The coronavirus pandemic has hammered downtowns. While the duration of this disruption is unclear, the impact of coronavirus will be broad, deep, and unrelenting. Even so, downtown leaders must carry on. Economic development professionals suggest a range of strategies for supporting at-risk businesses, protecting the downtown’s market position, and growing the local economy in the…To read more — login/subscribe
In a low-income area of Portland, OR, is a 29,000-square-foot strip shopping center filled with a mix of independent merchants and service providers. The tenant list includes a Latina-owned hair salon, several tax preparers, and the Somali American Association of Oregon. In similar neighborhoods, such a property would be owned by a well-heeled landlord who…To read more — login/subscribe
Walkers explore cities, downtowns The Newark Downtown District puts feet on the street with the NDD Walking Club. The club is temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, but at its height, the club attracted residents, workers, and students to the free mid-day walks. The club typically runs from May through October and offers walkers three…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
Signage is an important part of reopening in Fort Lee, NJ. The Fort Lee Downtown Business Alliance is placing signage in public areas throughout the district to promote safe distancing and to remind customers to wear face coverings. The alliance is also helping local business spread the safe-reopening message within their shops and restaurants with…To read more — login/subscribe
A new parking program has debuted in downtown Salisbury, NC (est. pop. 33,961), one that lets downtown residents and workers lease spaces for $35 a month or $420 a year. The city’s Downtown Development Department set aside 30 downtown spaces for motorists who want to pay for parking. “We wanted to start with something manageable…To read more — login/subscribe
The city of Hamilton, OH, has launched several efforts in recent years to attract developers downtown. "We needed to ensure that our progress was communicated to as many people as possible to change the perception Hamilton struggled with," says Jody Gunderson, the city’s director of economic development.The marketing program includes: A quarterly e-newsletter highlights new…Continue reading
The community visioning session is a basic building block of community planning and downtown leadership. An effective visioning session can yield insights and build consensus. But organizing and conducting a successful visioning session isn’t easy. This is an ambitious, time-consuming undertaking. To do it right, you’ll need to spend several months preparing. The visioning session…To read more — login/subscribe
After a tough winter, with weather that prevented many downtown merchants from opening their doors, businesses were hoping to bounce back with the Downtown Cedar Rapids Summer Passport program. Jesse Thoeming, Cedar Rapids Downtown District executive director, said in a news release that he hopes people look at this program as a sort of scavenger…To read more — login/subscribe
The coronavirus pandemic has foisted an unprecedented crisis on downtown organizations. Many organizations were blindsided by the suddenness and severity of the downturn. To help coach downtown leaders through the turmoil, the International Downtown Association (IDA) and Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA) collaborated on a game plan that spells out steps to take in the…To read more — login/subscribe
