In an initiative that promises to reduce the amount of downtown space devoted to parking, Ford, auto parts maker Bosch, and a prominent landlord in Detroit are developing a self-parking garage in that city’s downtown. See Ford’s video of its automated valet project. Proving that the future of self-parking cars might not be so far…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
Newark, NJ (est. pop. 282,102), has long suffered from blight in its urban core. To tackle that problem, the city last year launched Live Local, an initiative designed to attract residents by helping them pay for rent or home improvements. Newark Alliance started Live Local in March 2019 with a goal of adding 1,500 new…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
For one day in September, 23 buildings in downtown Riverside, CA, opened their doors to visitors. Most allowed guests to wander at their own pace, while others hosted guided tours. The buildings included several churches, historic buildings, and small museums. The annual Doors Open Riverside is one of many Doors Open events throughout Europe, North…Continue reading
The Full Forward Business Competition in Florence, SC, is attracting successful business owners to open a second location or a new venture in the city’s downtown. The contest, which launched in May, was publicized heavily via social media, along with mailings to business owners statewide. One winning entry received $20,000 in cash for expenses related…Continue reading
It’s no secret that Downtown Pittsburgh has a poop problem. The mayor has publicly lamented the issue, and downtown visitors and workers would be hard-pressed to miss the reality. Pittsburgh’s public defecation and urination have grown so extreme that the Building Owners & Managers Association of Pittsburgh hired a local college, Point Park University, to…To read more — login/subscribe
When downtown residents are asked what they most want to see added to the business mix, a grocery store often tops the list. Post-recession economics may reduce the likelihood of chain grocers opening in downtown locations, but have instead spurred a new crop of grocery store co-ops. The June issue of Downtown Idea Exchange looks…Continue reading
T-Mobile continues to parcel out grants to small and midsized cities as part of its Hometown Grants program. The mobile carrier recently released details about its latest round of 25 grant winners. The awards of up to $50,000 went to recipients around the country with a wide variety of ideas. One theme: All the winners…To read more — login/subscribe
