With diversity and racial equity hot topics in many communities, downtown leaders have struggled with a notable challenge: How do you get the public to give input at public hearings? And if you’re a transit agency running public bus routes, how do you make sure to hear from a constituency not known for vocal civic…To read more — login/subscribe
…fosters individual entrepreneurship, strengthens creative and cultural organizations, and enhances overall economic development. She outlines a process for involving local stakeholder groups, including business owners, nonprofit organizations, and community members in determining the unique tourism attractions that a community has to offer. Then, she turns her attention to… Continue reading
Davenport, IA (est. pop. 102,080), suffered devastating flooding in the spring of 2019. After the Mississippi River rose well beyond flood level, a flood wall broke, and downtown was inundated. The result of the historic flood was disruptive, to state the obvious. Downtown streets were under water for weeks, and typical downtown activity ground to…To read more — login/subscribe
In Creating a Vibrant City Center, author Cy Paumier provides an action plan for developing a lively and economically vibrant city center. He proposes a comprehensive approach and guides readers in: Attracting a diverse yet complimentary mix of uses. Using the principals of placemaking to develop an attractive,… Continue reading
Parking Management for Smart Growth details how to create a strategic parking management program that is comprehensive, coordinated, and supportive of local goals. It explores new opportunities for making the most from every parking space in a sharing economy and taking advantage of new digital parking tools to increase… Continue reading
Good public space and street design can dramatically improve a downtown’s walkability, and enhance social and commercial activity. In this very readable book, author Ned Crankshaw combines practical experience, compelling case studies, and design guidelines to help every downtown improve the quality of its public spaces while respecting… Continue reading
A lack, or even perceived lack, of public restrooms downtown can lead to visitor dissatisfaction, as well as the more unsightly problem of public urination. Communities are finding that the expense of adding public restrooms is worthwhile because it keeps downtown cleaner, and provides visitors with a more comfortable experience, which in turn encourages them…Continue reading
Guerilla placemaking initiatives are often low-cost, yet create a high-impact and unexpected vibrancy downtown with minimal municipal input. One example featured in the May issue of Downtown Promotion Reporter newsletter is the Eye Love You project, which, “connects people with people, and people with places.” The movement began in New Zealand, but has gone global.…Continue reading
The pre-holiday “Shop Local” message is being refined in numerous ways in an effort to reach more potential customers for downtown’s businesses. Nearly every community endeavors to educate consumers about the economic benefits of shopping locally — some take a logical, numbers-based approach while others tug at the heart strings. Most tie into the national…Continue reading
