Cities large and small are using public light displays to spark interest in downtowns. In one of the splashiest and most expensive new displays, Memphis, TN, is in the midst of a $14 million project to re-light the Hernando DeSoto Bridge across the Mississippi River. At the more affordable end of the spectrum, Melbourne, FL,…Continue reading
The nationwide housing shortage has spurred many downtowns to remove parking minimums. It’s a shift that encourages development by reducing the costs of new housing while also promising to make communities more pedestrian-friendly. California recently abolished minimum parking requirements for new real estate development projects near public transit. La Mesa, CA (est. pop. 61,040), is…To read more — login/subscribe
It’s a decades-old story: After a suburban mall opened, downtown lost many of its merchants. But with the retail landscape changing, one downtown is reversing the script. The Downtown Development Authority in Alpena, MI (est. pop. 10,034), sees opportunity in the repurposing of an old mall. With the Alpena Mall changing ownership and some tenants…To read more — login/subscribe
In Chicago, landlords and cannabis entrepreneurs are gearing up for a new business opportunity presented by Illinois’ legalization of recreational marijuana. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has a different idea. Chicago’s top elected official proposed banning pot shops downtown. Lightfoot’s rationale: If dispensaries are allowed on Michigan Avenue and other high-value addresses, Chicago’s less prosperous neighborhoods won’t…To read more — login/subscribe
Might air taxis someday soar over the congestion in your downtown? Skeptics will scoff at the Jetsons-like improbability of the concept, but several well-funded transit innovators say that the next step in ridesharing is just around the corner. In one noteworthy development, Joby Aviation, a California company building a fleet of mini-helicopters, recently partnered with…To read more — login/subscribe
Davenport, IA (est. pop. 102,080), suffered devastating flooding in the spring of 2019. After the Mississippi River rose well beyond flood level, a flood wall broke, and downtown was inundated. The result of the historic flood was disruptive, to state the obvious. Downtown streets were under water for weeks, and typical downtown activity ground to…To read more — login/subscribe
As Hurricane Florence loomed in September 2018, downtown leaders in Wilmington, NC, had plenty of time to prepare. Downtown Wilmington Inc. canceled a commercial property showcase and collected cell phone numbers from downtown merchants. Workers took down street banners, removed hanging flower baskets, and scoured the downtown district for trash can lids, recycling receptacles, and…Continue reading
When Jason Mathis moved to St. Petersburg, FL (est. pop. 258,308), to take over the city’s downtown organization, he immediately noticed two things. The first was that St. Petersburg boasts a surprisingly thriving arts scene anchored by the Salvador Dali Museum. That venue alone, devoted to works of the Spanish surrealist famous for his images…To read more — login/subscribe
During the month of February, the GO Santa Cruz program hosted the Fall in Love with Carpooling Challenge. Through the challenge, downtown commuters who carpooled at least four times during the month earned Downtown Dollars plus the chance to win a downtown date night for two valued at $200. To enter, participants signed up with…To read more — login/subscribe
Four sand volleyball courts drew players and spectators to an underused section of downtown Akron, OH, this summer. The project brings together the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, and Summit Sports & Social, which runs volleyball and other sports leagues downtown. The foundation and canalway coalition have…To read more — login/subscribe
