As staff began returning to work at their offices, the Milwaukee Downtown BID #21 launched a program aimed at garnering support for downtown restaurants. The Comeback Cuisine initiative encourages companies to purchase boxed lunches for their employees as a “welcome back” or “thank you” for their continued service. The BID’s goal is to generate the…To read more — login/subscribe
How transit authorities can make the commute safe: • Work with employers to change work hours. Rush hour and social distancing are incompatible, so transit officials have been lobbying employers to stagger workers’ schedules. • Spread the crowds. Many transit agencies have cut passenger limits but added train cars, a move that allows passengers to…To read more — login/subscribe
Historic rehabilitation initiatives typically target old buildings. In Greenwood, MS (est. pop. 14,280), a preservation project spruced up an abandoned rail bed. Main Street Greenwood’s Rail Spike Park is a 1.7-mile long trail that turned a symbol of blight into something much more uplifting. The park serves as the southern boundary of downtown Greenwood, and…To read more — login/subscribe
When it comes to radically changing the downtown streetscape and creating compelling attractions, it doesn’t get much easier than inflatables. Turn-key event producers offer giant inflatable waterslides, obstacle courses, and even public art installations. In February, Osuna Park in Peoria, AZ, welcomed the illuminated inflatable "Light at Play: An Interactive Art Experience." The six-piece display…Continue reading
Round three of the Downtown BC Placemakers Challenge is underway in Battle Creek, MI. The competition seeks to develop new leadership by funding downtown events and infrastructure projects. The events category seeks to fund “awesome projects that get people back together, engage them in their community, bring them downtown. These projects may be singular one-time…To read more — login/subscribe
In a bid to keep small retailers from being priced out of its resurgent downtown, St. Petersburg, FL, is experimenting with new rules regarding its merchant mix. The city’s "storefront conservation corridor" offers an unusual approach to regulating retailers in two busy business districts. Rather than limiting chains or banning them outright, St. Petersburg created…Continue reading
The coronavirus pandemic has hit many downtown organizations squarely in the pocketbook. By emptying business districts for two months, the health crisis has deprived organizations of revenues from special events and parking, as well as throwing property assessments and government contributions into question. The harsh financial reality is forcing downtown leaders to take a hard…To read more — login/subscribe
The coronavirus pandemic forced downtown activity to grind to a halt. What now? Take advantage of the pause to address some long-neglected tasks. Downtown leaders say they’re tackling these chores: • Upgrading physical spaces. Do your offices need a fresh coat of paint? Are downtown benches and bathrooms in need of repairs? The slowdown presents…To read more — login/subscribe
As the coronavirus pandemic closed downtowns across North America, downtown Detroit’s biggest landlord tried something different. Bedrock, a major property owner in the struggling city’s commercial core, told tenants it wouldn’t collect their rent. The most generous rent forgiveness terms go to small businesses, while bigger companies can get smaller breaks. “It is going to…To read more — login/subscribe
Chapel Hill, NC, deals with the usual parking hassles that plague a bustling downtown. But the college town has taken an unusual approach to addressing parking. With a $400,000 investment in new parking meters, a parking program for restaurant staff, a slick new website and app, and a social media campaign that includes people posting…Continue reading
