Downtown Beaverton, OR, is working to create a distinct district identity with one of a kind business signs. The Beaverton Downtown Association partnered with CoSign, a program of the American Sign Museum, as well as local artists, business owners, and sign fabricators to develop unique blade signs that project from the sides of building exteriors. …To read more — login/subscribe
In Kennesaw, GA (est. pop. 33,700), a downtown cemetery is no longer just a final resting place. The Kennesaw City Cemetery, an eight-acre space that opened in 1863, is being transformed into a greenspace and recreation area. Under a plan approved unanimously by the city council in 2019, the graveyard will host fun runs, yoga…To read more — login/subscribe
In The Heart of the City: Creating Vibrant Downtowns for a New Century, author and urban planner Alexander Graven explores why some downtowns are stagnant or in decline while others are thriving. Drawing on nearly five decades of experience studying and working in America’s cities, Garvin identifies shared… Continue reading
Pratt Street is a brick thoroughfare in the heart of downtown Hartford, CT. For all its promise, Pratt Street long has been bereft of pedestrian traffic. When the mayor proposed closing the street to cars, downtown leaders countered that further reducing activity on the street was the wrong approach. Instead, the Hartford Business Improvement District…Continue reading
As record temperatures gripped the globe this summer, downtown leaders increasingly looked to tree canopies as a way to lower the mercury. From Seattle to Palm Beach, FL, there is agreement that urban areas need more trees to alleviate the impacts of climate change. While urban landscaping was once valued primarily for its aesthetic appeal,…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
In Newark, NJ, the Live Local initiative is attracting residents and helping them pay for rent or home improvements. Newark Alliance started Live Local in March 2019 with a goal of adding 1,500 new residents over five years. Homeowners can get up to $7,000 for improvements to the exteriors of their homes. Tenants can get…Continue reading
Downtown Madness in Pueblo, CO, is highlighting the city center dining scene and helping restaurants attract new customers. Structured much like basketball’s March Madness, this popular campaign pits 16 restaurants against each other in a good-natured elimination-style competition that narrows the brackets down to eight, then four, and finally two, before the "Chompian" is selected.…Continue reading
The Colorado Springs Gateways Initiative was a clear win for the city’s downtown. The new signs at the entrances to downtown are eye-catching, and the project was honored with an award from the International Downtown Association. The Gateways Initiative aimed to enhance nine entry points into the heart of Colorado Springs and to stimulate new…Continue reading
The Downtown Memphis Commission has been taking advantage of a state law aimed at fighting blight. The downtown organization makes occasional but aggressive use of the law, using it as a way to force owners of properties that are dangerous eyesores to take action. In one success story, the Downtown Memphis Commission used the Neighborhood…To read more — login/subscribe
