Amid a nationwide housing shortage, many downtowns are revisiting their zoning codes in hopes of expanding the range of available housing. If you want more housing units in your downtown, you should opt for policies designed to attract new development, says R. John Anderson, co-founder and principal of Tolar | Anderson | Kim Architecture +…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown leaders nationwide are exploring the option of allowing consumption of alcoholic beverages in designated districts, or at specific events and the results are largely positive.Alpharetta, GA, passed an ordinance in 2011 allowing one drink per person in a plastic or paper cup of no more than 16 ounces, purchased from a restaurant, to be…Continue reading
When workers return downtown in a number of cities, they will be greeted by a range of new parking technologies. These include touchless transactions, license plate enforcement, and new approaches to managing ride-hailing services. The City of West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 109,767), is among a growing number of cities implementing parking management technology…To read more — login/subscribe
As of December, Panama City, FL (est. pop. 34,521), allows visitors to consume alcohol two days a week while strolling through the Downtown Panama City Social District. In November, Panama City commissioners approved the district, which lets people openly carry and consume adult beverages. In a win for day drinking, the rules apply from 10…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
Every week we share an article summary from Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter. Over the course of the year we’ve covered everything from business recruitment, to streetscape improvements, to placemaking, and more. To wrap up the year, we’re highlighting five of our most popular posts. Creative, informative, and adaptable, they showcase some of the best work in downtown…Continue reading
A new park on eight acres beneath an Interstate 93 underpass now links two downtown neighborhoods in Boston, MA, while also providing an active urban space, cultural attraction, and parking amenity. Landscaped pedestrian boardwalks and bicycle paths along the Fort Point Channel create new connections between communities previously separated by highway infrastructure. This new park…Continue reading
For many downtowns, feet on the street are a crucial factor, a variable that determines the viability of everything from stores and restaurants to cultural attractions to public transit. There’s good news on that front, according to newly released data from the 2020 census. U.S. population density increased in the past decade after falling in…To read more — login/subscribe
The proposal to form a BID in Rochester, NY, has powerful backers. Supporters include the mayor, county executive, property owners, business leaders, and the Partnership for Downtown Rochester. In a November news conference, Rochester leaders called forming a BID a, "no-brainer." While that sounds straightforward enough, a group has formed to oppose the proposal. Its…Continue reading
Deservedly or not, San Francisco has been portrayed in recent years as a hellscape of homelessness, drug use, and crime. Looking to polish the city’s tarnished image, a group of San Francisco business leaders is using a $4 million ad campaign to offer a more flattering version of the state of the city. The “It…To read more — login/subscribe
