Crime is on the upswing in downtowns. Meanwhile, crime-fighting technology is growing more powerful and more widely accepted. Those two trends are intersecting in a growing use of license plate readers, or LPRs. The devices can be mounted on utility poles, streetlights, and public vehicles. In Indianapolis, city police are expanding their use of LPRs.…To read more — login/subscribe
The retail industry has been roiled by e-commerce and the pandemic, but retail remains a critical function in many downtowns. To fill vacant storefronts, you should follow a methodical process, says Jenn Gregory of Retail Strategies, a firm specializing in business recruitment and community development. She offers this eight-step recipe for recruiting retailers: Form a…To read more — login/subscribe
To the dismay of sports fans, the coronavirus pandemic canceled March Madness in 2020. For 2021, the show is on — and host city Indianapolis is setting up downtown to make the most of the marquee event. In most years, tournament games are played throughout the U.S. The championship city hosts just the finals and…To read more — login/subscribe
…the ideas and research behind culturally driven community development. It explains key principles that underlie this work and that will help you argue the case for creative community building. Next, it provides 10 concrete strategies for community revitalization. Each approach is illustrated by two case studies from a variety… Continue reading
In Moline, IL (est. pop. 41,920), the city council this spring approved spending $214,000 on a system of video surveillance cameras for 16 locations downtown. Downtown merchants welcomed the new security measure, Geoff Manis, manager of Moline Centre Main Street, told KWQC television. “There’s been a big uptick in car thefts and individuals breaking into…To read more — login/subscribe
With new federal guidelines in place as of April 1, downtown leaders should gear up for an accelerated release of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Main Street America says. ARPA, the stimulus package enacted in March 2021, includes $350 billion directed to states and local governments. The idea is to help local…To read more — login/subscribe
The post-pandemic performance of the nation’s city centers continues to be a mixed bag. On the downside, downtowns are facing some well-documented problems. Office space remains underused, and office-serving merchants are struggling. At the same time, city centers bear the brunt of homelessness. But downtowns are also proving remarkably resilient. They have begun to recover…Continue reading
In early March, Daniel McGinn was gearing up for public hearings on an area development plan for the city of Corpus Christi, TX. Then the coronavirus pandemic erupted, and in-person gatherings of large groups were off the table. “Our first instincts were just to cancel the meetings,” says McGinn, planning director at the city of…To read more — login/subscribe
A series of public art projects — including an innovative lighting installation in a formerly dreary underpasses — has helped Lynn, MA (est. pop. 94,300), shake off its malaise. The initiative, known as Lynn Lights, garnered media attention and won praise from groups such as the Center for Community Progress. Lynn was once known as…To read more — login/subscribe
The Hollywood Partnership is a nonprofit business improvement district that provides a variety of services to businesses along the famous Hollywood Boulevard. In 2022, the BID took a creative step: It launched Hollywood Partnership Ventures, a 501(c)(3) organization doing business as Hollywood Partnership Community Trust. The Community Trust spinoff was a response to financial reality…To read more — login/subscribe
