Global City Norwich is taking a multi-year approach to downtown revitalization and filling vacant commercial space. It all starts with welcoming the many diverse communities in this Connecticut city. Global City is a unique revitalization model, says Robert Mills, president of the Norwich Community Development Corporation. “Instead of starting off by just addressing empty storefronts…To read more — login/subscribe
When the coronavirus closed downtown Wilmington, NC (est. pop. 122,610), for business, Ed Wolverton thought back to the city’s hurricane of 2018. In the aftermath of that disaster, he telegraphed the message that downtown was open for business. In this latest shock, he delivered the same news, but with a twist. Wolverton, president and chief…To read more — login/subscribe
Tourism consultant Roger Brooks has a contrarian alternative for downtowns struggling with a dearth of visitors. Tell them to go camping, canoeing, or hiking instead. As strange as it sounds, Brooks says, the strategy makes sense. He points to the example of Asheville, NC. Thanks to its downtown restaurants and microbreweries, Brooks says, “Asheville is…To read more — login/subscribe
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
Roger Brooks relishes the opportunity to visit a downtown for the first time. By casting a fresh, critical eye on the business district, Brooks, a branding and tourism expert, can find many areas for improvement. Sometimes he spots a conspicuous lack of benches along downtown pathways and in public spaces. He might recommend sprucing up…To read more — login/subscribe
Vicksburg Main Street was prepared for a big night when a mini-disaster struck. Hours before hundreds of conference-goers were coming to an evening shopping event in Vicksburg, MS (est. pop. 22,961), a water pipe broke on Washington Street, the town’s main thoroughfare. “The street was dug up,” says Kim Hopkins, head of Vicksburg Main Street.…To read more — login/subscribe
Event management expert Lynn Fuhler looks at downtowns near her home base of Winston-Salem, NC, and sees no shortage of “trails” — themed walking or driving tours that draw in customers by playing up assets that local folks might take for granted. Downtown Asheville, NC, for instance, offers architectural tours showcasing the city’s 1920s buildings.…To read more — login/subscribe
The Quilt Trail of northeast Tennessee brings together more than one hundred sites displaying traditional quilt crafts. The trail runs through six counties and two downtown areas. Downtown Greeneville boasts several quilt locations including a history museum, town hall, library, historic inn, and others. While fragile quilts are housed indoors, building exteriors are decorated with…To read more — login/subscribe
Lauren Potter uses social media to promote downtown Phoenix, and she goes well beyond posting a quick photo and a few hastily crafted words. She once devoted three hours to creating an Instagram Story about a downtown project that used shipping containers in creative ways. “It does take time,” Potter says. “People understate how long…To read more — login/subscribe
The downtown associations in two historic city centers have joined forces to support each other and grow the region. View a brief interview with Ingram and Knepper on the benefits of co-marketing The cities of Sault Ste. Marie Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, are separated by just six miles and the International Bridge.…To read more — login/subscribe
