For three weeks in July, Paris, TX (est. pop. 24,447), tested back-in angled parking in part of its downtown. The test run was designed to teach motorists about the benefits of back-in parking — and to see whether drivers would embrace the shift. The Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, which patrols Paris, took the lead in…To read more — login/subscribe
In Raleigh, NC (est. pop. 477,804), the city council recently extended the contract for a security firm whose armed officers patrol near a downtown transit hub. In Los Angeles (est. pop. 3,822,224), the city council authorized private security for two long-abandoned buildings downtown. In Long Beach, CA (est. pop. 451,319), the Long Beach Downtown Alliance…To read more — login/subscribe
St. Paul, MN (est. pop. 306,604), has long faced perceptions that its downtown is unsafe. The St. Paul Downtown Alliance has made strides on that front with an inexpensive makeover of downtown trash bins. St. Paul’s sidewalks are lined with decades-old concrete containers. Over the years, the garbage receptacles have been covered with graffiti. The…To read more — login/subscribe
A new business recruitment campaign in Providence, RI, is reaching out not only to business owners and top executives, but to their employees. The Bring Your Company to Life campaign encourages employees to “start a movement” or “bribe your boss” in order to move a job they love to a place they can love equally.…Continue reading
The Site Seeker program in Dayton, OH, allows the Downtown Dayton Partnership to provide a valuable service to members while also attracting new businesses to the city center. Tenants interested in moving downtown fill out an online form which asks how much square footage the business seeks, whether the owner wants to lease or buy…Continue reading
Doing a complete overhaul of downtown signage can be a lengthy-but-worthwhile process, as has been the case in Knoxville, TN. The city started gathering public input for its comprehensive wayfinding program in 2009, and hopes to see the project completed this year. “Our wayfinding program was really intended to do three things,” says Anne Wallace,…Continue reading
The January issue of Downtown Idea Exchange looks ahead to some of the challenges and opportunities that face downtown leaders in 2015. One of many important trends is an influx of millennials and baby boomers seeking urban living. This group is creating the most demand for downtown housing, as well as specific types of amenities,…Continue reading
In January, Seattle's Urban Freight Lab will install delivery lockers next to transit stops in the city center. The pilot program expands on an earlier project which demonstrated more efficient delivery after similar lockers were installed in high-rise buildings. The program is part of the Urban Freight Lab's Final 50 Feet Research Program which seeks…To read more — login/subscribe
Many cities set downtown parking rates and then forget about them for years. A few of the largest cities have embarked on ambitious parking plans that rely on wireless sensors and real-time data to adjust prices throughout the day. Seattle (est. pop. 724,764) chose a middle route. The city carefully studies parking patterns and then…To read more — login/subscribe
For the past 19 years, people have flocked to the annual Blueberry Festival in downtown Marquette, MI. The summertime favorite features sidewalk sales, food vendors, crafts, blueberry specials, pony rides, children’s activities, and inflatables. For 2020, the event was transformed from Blueberry Fest to Blueberry Quest. Starting the morning of Friday, July 31, 20 “blueberry”…To read more — login/subscribe
