As the coronavirus pandemic spurred new migration trends, downtown leaders in Miami, FL (est. pop. 467,968), decided to sweeten the pot for employers. The Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) launched a Follow the Sun initiative that pays incentives to businesses that move to the central business district. To qualify, an employer must create at least…To read more — login/subscribe
Funding public art Haikus popped up on sidewalks in the Bluebird Business Improvement District in Denver, CO. In 2019, students from a local high school selected poems, created laser-cut stencils, and painted the poems on sidewalks. The project was funded with a $5,000 grant from the P.S. You Are Here grant program. Since 2014 the…To read more — login/subscribe
In some ways, the economic trajectory of Clarksdale, MS (est. pop. 15,124), is similar to that of other small cities in the Deep South. Per capita income is less than $20,000, and the poverty rate is north of 40 percent, according to the Census Bureau. But Clarksdale has created a downtown success story based on…To read more — login/subscribe
Like many downtowns, Cleveland has struggled to adapt to post-pandemic patterns of commuting and visitation. As of September 2022, the city was getting 80 percent of the overall visits it experienced in 2019. And visits to office buildings had plummeted to just 61 percent of prepandemic levels. Given that harsh reality, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance…To read more — login/subscribe
Several new businesses planned to open in Somerset, OH (est. pop. 1,728), this year after getting a boost from a local entrepreneurial program. The village named the winner and three runners up for its second Pop-Up Business Competition.The winners include a vintage home decor store, an outdoor tour service, a health drink and retail store,…To read more — login/subscribe
A decade ago, the downtown organization in Sioux Falls, SD (est. pop. 196,528), was looking for a way to boost business during January. Downtown Sioux Falls decided to try Burger Battle, a month-long contest that pitted downtown restaurants in a competition to create the best new burger. Participating eateries debuted a new burger, and diners…To read more — login/subscribe
Crime is on the upswing in downtowns. Meanwhile, crime-fighting technology is growing more powerful and more widely accepted. Those two trends are intersecting in a growing use of license plate readers, or LPRs. The devices can be mounted on utility poles, streetlights, and public vehicles. In Indianapolis, city police are expanding their use of LPRs.…To read more — login/subscribe
In San Diego, CA (est. pop. 1,414,515), a decades-long experiment to revitalize a long-neglected community has made notable progress. In one unusual turnaround strategy, the family foundation that has invested heavily in the region sold shares of a now-bustling retail center to local residents. After decades of effort, the area is showing signs of improvement.…To read more — login/subscribe
Outdoor ads show downtown is unique The Alliance for Downtown New York launched the Only Downtown campaign in late 2023. The goal was to renew interest in the neighborhood for commercial real estate decision makers. A series of ads ran throughout New York City and on public transit, which highlighted the diverse offerings downtown through…To read more — login/subscribe
Turn-key inflatables When it comes to radically changing the downtown streetscape, it doesn’t get much lighter, quicker, or cheaper than temporary installations of inflatables. Turn-key event producers offer giant waterslides, obstacle courses, and even public art installations. In February, Osuna Park in Peoria, AZ, welcomed the illuminated and inflatable “Light at Play: An Interactive Art…To read more — login/subscribe
