After pedestrians died on their streets, officials in Richmond, VA (est. pop. 229,395), and Stamford, CT (est. pop. 136,197), wanted to move quickly to protect pedestrians. Both borrowed techniques from the tactical urbanism playbook of cheap but effective responses to obvious problems. In Richmond, two Virginia Commonwealth University students were fatally struck and killed by…To read more — login/subscribe
For many downtowns, post-pandemic summertime schedules are filling up with outdoor busker festivals. The events feature a variety of performers — musicians, magicians, jugglers, fire-eaters, stilt-walkers, acrobats, and specialty cyclists among others. They hold strong appeal for audiences — there’s no cover charge, the entertainment options are broad, and tipping is optional. The August issue…Continue reading
Short-term, community-based projects — from pop-up parks to open streets initiatives — have become a powerful and adaptable tool for downtown activists, planners, and policy-makers seeking to drive lasting improvements in their cities. These quick, often low-cost, and creative projects are the essence of the tactical urbanism movement…. Continue reading
Uncovering and promoting a long-forgotten waterfall in the heart of downtown is paying a huge return on investment in Greenville, SC. Since Falls Park on the Reedy opened in 2004, development has sprung up all along the Reedy River in the historic West End area downtown."We are big believers in accentuating the things that make…Continue reading
The Laneway Project in Toronto, ON, Canada, is an innovative urban design and planning organization working to change the way people view and use city center laneways, or alleys. The project brings together diverse stakeholders and establishes community stewards to ensure the ongoing success of individual projects. Re-positioning alleys as public space has many benefits…Continue reading
First it was food trucks adding vitality to city centers, and now fashion trucks are making their way downtown. From Fashion Truck Fridays hosted by the Rosslyn BID in Arlington, VA, to the weekly rotating fashion trucks in Houston, TX, these small, mobile shops are drawing the curious, as well as serious shoppers. In Denver,…Continue reading
Cities nationwide are considering bans on smoking in select areas downtown, and in Fort Collins, CO, the existing smoking restrictions have been expanded. Smoking is prohibited in Old Town Square, all city-owned or operated facilities, grounds, parks, trails, and natural areas, and most city-approved events and festivals. Eugene, OR, is also looking to expand current…Continue reading
The presence of street vendors downtown can add or detract from the area’s image, depending upon the quality of the product, service, and presentation. That’s the premise behind the Downtown Boston BID’s street vending program for the Downtown Crossing district in Boston, MA. Street vending has a long history in the area. "From a planning…Continue reading
After years of begging brewpubs to open in downtown Marlborough, MA, the city’s marketing effort is showing results. The Marlborough Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) began targeting microbreweries in 2014, says Executive Director Meredith Harris. It was only after the city began dangling incentives — and advertised them in Beer Advocate magazine — that brewers came calling. Harris…Continue reading
A Michigan city is combining three hot trends — recycled shipping containers, pop-up shops, and business incubators — to create an unusual destination designed to entice visitors to its downtown. Battle Creek created BC Cargo, a mini-mall made up of seven shipping containers on a city-owned parking lot downtown. The blue-and-yellow containers are just 160…Continue reading
