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Each month, Downtown Idea Exchange and Downtown Promotion Reporter provide in-depth news, information and ideas on how to rebuild the hearts of our cities.

But we often have valuable background material, additional information, or related resources that we just can’t fit in the newsletters. Listed below are a wide range of documents that add further insight and understanding to the articles in Downtown Idea Exchange and Downtown Promotion Reporter.

These documents may be viewed and printed with the Adobe Acrobat Reader. You may download a free copy by clicking on the yellow icon.

Learn more about Downtown Idea Exchange and Downtown Promotion Reporter.

July 1, 2009

Through philanthropies, downtown has found the funding to start planning its reinvention. In the midst of a recession and the aftermath of a hurricane, downtown Galveston, TX (pop. 57,470), has turned to area philanthropies to fund its $395,000 economic development plan. The plan’s development will be overseen by the Historic Downtown Strand Seaport Partnership, and will help shape the island city’s recovery after Hurricane Ike. Read a draft of the scope of services outlined for a downtown Galveston comprehensive plan. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

New uses for downtown’s shuttered car dealership. Stanford, KY (pop. 3,430), ran with an idea to transform their vacated downtown auto dealership into a small parking garage that also serves as a community center for seasonal events. Review the project’s executive summary and purpose statement. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Promoting shop-local message downtown. Education vs. gift certificate approaches. One approach to promoting local commerce is to make buying local a part of downtown’s marketing message or brand. The Bainbridge Island Downtown Association in Bainbridge, WA (pop. 20,310), took this approach with its “Think Bainbridge/Buy Local” campaign. Read the Think Bainbridge brand guidelines. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

June 15, 2009

Economic downturn creates window of opportunity to reform development process. Before the recession, the growing city of Asheville, NC (est. pop. 73,880), started seeing a quantity and scale of development proposals that was unprecedented since the 1920s. With no downtown height limits, an overwhelmed city council, and an activist population base, downtown development was becoming a highly politicized, reactive, and unpredictable process. That’s changing now. A silver lining of the recession is that it’s given Asheville a welcome opportunity to catch its breath, and create a new format where cooler heads may prevail, in the form of the new Asheville Downtown Master Plan. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Retail incubator program aims to boost critical mass of key shopping zones. Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated (DKI), Kalamazoo, MI (pop. 77,150), recently announced the availability of a new business development tool designed to assist small business owners get their concepts off the ground. A new retail incubation program will be run and managed by the Business Recruitment and Retention Committee of DKI. The Retail Incubation Program is one of the first retail-focused initiatives to come out of the new 2009 Downtown Kalamazoo Comprehensive Plan, which identifies building downtown retail as a strategic priority, based on focus groups with hundreds of community members last year. Unlike other incubator programs that identify a specific start-up property, DKI’s program is based on a model and method that encourages businesses to locate in the best space for the business. It’s expected to help two or three new businesses get started this year. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

June 1, 2009

Payment-in-lieu-of-parking fees can ease infill development constraints and parking shortage. Some cities allow downtown developers to pay fees into a municipal parking or traffic mitigation fund in lieu of providing the required parking on site. The fees can then be used to provide public parking that is strategically located according to need. Such a solution was recently implemented by way of a payment-in-lieu-of-parking code amendment ordinance in Cold Spring, MN (pop. 2,980). All money paid in accordance with the city’s payment-in-lieu-of-parking policy is deposited into a special account known as the “Parking Improvement Fund.” The city council may authorize expenditures from the Parking Improvement Fund only for the acquisition and/or development of off-street parking and related facilities, which are determined by the council to address the demand for parking within specific commercial blocks or nodes. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Grand yet shuttered downtown theater is purchased by CVB. Downtown Wheeling, WV (pop. 31,400), has a classic theater on its main street, the Capitol, which opened in 1928 and features a 2,450-seat auditorium. The Capitol Theatre was sold by Clear Channel Communications to LiveNation in the spring of 2005. After LiveNation purchased the venue, it remained largely dormant and underutilized. By August 2007, the venue was closed due to several fire and building code violations. Fortunately, downtown backers saw that day coming, and had already been long at work on a plan to purchase and resurrect the theater, to once again serve downtown as a vital cultural and economic engine. A study by Economics Research Associates conservatively estimates that the revived theater will attract at least 74,000 visitors per year through 62 events, led by the return of Wheeling Symphony Orchestra concerts. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

May 15, 2009

Identifying opportunities as short- or long-term helps to prioritize. Over the next few months, the Sussex Downtown Business Association board of directors will be prioritizing elements from Downtown Sussex — A Strategic Plan for the Redevelopment of the Central Business Area in Sussex, New Brunswick (pop. 4,240), and laying out a work plan for implementation, says Karen Black, the association’s general manager. To make choosing projects more manageable, the report divides key opportunities into short and mid- to long-term categories. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

May 1, 2009

Understand why people jaywalk, and whether the risk is acceptable. Jaywalking is something that we come to associate with the pedestrian-oriented culture of a downtown setting, and out of self-preservation, most people don’t do it too recklessly. But it should be safely managed. The Federal Highway Administration acknowledges the inevitability of this behavior, in its Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation-Lesson on Mid-Block Crossings.

Facade program has helped spur reinvestment and new interest in downtown. In downtown Vineland, NJ (pop. 56,270), improving the appearance of commercial buildings is part of an overall strategy to attract consumers and new businesses as well as to support existing businesses. Operation Facelift is the mission critical-sounding name of a facade improvement program that has successfully encouraged these improvements. Since 2006, over 70 commercial property owners have applied, with 12 renovations already finished and another 30 or so under way. View the program description and application for Operation Facelift, as well as the Design Guidelines for Main Street Vineland and an application for the town’s Facade Improvement Program for Non-Property Owners. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Assistance program boosts new and emerging events and promotions. To assist new and emerging events and promotions in downtown Grand Rapids, MI (pop. 197,800), the Downtown Alliance and Downtown Development Authority have partnered to develop a Downtown Events and Promotion Assistance Program. Requests and proposals for downtown events and promotions seeking assistance are accepted on a quarterly basis, and reviewed according to evaluation criteria presented in a seven-page application document View the events and promotion assistance program application form. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

April 15, 2009

Boosting long-term viability without detracting from small-town charm. A block-long building called The Plaza is the beginning of the 7.42-acre First Street Redevelopment Project, one of the largest undertakings in the history of St. Charles, IL (pop. 32,130). Opened last July, The Plaza looks like a traditional row of main street buildings but it actually contains a parking deck. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

The Plaza as seen from a bridge over the adjacent Fox River.

The Plaza facade as seen from across the street.

This flyer details The Plaza by numbers, and illustrates its views from all sides.

April 1, 2009

Three goals for today’s downtown leaders. Recently, Rich Bradley, executive director of the Downtown DC Business Improvement District, joined 12 other leaders of America’s top downtown organizations, as well as a leading real estate economist, to discuss implications of the global financial crisis on downtown management. Their conversations highlighted many initiatives that downtown executives from around the country are pursuing to adjust to the difficult times. View their full report, Downtowns and the Global Economic Crisis.

Capitalize on natural assets, and develop a critical mass of residents. In Sylvan Lake, Alberta (pop. 11,120), a lakefront redevelopment plan lays out strategies to capitalize on one of the best recreational lakes in the province. The plan presents a long-term vision for the downtown as a golf and spa resort. Already, by taking steps to improve its visual quality and pedestrian experience, Sylvan Lake is slowly attracting more and more retiree residents and large crowds of weekend tourists in the summer months. Read the Town of Sylvan Lake Waterfront Area Redevelopment Plan. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

BID showcases sponsorship opportunities in annual catalog. The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership in New York City is soliciting sponsorship funds from area businesses that will help facilitate the implementation of neighborhood improvement and marketing projects. Corporate sponsors receive brand recognition and logo placement that’s visible throughout the business district. They may choose to sponsor individual items or select “Adopt-A-Block” sponsorship packages that provide support for BID initiatives and yield maximum exposure for their brand and/or company. View the available sponsorship opportunities, as presented in the BID’s 2009 Sponsorship Program Catalog.(Downtown Promotion Reporter)

March 15, 2009

Help downtown improve its most important asset. The format of a walkability checklist should be compact and simple enough for people to check off what’s working well and what’s missing without much fuss. Walk San Diego has produced this fine example of one, with 25 questions covering four categories. Each category has one page in an 8.5“ x 5.5“ booklet, with room at the bottom for notes. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

March 1, 2009

With a more expansive board, BID looks to expand its service to members. After just five short years in existence, the Erie Downtown Partnership has remade itself to better serve the needs of all downtowners. The activities of the partnership include more than doubling the size of its board of directors to better represent the needs of all downtown business and property owners. As a result, the partnership has become far more effective and focused, its new director says. This year, the organization is looking at what it can provide its members beyond the usual events and marketing work that primarily serves downtown’s retail and entertainment industries. Read the recent Erie Downtown Partnership CEO Report to the public. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Bring tourists and other travelers into downtown businesses. It’s imperative for downtowns to do all that they can to attract tourist and traveler dollars, says retail consultant Barbara Wold. To do this she advocates making a shopping trip downtown as enjoyable and memorable as possible. In other words, to make it refreshingly unlike the transactional, ‘get the commodities and go’-oriented sameness of shopping online or in a big box chain store. Wold presented her ideas on enhancing the value of downtown tourists in a webinar that is part of the Innovation Lab Series presented by the National Main Street Center. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Why Tourists Shop — Log

Why Tourists Shop — Handouts

February 15, 2009

Downtown seeks growth through revitalized waterfront, and enhanced cultural offerings. In Westport, CT (pop. 26,640), downtown parking and open space beside the river have long been in too-short supply. Fortunately, Westport has a Plan Implementation Committee, as well as a year-old Downtown Subcommittee, to ensure progress is made in addressing those issues, and advancing various ideas and goals to enhance downtown. View the work of Westport’s latest planning effort, completed in 2007. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

February 1, 2009

Downtown organizations can help local businesses face turbulent times. What can downtown organizations do to support local businesses during these challenging times? Three key things, according to “Thriving in a Slow Economy,” a recent National Main Street Center Innovation Lab Webinar presented by economic restructuring specialist Todd Barman, a program officer with the National Trust Main Street Center:

• Stay the course.
• Help businesses keep pace with the market.
• Monitor and report on economic performance.

(Downtown Idea Exchange)

Campaign helps to recover and rebuild. In June 2008, Cedar Rapids, IA (est. pop. 126,400), suffered a flood that was among the worst natural disasters in American history. In response to the disaster, the Cedar Rapids Downtown District quickly assembled the “Rebuild Downtown” campaign. It included full-page ads in Sunday editions of the city newspaper in August and October, listing businesses that were coming back, as well as a full-page ad in the area business journal. There were also radio ads, each featuring this intro and outro message, sandwiching three or four business owners declaring their intent to return downtown. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

To develop a brand for downtown think of her as a movie star. Developing a strong brand for downtown can help guide your promotions and advertising, as well as provide a touchstone for visitors to remember long after they’ve left. But before the promotions and ad campaigns begin, the downtown organization must craft a brand that highlights the best of what downtown has to offer. A recent podcast from Virginia Main Street shows the way. Download a worksheet for hosting a session to find your brand personality. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

January 15, 2009

Site visits demonstrate value of modern streetcar. At least 40 cities are exploring modern streetcar plans, and more than a dozen have existing lines. One downtown exploring the idea is Fort Worth, TX (2007 est. pop. 681,800). Last year, the Fort Worth mayor and city council appointed a Modern Streetcar Study Committee to examine the feasibility of streetcars in the downtown core. The committee worked for six months, looking at previous studies, identifying favored routes for a starter corridor, estimating capital and operating costs along with potential funding sources, and proposing the next steps for city council to take. View the resulting Modern Streetcar Study Committee Recommendations. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

January 1, 2009

RFP ensures fair price for study of downtown parking needs. Following a request for proposals (RFP) process that yielded a wide range in bid estimates, the Brighton (MI, pop. 6,700) Downtown Development Authority is commissioning its first comprehensive parking study in a decade. When issuing an RFP for a study, “you really need to be very precise about what your expectations are,” in terms of the final product and the process used to achieve it, advises Piet Lindhout, CEO of Brighton architecture and engineering firm Lindhout Associates. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Work with state DOT to lead visitors into downtown. Working with the state department of transportation, the Downtown Development Authority of Traverse City, MI (pop. 14,530), has hired hometown firm Corbin Design to create a comprehensive wayfinding and signage system for the downtown. Here’s a preview of draft designs for the system. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

December 15, 2008

Improvements slow car traffic to favor foot traffic on reclaimed main street. The biggest challenge faced over the last 25 years in revitalizing downtown Livermore, CA (pop. 73,350), and making it an attractive, desirable, and ‘cool’ destination, was that a state highway ran right down the middle of the central business district. In fact, a portion of the four-lane Highway 84 was downtown’s main street. To literally pave the way for an improved downtown, the first-priority project from Livermore’s Downtown Specific Plan involved substantial modifications and improvements to First Street, shifting the roadway from its previous use as a state highway to a pedestrian-friendly destination street. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

December 1, 2008

Rapid-growth city upgrades what’s necessary as well as what’s nice for downtown. As the first phase of implementation of its Town Center Study, downtown McKinney, TX (2008 estimated pop. 115,600), incorporated aesthetic and place-making sidewalk and street enhancements hand in hand with improvements made underground. Underground infrastructure upgrades were needed to keep up with the city’s booming population. In March 2008, the McKinney City Council voted unanimously to approve the Town Center Study Phase 1 Report. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

A downtown survey can inform recruitment, programming, marketing. A periodic survey — of the general public’s use, perceptions, and desires for downtown, an inventory of downtown businesses and commercial occupancy, or both — can inform business recruitment, marketing, and programming. See the survey questions and results from downtown Green Bay, WI (pop. 100,400), and the building, business, and residential unit surveys from downtown Salem, OR (pop. 136,900). Also of note: Salem’s policy statement explaining the Downtown Commercial Area Inventory, pre- and post-survey postcards. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

November 15, 2008

Base planning and design concepts in market realities. With regard to downtown planning: “Get as many people as possible in your community involved in the process, through surveys, focus groups, and community meetings,” says Cory Scott, a planner with RDG Planning & Design.

“Downtown Park Rapids, MN (pop. 3,280), had over 450 people complete surveys, over 220 people participate in focus groups, and three meetings for the community that were attended by over 100 people each, along with extensive news coverage. By the time we got done, it wasn’t the downtown group’s plan or a consultant’s plan. It was a community plan because it really reflected the culture,” he says. View the Downtown Park Rapids Plan. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

City implements downtown public safety zone. In recent months, residents, downtown businesses, city staff, and city councilors all reported concerns about safety and bad behavior in downtown Eugene, OR (pop. 137,900). Tracking the city’s safety patterns confirmed a 30 percent increase in intimidating behavior and criminal activity downtown. So the Eugene city council enacted a Downtown Public Safety Zone ordinance, which addresses the higher incidence of certain types of crimes in the downtown area. Enforcement efforts will specifically target repeat offenders engaged in criminal activity. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

November 1, 2008

City acquires, plans to clean up brownfield as redevelopment-ready land. The city council recently voted to take over a brownfield site in downtown Tacoma, WA (pop. 193,600), and the massive cleanup and liability that comes with it. It’s a move that will position downtown to come back stronger when the economy rebounds. View the agreement by which the City of Tacoma acquired the brownfield. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Design guidelines help spur revitalization of destination downtown. Downtown design guidelines have helped Pittsburg, CA (pop. 56,770), a city traditionally known as a blue-collar area, break a reinvestment impasse and pave the way for a full-scale makeover. View Pittsburg’s Old Town Design Guidelines. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Without retail density, don’t invest in costly advertising. Without much retail density downtown, the Pueblo Downtown Association, Pueblo, CO (pop. 102,100), doesn’t bother to advertise. Instead, its marketing efforts focus on enhancing the appearance of the area, lunchtime events during the early summer, and historic downtown calendars. View the Pueblo Downtown Association budget. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

October 15, 2008

Accountability counts, downtown development authority finds. Accountable and transparent budgeting and investment practices are always wise, since they allow a downtown organization to weather political and economic changes. In Rochester, MI (pop. 10,470), for example, the usual budgeting and accounting practices of the Downtown Development Authority were not real received by new city council leadership. After reluctantly approving two large amendments to the DDA’s budget for special projects, the new city council called for discussions about the DDA’s practices. See a critical presentation to city council by councilman and CPA Ben Giovanelli here.(Downtown Idea Exchange)

Seek new strategies to preserve and protect downtown’s heritage. Why can’t preservation and economic development be friends? Gain further insight and perspective to the October 15, 2008 Perspectives column by Dan Brown, executive director of the Tennessee Preservation Trust, in our article about the Clarksville Center Redevelopment and Urban Renewal Plan he criticizes, published in the October 1, 2008 issue. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

October 1, 2008

Ad campaign turns negative perceptions around, and shows marketing works. Thanks to a highly effective, TV-based marketing campaign led by the Downtown Marketing Initiative, far more people around the region are viewing downtown Portland, OR, favorably. Though the TV advertising is indeed expensive, downtown Portland has also been resourceful in its relatively inexpensive email blasts and public relations efforts. See some press clippings that helped turn popular opinion about downtown around, from about 60 percent negative to about 60 percent positive. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Create a self-guided walking tour with historical perspective. To provide expert-guided tours that don’t need much marketing support, the MetroTech Business Improvement District in downtown Brooklyn, NY, recently introduced a self-guided walking tour available as a free mp3 audio download. The former Brooklyn Borough Historian assisted in writing the script, and also narrates the walking tour. Hear how downtown Brooklyn’s podcast tour came out, and follow along with this accompanying map. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Efforts to spur downtown development can face rough political terrain. It will be 10 years in January since a devastating tornado hit downtown Clarksville, TN (pop. 103,500). By local accounts, the downtown was in rough shape economically before the tornado hit, and the disaster put the district in even more dire straits. The silver lining in the disaster was that it mobilized productive planning and action for downtown.

The condition of downtown prompted the establishment of the Central Business Improvement District and its managing body the Downtown District Partnership, which has implemented exterior design guidelines to ensure that new buildings are in character with the appearance, size, and scale of existing properties. But the BID’s progress took a controversial turn in championing a redevelopment district ordinance that the city council passed earlier this year.

The legislation enables downtown as well as a number of close-in residential areas and neighborhoods to be treated as a redevelopment district. It declares that downtown is blighted, and as such eligible for redevelopment activities and, if necessary, land acquisition and financial incentives.

In response to criticism about the redevelopment district ordinance being too laissez-faire, the BID contends that the ordinance bows to previous planning efforts like the design review guidelines, land use master plan, and streetscape master plan for the CBD. It issued this FAQ sheet to answer community concerns. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

September 15, 2008

Downtown revitalization plan, loans and grant programs energize investment. A go-to tool to catalyze private development and strengthen downtown Hutchinson, MN (pop. 13,080), is its five-year-old downtown revitalization master plan. The master plan emphasizes experiences and activities that will keep people coming back, rather than directing uses for land and strategies to ensure that buildings are occupied. Since the plan’s creation in 2003, more than $12 million in new investment has taken place downtown. View A Future Vision: A Revitalization Master Plan for Downtown Hutchinson, Minnesota. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

1. Introduction & Purpose

2. Conditions of Downtown

3. Community Context

4. Market Analysis

5. Community Input

6. Vision & Principles

7. Master Plan

8. Implementation & Finance

9. Technical Memorandum

Rethinking and rebuilding for a cleaner, greener downtown. Following a tornado disaster, Greensburg, KS (pop. 1,570), decided to rebuild the downtown with a real emphasis on “green.” BNIM Architects has worked closely with the city to develop a master plan that strives to balance long-term economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Greensburg also recently established downtown design guidelines, a set of architectural and site-specific practices for creating the kind of downtown it wants. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

September 1, 2008

New study aims to collect accurate data on traffic generated by downtown development. A lack of current and accurate data on how people travel in downtowns makes it more difficult and expensive to build good-quality, higher density, mixed-use infill and redevelopment projects. To correct this, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is providing the funding for an important research project to study travel characteristics of infill development in the state’s metropolitan areas. View Trip-Generation Rates for Urban Infill Land Uses in California/Phase 1: Data Collection Methodology And Pilot Application, and sample urban infill travel surveys used by Kimley-Horn and Associates. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Public transit: Increase ridership by reducing security concerns. A new report suggests several approaches to increasing the use of public transit by reducing security concerns. The recommended measures range from increased lighting to increasing activity around transit stops through cafes and vendor-attended kiosks. The NZ Transport Agency report, Personal security in public transport travel in New Zealand: problems, issues & solutions, by D.M. Kennedy of Booz and Company (NZ) Ltd., draws on the findings of international literature and then explores users’ concerns in three cities. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Special assessment district develops beliefs and policy statements for downtown. A Vision for Downtown Saratoga Springs (NY, pop. 26,190), a six-page draft document prepared by the city’s Downtown Special Assessment District, summarizes the basic beliefs and policies that will guide the 30-year-old Special Assessment District (SAD) in its continuing efforts to work for a vibrant and successful downtown. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Town-gown partnerships can extend to marketing. “Say there’s nothing to do in downtown... we dare you...” That challenge introduces a student-oriented, user-friendly guide to downtown Dayton, OH (pop. 166,200), put together by 15 civic-minded University of Dayton students. View Beyond Brown: A Student Guide to Downtown Dayton. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Calendar to raise money for downtown. Earlier this year, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District announced plans to develop a commemorative calendar to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s historic voyage and landing in what would become Albany, NY (pop. 95,660). To ensure the calendar features dynamic and compelling images, the BID conducted an open call for amateur and professional photographers to submit photos. Each applicant could submit up to three images that emphasize the history, architecture, and culture of downtown. View a commemorative calendar sell sheet, sponsorship form, and a photo contest application. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

August 15, 2008

Design standards, land use, and zoning changes aim to improve downtown An example of how to bring together several tools for long-term planning and development comes from Tigard, OR (pop. 41,220). In the last three years, the city adopted this 20- to 30-year blueprint called the Tigard Downtown Improvement Plan. Currently, the city is developing a draft of land use and design standards, and also negotiating to acquire property for a public plaza downtown. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Consider pervious pavement materials for better stormwater management To better manage the stormwater problem, some downtowns are turning to the use of permeable pavement, which lets rain seep naturally and benignly into the ground. A high-profile example is the City of Chicago, which tested the concept recently by paving a number of its alleys, most of which don’t have storm sewers underneath them, with three types of permeable, hard-surface materials. The City of Chicago “did an awesome handbook” on permeable alleys, in the words of Bob Schiesl, assistant city engineer of Dubuque, IA (pop. 57,690), a much smaller city that is trying out a “Green Alley” Pilot Program of its own to improve downtown sustainability. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

August 1, 2008

Television ad campaign highlights slices of life in downtown. A new television advertising campaign promoting downtown Wichita, KS (pop. 344,300), started airing during last year’s holiday season. The 30-second spots use the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation’s tagline “Life Happens Here” and focus on four themes — nightlife and entertainment, business, living, and downtown overall. The ads are scored with jazzy music to convey the impression of movement, activity, and sophistication. The campaign initially ran through mid-January. The WDDC conducted a quick consumer survey to measure the impact of the ads, and extended the campaign throughout 2008 based on encouraging survey results.

View one of the slice-of-life ads and an overview of the survey results. Listen to the radio ad (8mb) designed to reach people in their cars on Black Friday, and reinforce the TV ad introduced on Thanksgiving. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Firehouse may be moved, remade as new activity center and focal point. Having verified that the Colorado Springs Fire Department’s obsolete, 500-ton firehouse can be moved to a new location, “we began to talk to people about how we might be able to use that old building as a magnet for people to come into the downtown area,” says Dan Raider, deputy chief. Then more formally, the city’s procurement office put out a Request For Information to the development community. Five developers have responded at press time.

View the Request for Information seeking letters of interest from developers to relocate and redevelop the old fire station, the site plan drawings, relevant notes from an American Institute of Architects Design Charrette, and an “Imagine Downtown” visioning document that support the concept. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Architectural renderings: Colorado Springs Fire Department Relocation of Old Station 1

Site plan A

Site plan B

Aerial

Gateway perspective A

Gateway perspective B

Asset mapping is a useful information tool in downtown redevelopment. As an information tool for property owners and potential developers interested in brownfield redevelopment opportunities, downtown El Cajon, CA (pop. 94,870), created a new geographic information system (GIS) database. The project began in the fall of 2005, when the city wrote and received an EPA Brownfields Phase I grant for $200,000, in order to do an overview assessment of the brownfields downtown. Administering the grant on behalf of the city’s redevelopment agency, El Cajon Community Development Corporation contracted with an environmental consultant who did the assessment on downtown’s brownfields and created the GIS database. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

The following documents reveal more about this project:

1) Information sheet created when the EPA Brownsfields Grant was first awarded 2.5 years ago.

2) El Cajon CDC slide presentation to city council members to inform them what was accomplished with the grant.

3) El Cajon CDC slide presentation to the public on July 11, 2007, especially targeted to developers, real estate agents, and property owners about the GIS Database and funding sources available to clean up contaminated properties and develop them.

4) Text of a presentation by El Cajon CDC’s economic development coordinator drafted for the public meeting on July 11, 2007.

5) Real Estate Hot Sheet that the GIS Database informs.

July 15, 2008

Residential growth is a delicate albeit critical balancing act. A particular challenge for downtowns is balancing mixed incomes as well as mixed uses against brute market forces.

For example, from 1998 to 2006, average family incomes in Missoula, MT, rose 34 percent, but median home prices rose 72 percent. Missoula Mayor John Engen is leading a community discussion to figure out how to keep home ownership in reach for working people. See a draft of the city’s affordable housing program concept, and a chart of potential financial tools for affordable housing.

Among the residential development success stories that Missoula can look to is downtown Baton Rouge, LA (pop. 227,800), which has grown by about 300 residents over the last 10 years, and now has about 2,400 residential units. The Downtown Development District hopes to implement new strategies for even more. Incorporating insight from the Urban Land Institute, this newsletter from the City-Parish Planning Commission addresses common urban housing issues very well. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

July 1, 2008

Coming soon: Walking and biking trails through downtown’s historic district. A combination walking and bike trail will be constructed by the city next spring in historic downtown Natchez, MS (pop. 18,460). After nearly two years of grant-writing and fundraising, the first phase of the Natchez Trails Project is now fully funded with a budget of $2.9 million. To get a sense of this project’s own history, read the many letters supporting it back in September 2005, as well as these project description and project benefits documents. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Project description

Project benefits

Letters of support

More letters of support

Employing college interns to assist in downtown marketing. Following the adage that many hands make light work, the City of Youngstown, OH (pop. 82,000), recently established a new Downtown Marketing and Promotion Specialist internship position. The city’s director of events and special projects worked with the local business college’s internship coordinator to develop this two-page description of the position, which was uploaded into the business department’s database. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

June 15, 2008

A recipe book for high-impact downtown revitalization projects. That’s the concept of the Community Revitalization Desktop Guide, offered online by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

June 1, 2008

Broaden rationale in lobbying for laws that better serve downtowns. Central to any effort advocating better policies or laws is educating the general public about why it matters. For example, a newly expanded tax credit for historic rehabilitation, which GrowSmart Maine strongly advocated for when the legislature was in session, will return dozens of underutilized historic buildings to productive working and living space. Check out this high-tech tool of that advocacy, an interactive Google Map of historic buildings in downtowns and town centers all over the state that have been rehabilitated thus far with Maine’s pre-existing historic tax credit. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

TOD strategy will increase residential density, reduce parking requirements. The Downtown San Leandro Transit-Oriented Development Strategy expands on the policies in the General Plan for downtown San Leandro, CA (pop. 79,450), and articulates and quantifies the potential of the greater downtown area for TOD. Of particular interest are its comprehensive land use policies and study of opportunity sites, providing specific guidance for future development. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Partnership with developers and media drives housing tour. The first Move UP Downtown Living Tour for downtown Oklahoma City, OK (pop. 506,100), made copies of this tour book and map available at each of 11 stops. The Oklahoman newspaper worked with downtown to produce a four-color, four-page ad insert that reached readers statewide. The other media partner, Downtown Magazine published the tour book. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Page 1

Page 2-3

Page 4

Anniversary celebrated through art and events downtown. The Art of Newtown’s 325th Anniversary is a public art program that invited 12 Newtown artists, whose specialties include the fine arts, graphic arts, and photography, to come together to bring their imaginations to the anniversary celebration. Each artist was asked to interpret Newtown’s 325th and was given creative license to express the theme in any style that reflects his or her personal vision. The only guidelines were to include “325” and “Newtown.” The rest was left up to the artist’s perception, imagination, and inspiration. See some examples of the works here. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Poster 1

Poster 2

Poster 3

Poster 4

Poster 5

May 15, 2008

Effort to establish a BID faces hurdles of winning over hotels, changing law. Passing a BID assessment directly onto hotel room guests is already benefiting downtowns in the states of California, Washington, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Montana, through some form of what’s called a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID).

The Missoula Downtown Association is supporting a TBID for Missoula, MT (pop. 57,050), along with the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp. and CVB. The proposal calls for implementing a 75 cent assessment on each occupied room. Based on a 60-percent occupancy rate and 3,000 rooms, it would generate about $493,000 per year in addition to the $150,000 in current bed tax funds.

Support by 60 percent of hoteliers is needed for the Missoula TBID proposal to pass. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

May 1, 2008

How can downtowns and their retailers best prepare for the economic slowdown? According to the latest five-year retail trends assessment by the downtown consulting firm DANTH Inc., CBD retailing is entering into a period of stress, which will likely be especially acute for districts catering to middle-income consumers. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Plan for traffic management at downtown events In this article, Walter Dunn president of Dunn Engineering Associates P.C., identifies four keys to traffic planning for downtown events. These are taken from a handbook he wrote on special event traffic management for the Federal Highway Administration, Managing Travel for Planned Special Events. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

April 15, 2008

In strategically planning for future, downtown eyes expansion. “A shifting regional economy, growing county population, and changing demographics have transformed the traditionally central role of downtown Noblesville, IN (pop. 28,590). These factors challenged Noblesville to redefine the role of downtown and engage the growing population. Noblesville rose to the challenge by producing the Downtown Noblesville Strategic Development Plan. Introduced last year, the plan serves as a guide to smart incremental change that respects the community’s history and enhances its assets. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

April 1, 2008

Having made good physical improvements, downtown must now talk up its buzz. “Downtown Ypsilanti and the DDA have spent a lot of time and money over the past several years investing in the physical infrastructure and improving the physical look of downtown. Now the consultants are saying, ‘You’ve built a great foundation. Let’s start letting everybody know about downtown — that it’s fantastic businesses combined with fantastic residential lofts and apartments, and a great-looking downtown,’” says Brian Vosburg, director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority. Read about how downtown should position itself, according to its strategic plan for the next five years. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Promote reforms for aging. To help cities make the most of an ever growing older population, the World Health Organization last year released the Global Age-friendly Cities Guide on October 1, International Day of Older Persons. Downtowns can use this day and this guide to promote awareness of what needs to be done to make downtown more accommodating for aging and elderly users. View the age-friendly guide and checklist. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Does downtown have a workable business plan? Downtown is as much a business as any it is home to, and so must plan like one. For example, the San Luis Obispo Downtown Association, in San Luis Obispo, CA (pop. 44,170), recently updated its San Luis Obispo Downtown Strategic Business Plan. As its name implies, the plan is focused on planning for the economic future of downtown, not the district’s overall future. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

March 15, 2008

Greener technology can improve downtown’s bottom line and safety Smaller downtowns that are taking pioneering steps to convert their pedestrian lighting to LED technology include Ann Arbor, MI (pop. 114,000). After successfully piloting LED globe lights on a full block downtown, Ann Arbor is going ahead with full conversion of over 1,000 of its downtown streetlights over the next two years. The city expects a short payback of 3.8 years on its investment.

Read Ann Arbor’s LED Streetlight Program summary and a white paper on LED technology applications prepared by greenTbiz, a Program of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas.

March 1, 2008

How to handle taking out trash and recyclables without creating eyesores? For answers, Downtown Idea Exchange turned to an expert on this issue, Blair Pollock, solid waste planner, Orange County Solid Waste Management Department in North Carolina. Here’s a letter that his department uses to reinforce its service relationships with recycling program participants. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Understand how volunteers and volunteerism is changing. Recruiting new volunteers is “a lot like fund-raising,”says Stephanie Redman, president of TBD Consulting. “The number-one secret to volunteer recruitment is asking. But beyond that, you’ve got to have a well-defined set of tasks that you want the volunteer to do for you. Be very strategic,” she says. As an excellent example of volunteer recruiting and management, New Jersey’s Main Street Mount Holly posts at its website this Volunteer Sign Up Request Form and Volunteer Work Plan. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

February 15, 2008

Pioneering use of technology sheds light on the power of volunteers: Google is currently in the process of developing Web pages that highlight the benefits of downtowns to create a 3D virtual model. In this paper, Chris Wilson, director of Main Street McMinnville, TN, encapsulates the benefits and possible uses of such a model to any downtown.

A related program that Google is running in the Northeast is called “Visualize your community in 3D”. For this pilot initiative, Google hired a company (Green Mountain Graphics) to help downtowns organize a volunteer group and then offer free training with SketchUp and Google Earth. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

February 1, 2008

Downtown markets evenly to close-by and distant people: In large part, downtown Hays, KS (pop. 20,010), has turned the corner from decades of decline by focusing evenly on its two key markets: in-county and out-of-county residents.

Tools that the city uses to do that include billboard and cooperative print advertising, a coupon sheet offered to downtown visitors, a window cling given to downtown Hays contributors and all downtown businesses, and a document detailing downtown graphics standards. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

A previous billboard downtown Hays has had up on I-70.

A starting concept for a new downtown Hays billboard in development.

Design concept for a two- or three-sided panel billboard to potentially be placed at a Wal-Mart store, whose manager is on the downtown board of directors.

The back side of a coupon page Hays offers to downtown visitors.

A window cling Hays provides to downtown contributors and to all downtown businesses.

Rough draft of a document for downtown graphics standards. Recently, the Chestnut Street District logo was registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The city worked with a legal firm to finalize this.

 

Master plan positions downtown to get the growth it wants: During the last ten years or so, Colorado County has experienced rampant three-percent growth per year, but downtown Pagosa Springs, CO (pop. 1,590), has not been a prominent beneficiary of that. To correct a growth pattern biased against downtown, the town worked with a privately-funded 2004 study on strengthening downtown as the foundation for the Downtown Master Plan for Pagosa Springs it has now passed. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

Looking Ahead to August: Sisters get a day of their own: Sister’s Day celebrates being or having a sister. It’s the perfect time to host a girls night out or sisters weekend downtown. To learn more about Sisters Weekend and other girl-power events, read this article from a past issue of Downtown Promotion Reporter. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

January 15, 2008

How a shuttered movie theater became an active wedding hall: A risky move by the City of Hays, KS (pop. 20,010), putting a closed movie house it had acquired up for public auction, paid off. Built for its original purpose in 1950 and renovated and remodeled in 2006 for more than $500,000, the 400-capacity Fox Pavilion celebrated its one-year anniversary as a special event venue last October. The restored Fox once again serves as an important anchor for downtown, in its second life as a popular venue for weddings and other gatherings. Read more about the story behind this wonderful adaptive reuse in the following articles. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Fox Grand Opening

Fox Pavilion Earns Statewide Recognition

Hays Daily News - Fox Award

Remodeled Movie Palace

2007 Emerging Business of the Year

January 1, 2008

What are the top global trends affecting downtowns? and Big trends will affect your DT marketing: Do global trends have local relevance to downtown development and marketing? Absolutely, say the team at Progressive Urban Management Associates (P.U.M.A.). Their recently updated global trends analysis, Top 10 Global Trends Affecting Downtowns and How to Respond at Home, looks at trends which affect downtowns and suggests conclusions and implications for downtown planning, development, and marketing decision makers. In our sister publications, Downtown Idea Exchange and Downtown Promotion Reporter, we simultaneously focus on select trends discussed in the report through the prism of downtown development and improvement and downtown marketing and promotion, respectively. (Downtown Idea Exchange and Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Green-minded DT merchants team up for Shop Green campaign: In a Shop Green campaign, launched on Black Friday 2007, like-minded businesses in downtown Ithaca, NY (pop. 29,290), came up with the Shop Green Passport as a promotional idea that could extend throughout the holiday season. The passport includes a map of the Shop Green businesses. See downtown Ithaca’s Shop Green Passport and map here. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

December 15, 2007

Building political will is vital to a downtown’s residential development: Support by third parties perceived as neutral to a developer’s bottom line can be vital in galvanizing political will for downtown’s development. A good case in point is a recent rezoning of a blighted area behind downtown Boonton, NJ (pop. 8,500), from Industrial to High-Density Residential. The rezoning was necessary to enable a proposed residential redevelopment of the site as a 148-unit apartment complex. Here are documents that Boonton Main Street distributed in support of the controversial rezoning.

Boonton Main Street statement endorsing a rezoning of an industrial area for residential redevelopment.

A Q&A fact sheet distributed by Boonton Main Street addressing common concerns about the proposed residential redevelopment.

A letter from Boonton Main Street presenting the town’s Board of Aldermen with 35 signatures of downtown merchants and business owners in support of the BMS trustees’ supportive stance toward the zoning change.

A letter from Boonton Main Street to the town’s Board of Aldermen, essentially advocating for the inclusion of a formal community benefits agreement process in negotiations with the proposed developer. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

Ongoing challenges and areas for improvement require new approaches: Very rarely will any downtown face entirely new or unique challenges. Most challenges are common and familiar, but they also tend to change and often grow over time. Therefore, ongoing challenges for downtowns will periodically require new thinking and approaches, and often renewed commitments. For some good examples of how a downtown is addressing its ongoing challenges, see the City of Kirkland Downtown Strategic Plan Strategic Situation Assessment. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

December 1, 2007

Strategic plan update process finds areas of agreement, assesses new challenges: As downtown’s conditions on the ground change, it must adjust its strategies. For example, the City of Kirkland, WA (pop. 45,050), is conducting an assessment and update of its 2001 Downtown Kirkland Strategic Plan. A 16-member Downtown Advisory Committee was appointed to facilitate the public process and advise city council in this endeavor. The committee recently completed Phase I, the Strategic Situation Assessment, and reported its findings. It’s a good case study in refining downtown strategy. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Spread the wealth of downtown’s business savvy: To help downtown businesses help themselves, the city of Franklin, PA (pop. 7,200), recently began hosting instructional classes for downtown businesspeople and their employees on marketing and customer service topics. With the networking and communication that the classes bring, Franklin hopes to see its downtown businesses cooperate in new ways. For example, downtown could standardize extended store hours on Thursday and Friday evenings, so that stores benefit from foot trafic driven by the strong restaurants and active theater. See two examples of how Franklin pitches its workshops to potential attendees here. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

BID has strong criteria for event funds: The Durango, CO (pop. 13,920), Business Improvement District has developed this comprehensive list of criteria that an event must meet before the BID supports it. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

November 15, 2007

What exactly is a ‘downtown’?: Years ago, the answer to this question was relatively simple: It’s the center of town where all the tall buildings are, and the place to shop, writes David Feehan of the International Downtown Association (IDA). During the past decade or two, that definition has become dated and inadequate — but what should replace it?

Formulating and adopting what now is called the IDA Charter was only the first step in what IDA hopes will be an ongoing, lively conversation among those who “live, work, shop, and play” in downtowns, business districts, and town centers. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

November 1, 2007

Smart cards could be the new Swiss Army Knife for downtown commerce: For over a year, a city-sponsored smart card has served a couple of important purposes for downtown New Haven, CT (pop. 123,600). Developed and managed by Parcxmart Technologies, the New Haven city card is currently accepted as a debit card at 34 stores and restaurants (the majority of which are downtown), and provides a convenient means of paying for metered parking (as well as city parking tickets). Here’s a data sheet explaining how the technology can benefit downtowns. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Key questions to ask in assessing events: To ensure that your events are doing as much good for downtown as they’re supposed to, Elizabeth Ann Nicols, executive director, Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, Milwaukee, WI (pop 597,000), recommends asking five key questions with each event downtown does. View her presentation on those assessment questions, with examples of how they are answered for particular events, here. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

October 15, 2007

Parking study brings clarity and reason to highly politically charged issue: In response to a stalemated parking debate confronting downtown development, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, Ann Arbor, MI (pop. 114,000), commissioned this comprehensive downtown parking study by Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates. Read a summary and complete chapter of its recommendations.

Also, from Ann Arbor’s presentation at the 2007 annual conference of the International Downtown Association, here are key questions to ask before sending out an RFP or RFQ for a downtown parking study. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Comprehensive plan update lays out downtown objectives and strategies: The Town of Rocky Mount, VA (pop. 4,070), recently adopted an update of its comprehensive plan, which directs town leaders on how to build on downtown momentum. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

October 1, 2007

Downtown becomes “Uptown” to reflect transformation to a “whole new place”: Last November, the town council of Normal, IL (pop. 45,390), voted to officially change the name of the newly improved downtown to “Uptown.” With a name like Normal, one might expect marketers to get carried away with puns. Actually, Uptown’s tagline is subtle as a pun yet sharp and meaningful: “Changing the definition!”

The tagline also “works in conjunction with the secondary taglines that reference the individual activities in the Uptown,” states the Normal Branding Program Manual of Graphic Standards by Cardosi Kiper Design Group. For example, Uptown restaurants can post on their menus, storefronts, and marketing collateral a version of the logo that says “Dining is Normal,” with a graphic fork and knife inside the “O” roundel of the upper-case Normal logo.

Similar templates were designed for shopping, bicycling, excitement, education, and transportation. Businesses that make use of the brand are asked to adhere to very specific branding standards, detailed in this 16-page manual. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

 

Art and sports history converge in downtown attractions: Art of the Game is a two-year public art project celebrating the long and rich baseball history of Pittsfield, MA (pop. 45,790), through the creativity of local artists. This Public Art Walking Tour brochure and guide was produced by the city to maximize the benefit of the baseball-themed, three-dimensional art installations. The brochure explains the vision behind the project and features a map showing the locations of 49 pieces it describes. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

 

Grand old bank in disrepair? If you rehab it, they will come: In 1998, the city of Albert Lea, MN (pop. 18,360), purchased the Freeborn Bank and Jacobsen buildings, vacant since 1990, to save them from the wrecking ball. Recently, the city invested about $1.8 million in the exterior restoration of these two cornerstone buildings, distinguished by architectural features like 14-foot ceilings and brick and glazed terra-cotta and green-marble exteriors.

Completed in June, Albert Lea’s exterior building rehabilitation makes the two interconnected buildings more readily viable for new uses and tenants. View an RFP for redevelopment of downtown Albert Lea’s Freeborn Bank Building here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

September 15, 2007

Improve links to highways to upgrade access, economic development potential: A city that expects to catalyze new investment and development downtown through a major improvement to its highway access is Manchester, NH (pop. 107,000). When a key traffic improvement project is completed next fall, downtown will have a full highway interchange so that motorists can either get on or off the highway near the downtown exit, going both north and south. Learn more about the project here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

September 1, 2007

Mystery shopping helps provide for better service and sales downtown: “By setting up a mystery shopper program, you can learn more about how your customers are treated in just one week than you have learned since your businesses opened,” says Liza Cirlot Looser, CEO of The Cirlot Agency, a corporate communications firm. Tools used for mystery shopping assessments can range from simple questionnaires to complete audio and video recordings. Merchants can then utilize the results of the mystery shopping program for employee improvement and management initiatives. Click here to view a sample mystery shopper form. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

 

Parking project evolves to strategically catalyze more feet on the street: As the Longmont Downtown Development Authority worked with the City of Longmont, CO (pop. 71,090), on developing a parking structure, downtown leaders realized that this investment was an opportunity to catalyze bigger and better things if they played their cards right.

View a letter explaining the evolution of the mixed-use parking garage project here.

View a study into scenarios of how the project could take shape here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

August 15, 2007

Rent assistance programs can stabilize new businesses during start-up: In order to stimulate reinvestment in downtown Rocky Mount, NC (pop. 55,890), the city offers three partnership opportunities with downtown property owners and leasees: a facade improvement grant, a major impact grant, and a rental assistance grant, available for new businesses locating along its main street, in a defined area between two cross streets. Learn more about each of those business incentive programs here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

August 1, 2007

Ads and PR attract businesses downtown: Click here to view all five ads of Downtown Albany (NY, pop. 95,660) Business Improvement District’s “Only Downtown Albany” campaign that spotlights the quality of life and ease of doing business benefits that are unique to downtown. Click here to view the statistical impact of this campaign’s launch as measured in website hits. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

 

Linking a park to parking in downtown: The new Nashville Public Square hosts a farmer’s market each Thursday. A third of its acreage sits above a subterranean, green-roof parking garage. View images of the Nashville Public Square with and without an event under way here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

Downtown proposes mitigation measures to offset negative development impacts: The Ellensburg Downtown Association, Ellensburg,WA (pop. 15,410), has developed a list of recommended measures to help offset the potentially damaging impact that proposed new regional retail development on the outskirts of town may have on downtown. Click here to view an economic development fund ordinance that gave the Ellensburg Downtown Association one of its proposal ideas. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

July 15, 2007

Crystal City, a mixed-use office center in Arlington, VA (pop. 189,500), is undergoing an intensive redevelopment planning process aimed at transforming it from an office area to a vibrant and economically diversified downtown. Here’s a document with illustrations of the preliminary concept for Crystal City’s long-range planning. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

July 1, 2007

The City of Everett, WA (pop. 101,100), sided with the “on-street parking should be free“ school of thought when it removed parking meters from downtown in the early 1970s. Now it’s looking at putting them (or something like them) back.

So the city issued an RFQ for the Everett Downtown CBD Pay Parking Management Study, to investigate the potential implementation of a “pay to park” management plan in downtown.

Click here to view the RFQ for the Everett Downtown CBD Pay Parking Management Study. Also of note is this CBD “Pay to Park” Parking Management Study — Draft Scope of Work Outline. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

Downtown Highland, MI (pop. 19,170), is gaining momentum thanks in part to marketing efforts of the Highland Downtown Development Authority. For instance, an active equestrian conservancy in town introduced a tour of barns in and around town in 2005.

This flyer shows how that horsey event has come to be leveraged by the DDA into a broad downtown event. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

June 15, 2007

As a means of transportation, the bus is finding new respect and favor among downtown advocates under the sexy moniker of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). For example, BRT was recently evaluated along with commuter rail between the Oklahoma downtowns of Tulsa (pop. 393,100) and Broken Arrow (about 90,000). Click here to read the Broken Arrow/Tulsa Mass Transit Feasibility Study Executive Summary, which evaluates the potential for BRT service between two downtowns. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

To keep late-night downtown disturbances to a minimum, the City of Nanaimo, British Columbia (pop. 78,690), maintains Good Neighbor Agreements with all 45 to 50 liquor license holders. The four-page Good Neighbor Agreement lays out standards that such hospitality businesses are expected to uphold, and is signed by the mayor, the chief of police, and each bar owner. Click here to view a sample Good Neighbor Agreement. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

June 1, 2007

Can sewers play a role in revitalizing downtown? Highland Station, the downtown area of Highland, MI, built around the railroad, is “picking up steam” with its first new building in 20 years and a first-ever sewer system on tap. Read more about Highland Station and its downtown development authority’s work in a DDA newsletter here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

Statewide poll asks “Why do people come downtown?” Downtown development groups stand to benefit from conducting survey research to better understand who’s coming downtown and why. Here are the questions and results of a poll conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute that asked adult residents of New Jersey to say what they like. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

May 15, 2007

Confluence of factors leads to development of new market-rate housing: A market-rate residential development trend is taking root in downtown Everett, WA (pop. 91,490), and it’s no coincidence that less than a year ago, Everett completed a new downtown plan with revised design standards and zoning regulations. “Quite a few things were added to the plan and the code, but I think the design measures were the most significant,” says Allan Giffen, planning director, City of Everett. “We went to a floor area ratio system and provided for bonuses where if you add certain design measures that improve the building, you can get greater floor area ratio (FAR) or building heights. That, I think, has got a lot of people’s attention. Before, the sky was the limit, and people had unrealistic expectations of what their property values were.”

Click here to view Everett’s Downtown Plan and here to view a draft of its Core Residential Design Standards. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

May 1, 2007

Feasibility study looks at transit link between two downtowns: A preliminary feasibility study into new mass transit service commissioned by Oklahoma’s Tulsa Transit finds that both bus rapid transit (BRT) and commuter rail are viable options to connect the downtowns of Tulsa (pop. 393,100) and Broken Arrow (about 90,000). Find public information materials and the results of a survey about a mass transit system between the downtowns here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

How maturing trees led to rethinking a small downtown: A downtown vision and strategic plan was adopted by the city council of Durango, CO (pop. 13,920), in December 2005 and is being implemented little by little. Recently, city staff, the downtown business improvement district, and the Downtown Durango Partnership, a group of business and property owners, briefed the public on progress they’ve made in implementing the plan, and discussed what’s next. Read the Downtown Durango Vision and Strategic Plan here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

Small town thinks and acts big when it comes to attracting people downtown: Self-described in its regional tourism brochure as “earning its reputation as a warm, friendly town with big-city vision,” downtown Franklin, PA (pop. 7,210), thinks especially big when it comes to marketing and promotion. Here’s the Destination Franklin: Always Eventful brochure, used to promote downtown throughout the region. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

 

Post-event surveys a useful tool to assess event success: Maintaining "a good mixture of old and new" keeps the 25-year-old Dickens of a Christmas festival attractive to Yuletide shoppers and diners in downtown Roanoke, VA (pop. 94,910). Click here to view an ad and map distributed in The Roanoke Times a week before the event, which shows where to find new features and old favorites. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

April 15, 2007

Reviving downtown through live-work redevelopment for creative class: This is a first-year progress report of the Near Westside Initiative in downtown Syracuse, NY. Of particular interest are the sections on strategy on pages 4 and 5, progress to date on page 5, and the challenges that this revitalization attempt faces on page 2. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

Master plan to transform growing downtown through variety in uses, density: The public’s participation in the planning process is what will make this new master plan for downtown Bradenton, FL relevant and doable. Read Downtown by Design: The Bradenton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Master Plan here. (PDF, 52MB) (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

April 1, 2007

More practical, enforceable ordinance in works for surface parking lot regulation: One of the goals that the Sacramento, CA, Parking Master Plan lays out is to improve regulation of surface parking lots. Instead of citing and shutting down all non-compliant lots, and risking the loss of perhaps 1,000 spaces from downtown’s parking supply, the city is opting for a measured approach and a new policy tailored to this situation. See materials from a public meeting about temporary surface parking lots here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

Downtown partners align to make the news with economic development: What will most empower downtown Syracuse, NY, to accomplish its mission for an ambitious residential development initiative will be the ability of the program partners to tell a newsworthy story. Here’s a document prepared by that program’s coordinator at Syracuse University, which helps explain to the media what’s been achieved so far. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

March 15, 2007

The primary objective of downtown Sacramento, CA’s Parking Master Plan is to ensure that there will be sufficient parking for the city to achieve its economic and infill development goals. A secondary objective of the plan is to ensure that downtown’s parking supply and rates support wider use of transit and other modes of transportation, as well as reasonable air quality as downtown grows.
View Sacramento’s Central City Parking Master Plan, Final Report here.
View the Parking Master Plan Summary Report here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

March 1, 2007

A policy of planning for town centers: In the United Kingdom, the government’s key objective for town centers is to promote their vitality and viability by planning for the growth and development of existing centers.
View Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres here.
View the related guidance, Planning for Town Centres: Guidance on Design and Implementation tools here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

Chamber uses survey results to inform marketing strategy: Downtowns seeking to develop more effective marketing plans would do well to work with local resources to gather better market intelligence, the executive director of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Lanesboro, MN, advises.
Here’s a product of good market intelligence, the Lanesboro Area Chamber 2007 Work Plan.
Here are public discussion notes from a presentation of that market research about downtown Lanesboro. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

February 15, 2007

Downtown Mandan, ND (pop. 16,720), has had an Architectural Review Commission for some 30 years, but only recently gave it serious teeth. To preserve this threatened downtown’s architectural character and keep new development in harmony with the past, Mandan adopted Architectural Review Commission standards for building design and construction in the downtown core, downtown fringe districts, and gateway entrances to the city. Click here to see how the Mandan Architectural Review Commission successfully presented its building and community design standards to the public. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

In downtown Madison, WI (pop. 208,100), where a large university puts downtown parking in short supply during business hours most of the year, a new Parking Ramp Shuttle Service is offering free rides between downtown and campus parking ramps for drivers who pay for parking at any of these ramps. Two shuttle routes serve downtown daytime workers during rush hours and the university during midday. Click here to download a PDF of the route maps and schedule. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

February 1, 2007

Insights into a Lively Downtown video — Short movies are an ideal media format to show people downtown. Here’s a video that downtowns could look to for inspiration. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

 

Recent presentations related to retail recruitment from MapInfo Corporation, a demographic information service provider, and MJB Consulting (Downtown Idea Exchange)
Bringing Retail into Neighborhoods and Urban America
Attracting and Retaining Retail in Urban Markets

December 1, 2006

“Small town thinks big with a wide range of promo programs” (p.4) — Mari Eosco, outgoing coordinator, Main Street Bath, describes this map and brochure as the “single best marketing tool” for downtown Bath, ME (pop. 9,270). (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

November 15, 2006

“Downtown uncovers creek as both a natural and economic asset” (p.1) — The downtown area of Caldwell, ID (pop. 38,030), has been gradually deteriorating over the past 40 years, as businesses have relocated to nearby Boise regional shopping areas and business districts. The city has decided that the best way to revitalize the downtown area is to offer a different kind of shopping and living experience. To that end, the city is working to uncover and relocate a creek that runs through the downtown areas as a covered channel.

The relocated Indian Creek would run through a new greenbelt designed by the Army Corps of Engineers and will be constructed by the City’s Urban Renewal Agency. The city’s vision is to create a new retail/municipal/housing and cultural center in this area, with rehabilitated habitat on either side of the creek, including pedestrian and bicycle paths. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

 

November 1, 2006

“Construction guide gives downtown businesses survival tips” (p.10) — Downtown Skowhegan, ME, needed to replace and upgrade its antiquated, century-old sewer and water lines this year. To help keep business strong during this project, the year-old Main Street Skowhegan Organization created this Construction Guide to inform business owners and their customers about the short- and long-term effects that the capital improvement projects would have on downtown. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

September 15, 2006

“Transfer development rights to grow in all the right places” (p.1) — The transfer of development rights (TDR) is a multifaceted tool to strengthen downtown physically and economically, and to steer density to where it’s specifically desired. But developers and property owners must understand exactly how a TDR program works if they are to be expected to take advantage of it. So the City of West Palm Beach, FL (pop. 101,000) sends this 25-page information packet to developers and owners of historic properties who are interested in its downtown-only TDR program. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

September 1, 2006

“‘Big box’ stores and downtowns: Why can’t we be friends?” (p.1) — Why can’t so-called “big box” stores, often maligned as a generator of sprawl and a significant threat to the viability of downtown retail, be successfully co-opted or incorporated into downtowns as anchor stores? Maybe downtowns need to share the vision of how they could make such partnerships work for all. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

August 15, 2006

“Public parking management at its best keeps district health in mind” (p.3) — In the long run, managing downtown parking with downtown’s overall health in mind pays off. This is exemplified in downtown Boulder, CO (pop. 94,670), where innovative parking management since the 1970s led the city’s Downtown and University Hill Management Division/Parking Services to win the 2006 Award for Excellence in Innovation in Parking Operations and Programs from the International Parking Institute. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

August 1, 2006

“Small downtown marketing focuses on intimacy and charm of public space” (p. 1) — To spread the word about its hopping downtown anchored by an active park, the Plymouth (MI, pop. 9,020) Downtown Development Authority developed this new promotional magazine, long on photographs emphasizing downtown’s cafe culture around the park perimeter. Advertorials convey a bit of downtown’s personality by telling the stories of some of its entrepreneurs. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

July 15, 2006

“Design guidelines work outdoor dining comfortably into historic district” (p. 1) — To encourage outdoor dining, towns and cities should invest in efficient permitting through design guidelines that work well for the restaurants, neighboring residents and businesses, pedestrians, and diners alike. Here’s an excellent example of that from the City of Alexandria, VA (pop. 128,300). (Downtown Idea Exchange)

June 15, 2006

“Benchmarking provides context to understand trends, differences” (p. 4) — The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority’s twice-yearly performance study is an attempt to monitor the economic health and vitality of the downtown area. Other Michigan communities are also collecting data from their downtowns; comparing this data with Ann Arbor’s can provide a context for understanding trends and differences. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

June 1, 2006

“What works, what could be improved in downtown walkability” (p. 4) — A new pedestrian districts study by the San Francisco Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission analyzes 10 models of pedestrian districts. What they praise as well as find fault with could inform better pedestrian planning in downtowns across North America. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

May 1, 2006

“Safety kit advises downtowners on how to partner in their own security” (p. 10) — Here are two examples of pamphlets that all downtown businesses receive from the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership to educate them on safe policies and procedures. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

April 1, 2006

“Attracting sponsorship is about selling and bartering the value of downtown event buzz” (p. 1) — Here’s a sample sponsorship operating agreement contract between an event producer and media sponsor. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

March 15, 2006

“Make grander entrance corridors to downtown via design guidelines” (p. 1) — Here are entrance corridor guideline documents from two towns quoted in our March 15, 2006 article. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

February 15, 2006

“Building up higher in downtown? Make sure that quality of life doesn’t suffer” (p. 1) — These documents excerpt and summarize parts of a recently enacted zoning ordinance amendment by the City of Morgantown, WV (pop. 26,810), that pertain specifically to its downtown. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

January 15, 2006

“How downtowns can partner with landlords to market their spaces” (p. 1) — These documents can be used as tools for downtown to fulfill their retail destinies. A property information questionnaire enables downtown to serve as the central source of basic information concerning its retail properties. A retail space marketing agreement legally formalizes cooperation between downtown and the owner of a retail property. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

December 1, 2005

“Ordinance excludes troublemakers for periods of time from downtown” (p. 1) — These new ordinances allow arresting officers to issue “exclusion notices” to people who make trouble in downtown McMinnville, OR (pop. 26,500). The greater the infraction of bad behavior, the greater the time out from downtown. Here’s the full text of the city’s relevant ordinances. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

“Public education can work hand in hand with visioning and community ownership” (p. 1) — Before involving the community in a visioning process about what downtown should be, Sierra Madre, CA (pop. 10,580) worked to educate the public about downtown. Here are various posters, hand-outs, and postcards that the city used to get the word out and engage the public in the downtown visioning process. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)