In West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 120,922), downtown leaders have generated outsized attention with a modest investment in public spaces. The Fern Street Chess Park has served as a gathering place for chess enthusiasts for the past two years. The park includes three tables with chessboards painted on top and metal boxes holding chess…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
Bike corrals have recently appeared on the streets of Kalamazoo, MI. They are part of a pilot project that aims to remove bicycle hoops and racks from city streets to free up space for pedestrians, café dining, and other uses. During the pilot, corrals will be set up at seven different locations for about one…Continue reading
Amid another sweltering summer, downtown leaders are wondering how they can create some relief for downtown visitors. One solution is to look to the past when colorful awnings shaded both storefronts and pedestrians. The National Park Service says that owners of historic buildings are rediscovering awnings. “Local main street preservation programs encouraging — and in…To read more — login/subscribe
The typical American roadway was built to invite speeds well above the posted limit, says Jeff Speck, a prominent proponent for walkability. However, Speck says, it’s possible to redesign streetscapes so that pedestrianism is more inviting and less frightening. “People will choose to walk when walking is useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting,” Speck writes in…To read more — login/subscribe
After state lawmakers last year passed guidelines for municipalities to allow outdoor consumption of alcohol, a number of cities in Indiana enacted new rules and established Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas or DORAs. The DORAs include a defined area where visitors over 21 can drink alcohol. As in other states, the drinks must be sold by…To read more — login/subscribe
In Champaign, IL (est. pop. 89,245), reducing minimum parking requirements (MPRs) has spurred development and boosted the density of both downtown Champaign and the urban district anchored by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That’s according to a paper by University of Illinois researchers Bumsoo Lee and Srirang Sohoni. Their findings were published in the…To read more — login/subscribe
Bike share, e-scooters, and other micromobility vehicles are growing in popularity across North America — fully 157 million trips were recorded in the U.S. and Canada in 2023, according to a new analysis by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). NACTO’s Shared Micromobility in the U.S. and Canada: 2023 report finds record-breaking ridership…To read more — login/subscribe
In his 40-plus years working with nonprofit organizations, David Feehan, president of Civitas Consultants, has learned a thing or two about how downtown chief executives can ensure that the vision, mission, goals, and objectives of their organizations are on course. The February issue of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter includes the first five of his 10…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
