This free e-newsletter brings you the same high-quality information available in Downtown Idea Exchange in a brief email format. Twice each month, you’ll get quick-reading ideas that are sure to spark new thinking, action, and improvement in your downtown. You’ll find: Current thinking and action on improving… Continue reading
Dance, yoga, CrossFit, and more are enlivening public spaces in downtowns across North America. In one example, the Waterfront Partnership in Baltimore, MD, offers a Waterfront Wellness Series on weekend mornings from late May through late September, which includes free yoga, boot camp, CrossFit, and Zumba. “I think a lot of us have gym memberships,…Continue reading
The two-block retail corridor in downtown Kirkland, WA, has been redeveloped as an award winning American "woonerf," a Dutch word that translates loosely as "living street." The plaza-like lane is now a pedestrian-friendly gathering space, while remaining open to vehicles, as well. The transformation did not happen overnight. The 2008-2013 Capital Improvement Program allocated funding…Continue reading
The city of Houghton, MI, is determined to meet two goals each winter: keeping walkways clear and comfortable, and creating as many fun, outdoor events as possible. "We try to keep things walkable for folks," says City Manager Eric Waara. And, in addition to plowing the streets, the city provides outdoor "winter harbors," areas where…Continue reading
In the 20th century, many cities tried to contain creeks, streams, and small rivers with concrete culverts and other engineering projects. In the 21st century, growing numbers of waterways are being set free. Restoring waterways to something like their natural order is a process known as "daylighting." The restoration projects are gaining attention globally and…Continue reading
In St. Albans, VT (est. pop. 6,804), a tax-increment financing district launched in 2012 has produced some noteworthy successes. But the TIF also led to a withering report from the state auditor, which said the city hadn’t complied with rules around TIFs. On the plus side, St. Albans achieved its first success with the construction…To read more — login/subscribe
To herald Christmas 2023, a museum in downtown Davenport, IA, transformed its facade into a giant Advent calendar. The museum reveals a new window each day in the lead-up to Christmas. The artwork in the windows was designed by students at the Davenport Creative Arts Academy. Similar giant Advent calendars have popped up in windows…Continue reading
In little Cherry Valley, NY (est. pop. 486), local artists have revived their tiny town’s image by brightening storefronts. As Cherry Valley resident Anne Loretto tells the New York Times, she mused about how to enliven the downtown’s desolate main drag. “I thought, ‘Look at all of this window space, all of this visibility,’” Loretto…To read more — login/subscribe
An integrated marketing campaign in Berwyn, IL, is attracting new residents and businesses, and changing public perceptions of what a small suburb close to one of the country’s largest cities can provide in terms of amenities and lifestyle opportunities. Berwyn’s success comes in part from promoting its inclusiveness. The city sets itself apart "because we…Continue reading
Pittsburgh’s newly elected mayor says his top priority for downtown will be cleaning up the city center. During a recent meeting with downtown stakeholders, the mayor-elect said he had been walking down Smithfield Street with a state representative when the pair encountered “feces right on the street.” “Downtown is not as clean or as healthy…To read more — login/subscribe
