Long before anyone had heard of COVID-19, Middlebury, VT, faced a threat of a different type. An infrastructure project was set to tear up roads and disrupt the downtown for six years. Middlebury’s leaders decided to make the best of a tough situation. They formed a group, named it Neighbors, Together, and began searching for…Continue reading
A common critique of public sector programs for low-income residents is that program designers don’t understand the reality of being poor. So when officials in Austin, TX, crafted a plan for a mobility hub last year, the city took pains to solicit feedback from less-affluent members of the community. Local leaders wanted to help residents…To read more — login/subscribe
In addition to filling empty storefronts, a new free-rent program in San Francisco is attracting a fresh crop of local retailers. Under the program, city and business leaders offer up to six months of free rent, along with funding for start-up expenses. During the first round, landlords were hoping the economy was going to improve…Continue reading
In Quincy, MA, a redevelopment boom is bearing fruit at precisely the wrong time, at least from a parking perspective. To ease the squeeze, Quincy has implemented a variety of strategies. At one city lot, Quincy more than doubled parking rates before 5 p.m. and offered free parking after 5 p.m. The city worked with churches to…Continue reading
As part of the re-opening plans in Peterborough, England, the city council is providing advice for shoppers. The cathedral city joined the nation in re-opening doors to non-essential shops in mid-June. All Peterborough shops and public areas have been asked to complete the government’s Covid-19 risk assessment and to display it in their windows. The…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown Louisville, KY (est. pop. 628,594), is struggling with a familiar problem — work-from-home trends mean fewer workers are commuting to offices. To fight back, the city has unveiled a new incentive program to entice large office users to relocate or expand in the district. Downtown’s vacancy rate has jumped from about 12 percent before…To read more — login/subscribe
The Hollywood Partnership is a nonprofit business improvement district that provides a variety of services to businesses along the famous Hollywood Boulevard. In 2022, the BID took a creative step: It launched Hollywood Partnership Ventures, a 501(c)(3) organization doing business as Hollywood Partnership Community Trust. The Community Trust spinoff was a response to financial reality…To read more — login/subscribe
…Carol Lucas was formerly president of Fieldstone Alliance and Director of National Services for Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. She led the organization’s community forums program for six years. Carol has more than twenty-five years of consulting and training experience with nonprofit, government, community, and private sector organizations. Linda Hoskins… Continue reading
Teslas and other electric vehicles are a common sight on American roadways. While EV stations are showing up in public spaces in some downtowns, the charging infrastructure has mostly been hidden away in privately owned garages or on privately owned parking lots of shopping centers and hotels. With a wave of new EVs expected in…To read more — login/subscribe
