Novice or professional, individual or group, adult or youth, gingerbread house contests and displays appeal to virtually everyone. And viewing and voting can engage visitors of all ages as well. An exciting take on this classic downtown event, has teams of architects competing against each other while onlookers observe their techniques. In Houston, the Gingerbread…To read more — login/subscribe
A creative effort in St. Petersburg, FL, is supporting local healthcare workers and downtown businesses. The online Edge Guide selects one restaurant and one hospital or healthcare provider to participate each day. Meals are purchased from downtown businesses and delivered at no cost to the healthcare providers. As of late March, the program had raised…To read more — login/subscribe
In an effort to revive a stagnant urban core, Chicago is being especially generous in providing public subsidies to convert obsolete office space into apartments and hotels. In one major initiative, Mayor Brandon Johnson is supporting a plan to convert vacant office space in the financial district to 1,000 apartments, partly using city subsidies. The…To read more — login/subscribe
White Box programs are proving effective at driving redevelopment in city centers and getting hard to fill spaces rented. The programs typically help fund improvements to heating/cooling systems, lighting, electrical systems, bathrooms, and finished (but not yet painted) ceilings and floors. Improvements that are meant to make older buildings habitable for new users. While many…Continue reading
Four sand volleyball courts drew players and spectators to an underused section of downtown Akron, OH, this summer. The project brings together the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, and Summit Sports & Social, which runs volleyball and other sports leagues downtown. The foundation and canalway coalition have…To read more — login/subscribe
Eye-catching murals draw attention to garage A public art project is bringing new life to the Midtown Parking Deck in downtown Lynchburg, VA. Each of the four floors boasts a unique design ranging from geometric to floral patterns. The lively new look was created to beautify and to dispel some misconceptions about downtown parking. Susan…To read more — login/subscribe
Albuquerque, NM, is trying a novel approach to quelling crime in a problematic area downtown: It’s bringing in food trucks. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller has labeled two parking lots on Central Avenue as "drivers of crime." To address the issues there, the city plans a "food truck corral" that will operate on Friday and Saturday…Continue reading
The post-pandemic real estate market has seen many changes, three major trends among them: Demand for retail space has softened. Employers are wavering in their commitment to office space. And housing demand is on fire. Those shifts explain why many downtowns are seeing developers repurpose commercial buildings for residential uses. In Manchester, NH (est. pop.…To read more — login/subscribe
More than a decade ago, Mankato, MN (est. pop. 42,093), kicked off a series of public art projects known as CityArt. A sculpture exhibit and walking tour are the centerpiece, but there are other public art initiatives, too. In 2021, the walking tour celebrated its 10th anniversary. The tour has stayed fresh for so long…To read more — login/subscribe
Several of the experts who contributed to Downtown Idea Exchange’s annual Looking Ahead article cited a growing emphasis on nurturing startups in cities of all sizes. The first step, they say, is recognizing a new breed of non-traditional entrepreneur. Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that small business startups in rural communities are more…Continue reading
