Outdoor ads show downtown is unique The Alliance for Downtown New York launched the Only Downtown campaign in late 2023. The goal was to renew interest in the neighborhood for commercial real estate decision makers. A series of ads ran throughout New York City and on public transit, which highlighted the diverse offerings downtown through…To read more — login/subscribe
Many people who previously commuted to work are staying home. It’s a trend that will likely continue. Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics, predicts that 30 percent of people will continue this trend for the foreseeable future. “Once they’ve done it, they’re going to want to continue,” Lister says. “Lockdowns will end, but this…To read more — login/subscribe
Amid a nationwide housing shortage, many planners and downtown leaders have focused attention on eliminating parking requirements. Minimum parking counts discourage new development by raising the cost to build, the argument goes. The American Planning Association (APA) says parking costs as much as $5,000 per surface space and up to $50,000 per space in multilevel…To read more — login/subscribe
When it comes to business signage, many commercial areas are a free-for-all of ads of all shapes, sizes, and colors. If your downtown could be described as an "ugly, cluttered, sign-overloaded district," it’s time to clean up, says Ed McMahon, chairman emeritus of Main Street America and a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute.…Continue reading
Louisville, KY, will use public art to improve pedestrian safety at four downtown intersections. Louisville’s new Community Crosswalks program was inspired by the Asphalt Art Safety Study. The study by Bloomberg Philanthropies found that after asphalt art was installed, intersections experienced a 50 percent drop in crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists and a 37 percent reduction in crashes leading…Continue reading
New York’s Central Park and Chicago’s Grant Park are just two examples of large-scale green spaces that meet the needs of a wide-range of community members. But what to do if you have limited public space downtown, or limited funds? Small-scale pocket parks are one answer. These small parks provide a welcome respite and often…To read more — login/subscribe
Public restrooms pose a conundrum in downtowns everywhere. If you want to welcome visitors, you need clean commodes. But many a public washroom has been commandeered for uses that may make visitors uncomfortable. Athens, GA (est. pop. 126,718), is addressing the dilemma by adding a pricey potty known as the Portland Loo to its downtown.…To read more — login/subscribe
Might air taxis someday soar over the congestion in your downtown? Skeptics will scoff at the Jetsons-like improbability of the concept, but several well-funded transit innovators say that the next step in ridesharing is just around the corner. In one noteworthy development, Joby Aviation, a California company building a fleet of mini-helicopters, recently partnered with…To read more — login/subscribe
Two of the nation’s historically important Chinatowns are in danger of disappearing, the National Trust for Historic Preservation says. Local activists in Philadelphia and Seattle are working to save their historic Chinatown districts. Philadelphia Chinatown, which dates to the 1870s, has more than 40 locally designated landmarks. “The resilience of Philadelphia Chinatown belies the many…To read more — login/subscribe
For Downtown Long Beach Associates, the secret to hosting over a dozen major downtown events each year, is to act as an event backer. The Downtown Event Sponsorship program makes $15,000 available to sponsor downtown events with funds that are awarded in amounts of up to $2,500. A multi-step application process ensures that all sponsored…Continue reading
