The Traverse City DDA and local partners have launched the Buy Local, Give Local Fund. Individual donations are used to purchase items from downtown businesses which are then donated to partner organizations. The DDA says that, “donations will help purchase art supplies, books, puzzles, and additional items that will be provided to children housed at…To read more — login/subscribe
In Hailey, ID (est. pop. 8,259), Main Street is the main drag in more ways than one: It’s also State Highway 75, which means the strip caters to cars more than pedestrians and cyclists. “Main Street isn’t all that safe,” says Kaz Thea, a member of Hailey’s city council. “It’s a challenge getting across five…To read more — login/subscribe
July 23, 2020 — Hendersonville, NC, is reopening and welcoming customers back downtown. Prior to the pandemic, the city was a bustling place with a narrow Main Street, planters blooming with flowers, and strolling pedestrians. But it wasn’t always that way. Back in the 1970s, Hendersonville’s historic Main Street was so empty and so car-friendly…Continue reading
A few years ago, Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis experienced something of a dress rehearsal for the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pedestrian street was disrupted by construction in 2018, pedestrian traffic dropped from 20,000 people a day to just 13,000. “It was kind of a ghost town during construction,” says Lisa Middag, director of Nicollet…To read more — login/subscribe
The coronavirus pandemic has spurred an increase in bicycle commuting, a trend welcomed by many downtown leaders. But when cyclists zip through crowded sidewalks, the situation can get downright dangerous. In Longmont, CO (est. pop. 95,986), city leaders were disturbed by regular sightings of cyclists riding on downtown sidewalks. City Councilwoman Polly Christensen called cyclists’…To read more — login/subscribe
A few years ago, Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis experienced something of a dress rehearsal for the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pedestrian street was disrupted by construction in 2018, pedestrian traffic dropped from 20,000 people a day to 13,000. "It was kind of a ghost town during construction," says Lisa Middag, director of Nicollet Activation…Continue reading
As downtowns everywhere struggle through the coronavirus pandemic, demand for downtown space has emerged in the form of state-regulated cannabis dispensaries. Office workers are staying home, retail shopping is shifting online, and restaurants and bars have been compelled to reduce their capacities — but legalized marijuana has provided a new source of downtown tenants. In…To read more — login/subscribe
As downtowns everywhere struggle through the coronavirus pandemic, demand for downtown space has emerged in the form of state-regulated cannabis dispensaries. Office workers are staying home, retail shopping is shifting online, and restaurants and bars have been compelled to reduce their capacities — but legalized marijuana has provided a new source of downtown tenants. In…Continue reading
A new breed of business could lead a wave of downtown revitalization. Niche manufacturers — think craft jewelers, makers of small-batch lotions and cosmetics, and microbrewers — are a growing, but often overlooked, segment of the post-pandemic economy, says Ilana Preuss, founder of consulting firm Recast City. "There is this hidden economic engine in every…Continue reading
City uses array of strategies to create bike-friendly vibe — Thanks to years of effort, biking is big business in Fayetteville, AR. The investment includes an expansive trail network, on-street cycling infrastructure, and ambitious biking initiatives. See Fayetteville’s Active Transportation Plan.
...Redefining formula restaurants — To preserve small businesses and local flavor, some cities are passing rules to limit the number of national businesses that can set up shop downtown. Read more about limiting formula businesses. ...
Converting retail to residential — Many have predicted that a shift from retail to residential uses was a likely outcome of the pandemic. For more information, read the article, “As retail industry struggles, cities can encourage commercial-to-residential property conversions.” ...
