The pre-holiday “Shop Local” message is being refined in numerous ways in an effort to reach more potential customers for downtown’s businesses. Nearly every community endeavors to educate consumers about the economic benefits of shopping locally — some take a logical, numbers-based approach while others tug at the heart strings. Most tie into the national…Continue reading
Opportunity Zones, those tax-advantaged areas created as part of President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax package, aren’t living up to expectations. The U.S. Treasury Department expected the program to spur investment in blighted neighborhoods and transitioning urban areas totaling $100 billion. The actual amount is likely to be just a fraction of that, perhaps $10 billion…To read more — login/subscribe
Lancaster City, PA, is home to a thriving downtown arts community, centered on the city’s Gallery Row. Throughout the year, a half dozen events ensure that streets, restaurants, and galleries are filled with browsers, shoppers, and diners. Events include an en plein air painting day with artists working on the sidewalks in front of galleries.…To read more — login/subscribe
As the severity of COVID-19 fades, American life has begun to return to normal. Americans are going to restaurants, movies, concerts, and sporting events. They’re shopping and vacationing. But they aren’t going back to offices. To better understand downtown workers’ attitudes toward work and the city center, the Greater Des Moines Partnership commissioned a survey…Continue reading
Four lessons from a marginal neighborhood’s turnaround — In San Diego, CA, a decades-long experiment to revitalize a long-neglected community has made notable progress. To learn more, read the report Activating the Power of Place: A Case Study of Market Creek Plaza.
...Small downtown uses multi-pronged approach to drive turnaround — Toccoa, GA, boasts a thriving downtown and a bustling historic theater. It has even carved out a niche as a setting for filmmakers looking for an iconic courtroom and Main Street. For more information, read the Archive Article, “Insights into successful pedestrian malls.” ...
Office conversions are having a moment — the topic is the subject of news stories, webinars, and conference sessions. With office space experiencing heightened levels of vacancy and housing units very much in demand, the concept of repurposing underused office space to in-demand residential space is a compelling one. But an office-to-residential conversion is not…To read more — login/subscribe
Office conversions are having a moment — the topic is the subject of news stories, webinars, and conference sessions. With office space experiencing heightened levels of vacancy and housing units very much in demand, the concept of repurposing underused office space to in-demand residential space is a compelling one. But an office-to-residential conversion is not…Continue reading
In an effort to balance sidewalk safety, downtown aesthetics, and small business owners’ desire to increase outreach to customers, many communities are re-examining portable signage ordinances. Because digital signage has become more affordable, it is also increasing in popularity and must be taken into consideration when drafting new regulations. The February issue of Downtown Idea…Continue reading
The paths to walkability are as diverse as the cities that implement them, and include upgrades to alleyways that provide additional pedestrian connectivity, pedestrian-friendly sidewalk design, centering development around public transit, and more. One community that has made great strides in enhancing walkability is Bethesda, MD. The work extended to downtown alleyways, some of which…Continue reading
In Akron, OH, work is underway to redefine the footprint of the city’s many neighborhoods. "What we’re doing is looking atall of our city neighborhoods — Akron has 25 semi-official neighborhoods, with downtown being one of them," says Jason Segedy, the city’s director of planning and urban development. The project is essential, Segedy says, because…Continue reading
