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
After a tough winter, with weather that prevented many downtown merchants from opening their doors, businesses were hoping to bounce back with the Downtown Cedar Rapids Summer Passport program. Jesse Thoeming, Cedar Rapids Downtown District executive director, said in a news release that he hopes people look at this program as a sort of scavenger…To read more — login/subscribe
After a contentious election season, the planning commission in Petoskey, MI, will review its political sign regulations. Those standards currently include a 15-day period to remove signs after an election, and size limits depending on the area of the city. But, city officials say a wave of complaints this year has prompted a second look…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown leaders in Milwaukee, WI (est. pop. 569,326), plan a dog park as part of an ongoing overhaul of the languishing area along — and under — Interstate 794. The interstate was part of a nationwide development of highways that divided many downtowns during the 20th century. In the case of I-794, the 3.75-mile roadway…To read more — login/subscribe
What began as a grassroots initiative pairing vacant storefronts with public art in one Minneapolis, MN, neighborhood has grown into an "urban walking gallery" enlivening key commercial corridors in the city center and beyond, and incorporating live performances, artists markets, and pop-up galleries. The Made Here program aims to highlight local artists, give residents and…Continue reading
How downtowns are incorporating heat mitigation into their designs — In Tucson, AZ, summertime temperatures are hot — and getting hotter. In response, the city has begun requiring shade structures and other heat mitigation. See the full report on heat strategies.
...Community owned store marks milestone — Village Mercantile recently celebrated its 10th anniversary of continuous operation in the upstate New York town of Saranac Lake. To learn more read the archive article, “Community develops locally owned department store to meet needs.” ...
Most local shelters only permit clients to bring a single bag, forcing them to choose between leaving their belongings behind or staying elsewhere — often on downtown streets. In Kansas City, MO, 30 gallon bins are providing storage for the homeless. The rolling bins are stored in a secure location and have been dubbed "Heart…Continue reading
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
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
In Economic Development for the Team, author Eric Canada presents key principles, concepts, and strategies needed to effectively respond to the economic development challenges and opportunities faced by downtowns and city centers across the country. He presents a comprehensive view of economic development which includes: Understanding your communities… Continue reading
