants in the latest round of funding. The grants fund projects at the state and local level that are more difficult to support through traditional DOT programs. The 2020 recipients include: Blair South Bypass, in Blair NE. The project was awarded $7,560,000 toward the total project cost of $14,444,040. The…To read more — login/subscribe
The Knight Foundation, which provided funding for Macon Money, says the program provided three valuable lessons: • Macon Money encouraged exploration. Games free people to try new things against a backdrop that’s playful and safe. In Macon Money, residents took advantage of their free currency to experiment with new spending habits: 46 percent of players…To read more — login/subscribe
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
