The COVID-19 pandemic forced many downtowns to rethink their outdoor spaces. By summer, downtown leaders had adapted — vacant lots, sidewalks, and even streets gave way to al fresco dining. Now, though, the changing of the seasons will present a new challenge: Are downtown visitors willing to sit outside when the weather turns cold? “Everybody…To read more — login/subscribe
In Fort Myers, FL (est. pop. 87,111), the city council recently voted to grant $11 million in tax-increment financing (TIF) to the developer of a downtown project with 274 apartment units and 467 parking spaces. In Kalispell, MT (est. pop. 23,241), the city is considering TIF money for a proposed downtown hotel with 79 rooms…To read more — login/subscribe
In an effort to bring new technology to historic downtowns, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul launched DRIve EV Downtown. The program brings fast-charging stations for electric vehicles to downtowns in New York that are revitalizing and developing. The first stations will be installed in Amsterdam, NY (est. pop. 17,836). Next up are downtowns in Utica,…To read more — login/subscribe
The proliferation of properties being marketed on Airbnb, VRBO, and other platforms has created concern in many municipalities. Critics say the short-term rentals disrupt neighborhood cohesiveness with constant turnover and occasional loud parties. Others point to rentals as contributing to rising real estate prices and a shortage of affordable housing. Traverse City, MI, recently banned…Continue reading
Olympia, WA (est. pop. 51,534), has launched a downtown loyalty program inspired by traditional retail marketing techniques and updated with Pokemon Go technology. The program launched this summer as part of the Olympia Downtown Alliance’s Why I Go Downtown initiative to encourage patronage of local shopping, dining, and entertainment. The program brings classic punch card…To read more — login/subscribe
The Rosslyn Business Improvement District in Arlington, VA, launched the first parklet in the Washington, DC, metro area back in 2018. Before the COVID-19 pandemic made parklets an international craze, the Rosslyn BID simply wanted to do something creative, and spur a reevaluation of how people use public space. The parklet is modest. It takes…Continue reading
Cities make big investments in streetscapes, parks, and other downtown amenities. But Roger Brooks, head of the Destination Development Association, says you can bring energy and life to your downtown with just a small budget. Instead of focusing on large scale public projects, he advocates for low-cost gathering spaces, or plazas, which can be programmed…To read more — login/subscribe
To help ensure the safety of children attending the Snowdown Light Parade in downtown Durango, CO, the Durango Business Improvement District teamed up with the Durango Police Department and Visit Durango, the city’s tourism office, to organize a Child Location/Identification Program. The program is aimed primarily at helping locate the very smallest event goers who…To read more — login/subscribe
September was National Library Card Sign-up Month. To celebrate the event, businesses in downtown Pittsfield, MA, offered special discounts and giveaways exclusively to library card holders. The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield’s public library, joined forces with Downtown Pittsfield Inc. to coordinate the deals at 25 downtown businesses for the entire month. To take advantage of the…To read more — login/subscribe
As a wave of marijuana legalization sweeps North America, some downtowns are taking advantage of the trend by welcoming — or at least cautiously allowing — pot shops in long-vacant spaces. While voters in many U.S. states have overwhelmingly approved marijuana decriminalization, downtowns wrestle with a regulatory wrinkle: Even as pot shops multiply, marijuana remains…Continue reading
