Pop-ups becoming part of the annual holiday scene — When holiday pop-up programs first gained popularity, it was to add some vitality to vacant storefronts during the dark days of the Great Recession. However, the programs have proved valuable, not only in dressing up empty storefronts, but in boosting sales, drawing foot traffic downtown, generating media attention for the city center, and incubating new permanent businesses.

For background on pop-up programs read “Pop-up shops make downtown more festive,” from the December 2011 issue of Downtown Promotion Reporter.

Grant program encourages targeted retail development — One successful way to encourage specific businesses to open exactly where they are needed downtown is to tie financial assistance to those locations. The following materials support the Louisville, KY, program detailed in this article.

Louisville South Fourth Street Retail Merchandising Plan

Louisville Retail Grant Program application

Streets that work better for people, bikes, transit — The National Association of City Transportation Officials has released the Urban Street Design Guide. From bus rapid transit to bikeways and public seating, the guide showcases a new model for streets that work better for people, bikes, transit, and cities.
Read it here.

December 2012

Using existing anchors to create a niche market — The presence of a strong anchor business or a cluster of similar businesses downtown creates the opportunity to attract like-minded entrepreneurs to the city center. Harrisonburg, VA, has created its Harrisonburg Downtown Technology Zone, complete with incentives for technology-related businesses, to build on the strong tech presence already located downtown. See how the Technology Zone is promoted in this brochure.

A cohesive approach makes the most of downtown resources — Having several unrelated organizations working to revitalize downtown can be almost as ineffective as having none. This is just one of five issues covered in the report
5 Common Issues Cities Face & How to Tackle Them. Click the report title to read it online.

Embracing the cold — Edmonton, AB, Canada has released its Winter City Strategy. The report calls for more all-season patios, increased focus on winter festivals, more heated bus shelters and benches, and in general a strategy for making Edmonton into a “world-leading winter city.” Read the report now.

Using art as an economic development tool — The Office of Arts, Culture and Tourism in New Haven, CT, is using art to fill downtown vacancies and revitalize neighborhoods while also transforming would-be entrepreneurs from hobbyists to small business owners. For a related article about The Bourse and other successful co-working incubators published in the May, 2011, issue of Downtown Idea Exchange, click here.

Managing a month-long holiday promotion — Some communities keep their city centers programmed nearly on a daily basis throughout the winter holiday season, giving shoppers more reasons to venture downtown. But a downtown organization does not have to produce such an ambitious series of events on its own. By coordinating and marketing everything being done downtown by businesses and nonprofit organizations as a packaged campaign, each holiday event receives higher visibility than if it were marketed on its own. Click to view the website and program for the month-long Christmas in Newport celebration.

November 2012

Communities produce local gift guides — Downtown Cincinnati worked with local merchants last year to develop a holiday e-catalog. See it now.

Creating a trail through downtown — The nine-mile-long, multi-use Deer Creek Tribute Trail opened last spring, offering residents and visitors alike a cultural and ecological pathway for picnics, bicycling, hiking, swimming, fishing, and even horseback riding. "The trail was consciously designed to bring people downtown," says project partner Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, CEO of the Sierra Fund. View the Tribute Trail Map.

Stakeholder input builds better holiday events — Main Street Chillicothe in Chillicothe, MO, spent time last summer polling merchants to discover what works, and what doesn’t, in the city’s holiday event calendar. View the Main Street Chillicothe merchant survey.

LipDub’s promote cities, trollys, and more — See a selection of LipDubs from Grand Rapids, Calgary, and Traverse City.

Creating people-centric city centers — Programs are underway throughout the nation to make downtowns more pedestrian friendly and to revitalize unused public spaces. The following examples appeared previously in Downtown Idea Exchange.

Stalled construction project leads to award-winning public space.

Reclaiming alleys as vital spaces.

From dangerous intersection to attractive, multi-use space.

Turning excess pavement into parklets.

Four ways to create pedestrian-friendly streets — The Make Way for People initiative in Chicago, IL, is a comprehensive approach to making the city’s streets, plazas, and alleys more inviting to pedestrians. View the PowerPoint presentation.

October 2012

Networking opportunities create financing partnerships — To fund new business ventures and help established businesses expand downtown, a group of involved citizens in East Jefferson County, WA, has set up a match-making group. The Local Investing opportunities Network (LION) facilitates investment by bringing together local investors with local business owners in need of loans or equity. View the LION Investment Opportunity Submission Form, and the video Local Investing Made Easy.

Restaurant and retail pairing attracts new customers — The Downtown Schenectady Merchant Mash Up is bringing restaurants and retail businesses together in events that provide the public with a fun new way to experience both. See the Merchant Mash Up Map & Guide.

September 2012

Summer concert series involves much more than music — The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation website promotes the concert series with daily event details, along with information on how to advertise in the square and how to become a presenting sponsor. The site also features a video marketing the square, and the reach that advertising in the square provides.

Giving downtown a “face” — Downtown Peggy is a fictional character that has been posting, tweeting, and blogging her way into the hearts of downtown dwellers and visitors to Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Learn about Boots Walker, another fictional character and recording artist who promotes downtown Cheyenne, WY.

Preserving the “heart of the community” while revitalizing downtown — A plan that has been in the works for the past four years in Bothell, WA, includes relocating one major highway, extending Main Street, creating a transit-friendly route that detours busses away from downtown, and a major streetscape project, all focused on preserving the charm of the historic Main Street. Click to view a 3-D Fly-through of the plan.

Downtown Business Center focuses on attracting retail — To foster private-sector development, fill vacancies, and decrease downtown’s “one-dimensional” dependence on the dining and entertainment industries, the Town Green Special Services District in New Haven, CT, created a dedicated business center. Visit the Downtown Business Center website.

Supporting dynamic retail — The DC Vibrant Retail Streets Toolkit, explores model retail streets to determine what common elements define the truly vibrant ones. Click the link to read the full report.

August 2012

Learn more about award-winning re-skinning projects — In an era when concerns about cost and the environment factor heavily into new development, processes known as “re-skinning” and “re-imagining” existing buildings are gaining popularity. See details on award-winning re-skinning projects.

Program trains entrepreneurs for success — Cincinnati is filling vacant storefronts with a business training program for artists. See a short video featuring many program graduates.

Collateral materials help boost downtown living — In Syracuse, NY, a glossy, full-color, 12-page brochure features information on various downtown neighborhoods, complete with details about each building.

Tour perks attract brokers and potential residents — See the wide array of information provided to brokers and potential residents via the San Jose Downtown Association’s blog.

Mob dance keeps visitors downtown longer, builds community spirit — This type of instructional video keeps everyone dancing together.

Grassroots festival draws crowds and international attention — See how the Sarasota Chalk Festival uses its website to promote artists, as well as to communicate with the media, the public, and potential sponsors and donors.

July 2012

Improving downtown, one business at a time — To help retailers evaluate their businesses, consultant Christine Moynihan has created a self-assessment tool called A Retailer’s Gut Check, a 70-question self-assessment that business owners can use to see how they fare regarding exterior and interior appearance, customer service, and other vital best practices. See it beginning on page 9 of Welcome to Waltham!

Tools that support small businesses downtown — While most downtown professionals agree that small businesses are the backbone of the local economy, not everyone knows how to support entrepreneurs and small businesses to give them the best odds of survival and growth. Supporting Entrepreneurs and Small Business: A Tool Kit for Local Leaders, indicates that leadership, communication, and partnership are key themes in the small business success story. Read the full report now.

Savvy marketing moves brand and event goal forward — The Brand Leadership Team in Sparks, NV, worked closely with the public and the business community to develop the city’s new logo design and color scheme. To ensure that the logo and other marketing materials are easily accessible to the media, event producers, and businesses, a City of Sparks Brand Style Guide was created and added to the city’s website. See the Sparks Brand Style Guide here.

Photo contests create interactive marketing opportunities — Staff members of downtown organizations have plenty on their plates without having to gather new marketing shots of the city center. One solution is a photo contest. Read the Downtown in Focus Rules and Guidelines from Dayton, OH.

June 2012

Breathing new life into downtown alleys — Alley improvements are happening across North America. The goals range from enhanced connectivity, to beautifying streetscapes, to providing gathering spaces. Some are grass-roots efforts spearheaded by volunteers while others are city-funded reclamation projects. This article has two important online resources:

A photo essay on urban lanes by Alyse Nelson

The Fort Collins Alley Master Plan.

Collaboration creates larger event — Hometown Tourist is a month-long event offering discounts for Kentucky and Indiana residents at 32 area attractions, 17 restaurants, and nine hotels for the month of May. The goal is to encourage residents to “be a tourist in your hometown.” View video of the Hometown Tourist Celebration kick-off event.

Hanging art on main streets — Many communities are replacing the fabric banners that festoon their main streets with metal works of art that are more cost effective, and are customized to fit the city center. In Hoisington, KS, the banners even inspired a walking tour and scavenger hunt. View the Walking Tour brochure here.

May 2012

Experts predict the economy and changing work patterns will impact demand for office space — A panel of experts predicts that the amount of office space we now have is likely all we will need. Rather than adding massive amounts of new space in the future, these experts see a demographic and cultural shift toward making the space we have more efficient and accommodating. Read the full report Will We Need Any More Office Space? (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Protecting the environment and the small business bottom line — Dollars saved by business owners are just as important as dollars earned. Energy audits and efficiency upgrades are two ways that businesses can cut operating costs without impacting customer service. Downtown organizations are coming up with creative programs to help. Learn how to conduct a small business energy and water makeover. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Bringing ‘locally grown’ downtown — Locally grown and produced foods are increasingly in demand, but can be hard for city dwellers to find. Urban farms are providing residents with those opportunities while also providing productive uses for unsightly vacant lots. In Columbia, SC, City Roots occupies 2.75 acres downtown. The farm provides locally grown and produced foods to two farmers markets, three grocery stores, and a dozen restaurants, as well as providing on-site sales, and a place where residents can get their hands into the soil, if the urge strikes. See the City Roots story in words and images. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

April 2012

Chocolate festivals provide sweet success — Because chocolate is not regional, any community can celebrate this flexible food, and its popularity practically guarantees high attendance. If you’re pitching a chocolate festival, share this video with your promotions committee. Lewisburg Chocolate Festival. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Adapting to changing community demographics — Changing demographics nationwide suggest that downtown organizations seeking a larger participant base would do well to reach out to immigrant and older adult populations.

A recent study by Partners for Livable Communities provides insights from cities nationwide on ways organizations involved in the production of arts and cultural events can connect with immigrants and older adults. Read Culture Connects All: Rethinking Audiences in Times of Demographic Change. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Parking programs keep pace with changing needs — Tough economic times and leaner budgets have lent downtown parking a new significance, as a way to generate revenue, a traffic management tool, an amenity, and even as a way to leverage development deals. Read our past coverage of programs in Pueblo, CO, and Naperville, IL. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Addressing downtown parking problems — if a community wants to explore potential parking issues, the first step is a downtown parking study. View a PowerPoint Presentation on where to start. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

March 2012

Downtown offers bargain properties to developers — Staffers at Battle Creek Unlimited are hoping that current successes downtown, along with some very attractive property prices, will generate redevelopment of vacant buildings. Click to see an example of the simple sell sheet used to promote downtown properties to developers. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

A winning strategy for downtown parking — In 2010, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, undertook an ambitious project to redevelop the site of a former downtown arena. Preserving downtown parking was a priority during every step of the project, with a range of creative “hard” and “soft” parking solutions recommended. Read the Town of Newmarket Directions Parking Report here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Temporary art and retail continue to gain pop-ularity — Open for only 24 days between February 18 and March 13, 2011, the Mt. Pleasant Temporium housed 34 artisans in vacant retail space, drew 6,800 visitors, and grossed $31,000. See the entire Mt. Pleasant Temporium Final Report. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Mad Bags add to event excitement — People attending Third Thursday events in the Mill Avenue District in downtown Tempe, AZ, are warned to be on the lookout for the Mad Bags crew. Mad Bags are filled with goodies from businesses all over the Mill Avenue District. To win one, event participants simply answer a Mill Avenue trivia question. Share the fun with this Mad Bag video. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

February 2012

Re-creating downtown: historic restoration calms objections — To build support for a large, multi-stage revitalization project in Newport, RI, a slide show was created and presented to civic organizations, neighborhood groups, the downtown merchant association, and anyone else interested in learning more about the project. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

View the slideshow here.

Local foods and culinary offerings basis of downtown tourism niche — Many communities are reconnecting to their agricultural roots and culinary traditions as a way to revitalize downtowns, promote economic development, and build stronger, more resilient local food systems. View What’s Cooking in Your Food System? A Guide to Community Food Assessment.
(Downtown Idea Exchange)

Discount cards encourage downtown shopping and dining — Tough economic times have led several downtowns to offer discount cards that provide customer savings at participating retail businesses, restaurants and service providers. In Lynchburg, VA (est. pop. 75,568), the first discount card program has just begun. Learn more about the program.
(Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Social networking for event and business promotion — Downtown organizations can use social media to promote themselves, downtown events and more. Unfortunately, small business owners often lack computer or social media skills, so providing that training can be an invaluable service to members of downtown organizations, as well. See how one downtown organization is successfully using social media.
(Downtown Promotion Reporter)

January 2012

Creating an age-friendly environment downtown — With 77 million baby boomers entering and approaching senior citizen status, downtown organizations are giving thought to the needs of older citizens. Click to view the following resources:

Video, Growing Old in East Harlem.

Age Friendly Grocery Guide.

Age Friendly NYC Report.
(Downtown Idea Exchange)

Municipal cuts in snow removal budgets present challenges and opportunities — In Manchester, NH, a snow removal guide clarifies roles and responsibilities. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Walking tours highlight downtown’s claim to fame — Offering a range of walking tours can spur interest in historical landmarks and famous citizens, while providing a format to suit every taste. View the Historic Downtown New Rochelle walking tour. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

December 2011

Downtown expansion takes patience, public support and innovation — the revitalized downtown Tupelo, MO, has doubled in size and has won multiple awards, including a national Phoenix Award for Brownfields Revitalization. View an interactive map of the redevelopment area. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Developing a downtown arts district — While the Main Street group in Dubuque, IA, was considering a new arts district the city was looking to add 400 units of market-rate housing. A group of property owners and developers joined the arts organizations to ensure that housing was incorporated into the plans. See the Master Plan. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Pop-up shops make downtown more festive — To enhance offerings during the busy holiday shopping season, many communities are developing annual holiday pop-up programs that enliven main streets, highlight available spaces, and give entrepreneurs a valuable outlet for showcasing products. See an example of a Pop-up Shop Program FAQ and Interest Sheet. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Awards program puts focus on customer service — Accolades help reinforce the message that excellent customer service is important to Savannah, GA. View the service award nomination form. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Local talent can keep television affordable — Maintaining a good relationship with the local cable company, using local talent, and knowing when and how to use air time most effectively can make television an affordable outreach medium for downtown organizations. See commercials from Syracuse, NY, and Boonton, NJ. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

November 2011

Modern streetcars gaining in popularity — Moving people throughout city centers in cost-effective, environmentally-friendly ways is important. When a transit system meets those needs while also driving economic development, cities nationwide sit up and take notice. Click for details about Portland Streetcar’s vehicles, alignments, stops, timeline, goals, and more. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Good communication key to meeting changing needs downtown — A downtown ambassador program can beautify city streets, increase safety and enhance the visitor experience. Clear communication with stakeholders and plenty of public feedback can help these programs better address the needs of downtown constituents. View the Downtown Cincinnati Inc. Perception Survey. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Enhancing the pedestrian experience — Recently, the Times Square Alliance in New York City, NY, created a successful program that cleverly combined socializing, seating and aesthetics. The playful urban furniture, called “Meeting Bowls,” are three large semi-spherical creations which seat up to eight people in each. Watch the video here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Utilizing land banks to rehab abandoned properties — People think of land banks as a tool for dealing with surplus land that no longer has a use, such as former farmland. While land banks are not new, the way that they are now being used is bringing new help to center cities. Read the handbook Land Banks and Land Banking. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Determining the value of green infrastructure — Many city centers are faced with aging infrastructure, shrinking budgets, and a need to meet federal and state stormwater runoff mandates and/or protect valuable natural resources downtown. A new report, The Value of Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Recognizing its Economic, Environmental and Social Benefits, gives planners, builders and city officials tools to determine which infrastructure investments will be most effective, efficient and sustainable. Also read the Seattle green roof inventory and report. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Hospitality training boosts business downtown — Great customer service can create consumer trust and loyalty that will not be swayed by big box stores. It has been said that people may forget what you say, or what you do, but they never forget how you make them feel. With stiff competition for every consumer dollar, providing hospitality training for downtown businesses makes great financial sense. Recently, the Greater Lansing CVB launched a Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) Program so that front-line employees could enhance the visitor experience via their improved knowledge of what the area has to offer. View data on the economic impact of tourism in Lansing, including the CTA training brochure and blog. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Introducing commercial and residential realtors to downtown — The very successful bi-annual Urban Nights program in Dayton, OH, is being used strategically to market downtown to real estate professionals on an evening when the city center is at its best. See the Know Dayton, Sell Dayton course description. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

October 2011

Designing downtown for an aging population — There are about 77 million baby boomers in the United States. As this largest segment of the population ages, pedestrian-friendly downtowns become increasingly important.
(Downtown Idea Exchange)

Click to view New York’s Toward an Age-friendly City: A Findings Report.

Addressing stakeholder concerns leads to proposal acceptance — The City, Main Street Concord, and Concord 20/20 proposed a major redevelopment plan for downtown. While the process and plan were widely praised, one group felt left out of the process. A second report specifically addresses the issues of downtown retailers. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

The original report.

The retail supplement.

Another useful tool used by the group was Kirk Westphal’s video, Insights into a Lively Downtown.

Successful residential tours lead to office space tours downtown — Inviting potential business owners, residents, and real estate professionals to tour available inventory is an effective way to sell downtown properties. Residential tours have led the way in many communities, but tours of office and commercial space are becoming popular, as well. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

View the newspaper insert used to promote the Syracuse Downtown Living Tour.

View Intown Manchester’s Office Space brochure.

How to handle too much of a good thing — Bustling holiday events are a goal in many city centers, but when the annual Halloween festivities in Chapel Hill, NC, began to draw 80,000 people from across the state, managing for public safety got downright scary. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

The downtown association shares information and safety tips with merchants via halloween-style emails.

September 2011

Partnerships and place management — Click here to view the full text of this article, which includes information on how public/private partnerships for place management are evolving in Europe and Asia. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Regulating portable cuisine downtown — Whether or not to allow food trucks downtown, and how to regulate them if they are allowed, has been up for debate for over a year in Asheville, NC. The difficult economic times make it more feasible for entrepreneurs to finance a food truck than a brick-and-mortar business. But some restaurant owners and downtown retailers are concerned about the competition, and potential noise, odor and litter that might accompany food trucks. City lawmakers are struggling to balance the needs of all concerned. View a presentation on food carts prepared for the Asheville Independent Restaurants association.

Also view the Madison and Dane County Food and Drink Application.
(Downtown Idea Exchange)

Innovative outreach leads to creative public input — What if citizens had the opportunity to express opinions about how to fill vacant storefronts every day in their own neighborhoods? This was the question posed by the “I Wish This Was” project, which launched last November in New Orleans, LA.

Click here to see public feedback gathered through the program.
(Downtown Idea Exchange)

Putting the “fun” in fundraising — Careful pre- and post-event planning and marketing of a fundraising event can boost attendance, raise more funds, and garner statewide attention. The Best Creative Fundraising Project award from Mississippi Main Street has gone to the tiny town of Water Valley, MS, for the second year in a row, this time for the Come as You Aren’t Costume Party/Dance. See a one-minute video of the Party/Dance here. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Sell the lifestyle, not the bricks and mortar — View collateral materials created for two redevelopment projects. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Kansas City, MO, video.

Mission, KS, brochure.

Charity begins downtown — An innovative program in Traverse City, MI, partners the Downtown Traverse City Association with local nonprofit organizations in marketing the city center, raising money for good causes, and encouraging shoppers to get a head start on holiday purchases. Here is the solicitation letter and the application for nonprofits. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

August 2011

Recovering from a natural disaster: preparation, planning, response — Natural disasters can devastate downtowns, leaving residents homeless, businesses destroyed, and communities struggling. Those who have survived Mother Nature’s wrath have valuable insights and are often willing to share recovery information. See the Grand Forks, ND, Recovery Briefing Book. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

New laws help downtowns deal with absentee landlords — The recent uptick in downtowns struggling with abandoned buildings and absentee landlords is driving changes in public policy. New laws in several states strive to provide communities with the tools necessary to address properties left in disrepair and move forward with revitalization efforts. View the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania’s Quick Guide: New Tools to Address Blight and Abandonment. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Contest draws entrepreneurs downtown — Click here to view complete details on the Amory Venture Business Plan Competition. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Vibrancy plan — To boost vibrancy in Stowe, VT, the village commissioned the Stowe Village Vibrancy Report. See it now. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

BID levy flexibility — While most BIDs can levy only against properties, and in a uniform manner, some jurisdictions allow a sliding scale linked to the level of benefit derived from the BID. One example is Ontario, Canada. Read the full Municipal Act here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Connecting an icon to downtown — Old Post Office Plaza, in St. Louis, MO, provides 30,000 square feet of public space in the heart of the downtown business district. Programs include lunchtime concerts, theater, street performers, weekend markets, and other events designed to draw various demographics downtown. See the following documents:

Old Post Office Plaza brochure

St. Louis Visitor’s Guide

Parking Map & Guide

July 2011

Downtowns creating programs to deal with aggressive panhandling — In Ann Arbor, MI, the Mayor’s Street Outreach Task Force has released a 42-page report detailing the issues, and recommended solutions, around downtown panhandling. Read the entire task force report here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Public transit not always welcomed by downtown businesses — In Providence, RI, substantial investment is underway to make bus stops clean and safe, and to turn a major busing hub into a downtown asset. Click here to see the Providence Metro Transit Enhancement Study. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Video nets international fame for downtown — The nine-minute lip dub video highlighting Grand Rapids, MI, went live on YouTube on May 26 two weeks later, it had already been viewed over three million times, and garnered more than 29,000 “Likes” on Facebook. See the video here. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

New Community Center adds vibrancy, connectivity and more to downtown — Draws 22,000 people annually to town of 3,296. To see the full range of programming at the Community Center, view the Art Walk brochure and the Parks and Recreation Summer Guide. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Turning downtown utility doors into an asset — Beautifying downtown spaces can be challenging when streetscapes include metal utility doors that create a warehouse-like atmosphere. In San Jose, CA, the Downtown Doors program has been transforming utility doors throughout the urban landscape into works of art since 2003. View a video, the Downtown Doors map, and samples of student artwork. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

June 2011

Two Ohio communities take innovative approaches to housing rehab — Vibrant neighborhoods attract residents and help enliven downtown streets and businesses. But issues of vacant homes and homes in need of maintenance plague many communities. In Lakewood, OH, a new program helps residential owners and tenants more affordably maintain building exteriors. View the Paint Lakewood Preliminary Application and complete Program Guidelines. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Citizen attachment creates vitality downtown — Communities with loyal citizens who experience an attachment and enthusiasm for their downtowns experience a higher Gross Domestic Product (the value of goods and services produced) and more population growth, according to a recent study. Read the full Knight Soul of the Community 2010 report, including city profiles and interactive maps. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Debunking parking myths, providing downtown solutions — Myths about downtown parking abound and often get in the way of ensuring the right amount of parking, in the right places, at the right price. View a PowerPoint presentation from the Laberger Group. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

May 2011

Cowork incubators foster start-ups and fill vacant spaces — Cowork incubators provide an opportunity for downtown development organizations and property owners to fill vacant space and enliven downtown streets. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

View the Downtown Coworking Survey from Downtown Vision Inc. in Jacksonville, FL.

Learn about events and programs that draw people into cowork space at The Factory in Grand Rapids, MI.

Investing time and outreach pays off when making zoning changes — The City Council in Spartanburg, SC, recently adopted a new form-based Urban Code that was five years in the making. Click to see the new Urban Code. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Common thread in stakeholder feedback creates marketing and branding program — Fenton, MI, jump starts marketing for two downtown districts with new marketing plan and brand. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

View a PowerPoint presentation about the branding process. (49.9MB file, may take some time to download.)

See the survey used to gather branding input.

See marketing materials based on the new brand and logo.

Strengthening the connection to nearby attractions draws visitors downtown — When a downtown, a nearby natural resource destination, and a region undergo revitalization efforts at the same time, and connect to promote those efforts, collaboration pays off. One important product of that collaboration is the Outside Seattle map. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Poetry draws visitors, enlivens city streets — As the city of St. Paul, MN, goes through the routine of replacing 10 miles of sidewalk annually, poetry is being added to city streetscapes. Click here to view the process of poetry stamping. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Bed races keep rolling — From bed specifications to entry fees, the Great Topeka Bed Race lays out all of the details in this informative guide. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

April 2011

Program builds fences — and commitment to downtown — The Lend A Hand program in El Cajon, CA, includes large-scale neighborhood enhancement events, monthly clean-up sessions, neighborhood meetings, education and training sessions, public art, and opportunities for the public to provide feedback on capital improvement projects. See the Lend A Hand at a Glance document. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Getting social gives downtown a personality and a voice — Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogging attract millions of users daily. Downtown organizations are using the constant-connectivity craze to educate the public about issues, create buzz about events, and to maintain a line of open communication with the public. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership in Sacramento, CA, is using all of these tools. Click here to read their blog. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Science Cafes draw patrons downtown — In New Rochelle, NY, a BID, a college and a library have partnered to create interesting evening programming that draws people into downtown restaurants and pubs. Learn more about Science Cafes here. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Incentives encourage pop-up retail opportunities — Downtown organizations are always looking for creative ways to fill vacant storefronts in city centers. Pop-up retailers can help fill those voids. See the rules, FAQs and a description of Go Downtown, Grow Downtown. The Great Space Giveaway in Duluth, MN. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Downtown construction leverages jobs — A case study in Baltimore, MD, shows that constructing pedestrian improvements in places like downtowns leverages multiple jobs. For every $1 million spent directly on pedestrian projects, communities earn 11.3 total jobs. Click here to read Estimating the Employment Impacts of Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Road Infrastructure. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

March 2011

Residential use is integral component of downtown revitalization plan — As input to the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan the general public participated in a survey. The data is summarized here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Planning, focus and innovation lead to successful downtown development — In 2009, the City of Eugene conducted a survey to discover what type of economic development and revitalization projects the public would support for downtown. As a result, the City Council and the City’s Planning & Development Department created a plan focusing on four high-priority areas: job creation and development; safety; parking; and drawing people into downtown for events and amenities. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

View results of Eugene’s Downtown Revitalization Plan Survey.

View Eugene’s Downtown Safety Initiative.

Lighting project saves City dollars, reduces crime — To learn more about ways communities are addressing light pollution, visit the International Dark-Sky Association website. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

A unified message promotes tourism and economic development — The Edmonton, Alta., Canada message map provides positive talking-points about the City. View the complete message map here. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

New twists on an old children’s game bring people downtown — Geocaching is a high-tech cousin of the scavenger hunt. Learn more about Downtown Grand Junction’s historic geocaching tour, and see the GPS coordinates to 13 downtown landmarks. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

Family-friendly zones enhance downtown events for some attendees — View the ordinance establishing a drug and alcohol free zone along parade routes in Slidell, LA. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

February 2011

Collaboration reduces competition and offers cost savings. View the Defiance Development and Visitors Bureau/Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce PowerPoint Presentation on the benefits of collaboration.

Coordinated marketing efforts write a new story for downtown. Learn how Center City Philadelphia has weathered the economic storm. Read the 2010 Retail Report.

Housing study clarifies strengths, weaknesses. Read the Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis for Bristol, CT.

View a site comparison and 3-D renderings of the proposed development at Depot Square in Bristol, CT.

Successful volunteer management is not one size fits all. See the Volunteer Management Assessment worksheet designed by Florence May of The Registration System.

Dine Downtown programs boost business during low-traffic months. View the Dine Downtown San Jose online survey for consumers.

January 2011

Under-utilized pavement reborn as vibrant public space. San Francisco’s Pavement to Parks program invites project proposals with this RFP. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

View seven completed projects in the Pavement to Parks program.

Creative revenue sources add up to successful downtown projects. Building consensus results in high public buy-in for new plaza in Chillicothe, MO. Using information from focus groups is a good first step. Read the Focus Group Survey Report. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Get people onto their bikes. On a list of 28 ideas for getting more women to ride bikes, making it more fashionable was dead last. View the complete Women’s Cycling Survey. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Mixed-use development produces most property tax, study says. To understand how much property tax is produced per acre by various kinds of development, Futurewise analyzed development in Sarasota County, FL, and Asheville, NC. Click to view their PowerPoint presentation. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Vacant storefronts provide opportunities to draw people downtown. Cities across the nation are transforming vacant storefronts into opportunities for artists and fledgling entrepreneurs with creative ideas. View the Artist Application Procedures required by the Missoula Cultural Council for storefront art projects. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

Tuning in to local ad media. A report from the Radio Advertising Bureau lists and rates the effectiveness of local media options. Read Guide to Competitive Media here. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

December 2010

‘Vote Yea’ campaign a primer in building political will. This archive article covers a successful initiative to build voter support for a temporary sales tax. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

Three-point business recruitment plan relies on marketing at every stage. To cope with ever more vacant space downtown, the City of Sebring, FL is embarking on a business recruitment and retention program. The first step saw consultant Casey Wohl plowing through an extensive marketing analysis and plan completed by the City and setting a firm course of action. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

This small downtown successfully balances growth and preserving its historic core. Despite harsh winters and pricey real estate, downtown Hanover, NH (est. pop. 11,040), best known as home to Dartmouth College, is an economic engine that keeps getting better and stronger. One reason for Hanover’s success is that it has stuck to its Vision Plan steadfastly. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

November 2010

Debate over toy store mural indicates that better signage and mural regulations are needed. A toy store mural painted recently in downtown Walla Walla, WA (est. pop. 31,290), may be cute and seemingly innocuous, but City officials and downtown leaders fear that letting it stand will set a bad precedent in retail signage and design. This strange brouhaha has brought national attention to the small downtown. See the mural here. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Catchy jingle and tours among new assets. In this age of social media, a catchy jingle on the radio is an old idea that still has legs to reach and connect with local people.This new jingle for downtown Vineland, NJ (est. pop. 59,200) is a recent example. Click to hear the jingle. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

October 2010

Festival celebrates with Latin beat, flavor. Sponsorship dollars help the MusicArte de Fort Worth festival stay in the black. View the Official Sponsor Proposal. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

Creating downtown destinations: From daylighting to fine dining. In Yonkers, NY, a public-private partnership involving the City, State and developers is undertaking a project to "daylight" submerged sections of the Saw Mill River — a local tributary of the Hudson River. This waterfront city bordered by the Hudson is joining an elite club of daylighting cities that includes San Antonio, TX; Providence, RI; and Kalamazoo, MI. Read the report Daylighting: New Life for Buried Streams. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Projected population growth calls for long-term visioning. Between 2001 and 2006, the population of Guelph, Ontario, grew 8.3 percent, from about 106,200 to 114,900, and that trend is very likely to continue.

This document establishes core growth principles and short-term initiatives for the next five to 10 years. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

September 2010

10 principles to make downtown more competitive and livable. To create a set of shared goals for transportation development in urban areas, the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy has published, Our Cities Ourselves: 10 Principles for Transport in Urban Life. The 10 principals provide practical and thought provoking direction for downtown areas in a compelling format.

Downtown development gets going when vision and practicality meet. After slow progress and a seeming inability to move forward, the City of Hillsboro, OR (est. pop. 95,320) has found its way to a sound approach to both planning and implementing improvements for the downtown area. The following important documents are discussed in the article:

Downtown Hillsboro Urban Renewal Plan

Downtown Hillsboro Urban Renewal Report

Downtown Hillsboro Urban Renewal Financial Summary

FAQ

Public Hearing Notice

Downtown Framework Plan

Think about a Community Benefit Agreement. Under a Community Benefit Agreement, groups impacted by a development agree to support, or at least not oppose, a project provided the developer agrees to meet the negotiated demands. Read “The role of community benefit agreements in New York City’s land use process.” (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Photo-sharing campaign and contest gives downtown a much-needed lift. The “Picture it Downtown” campaign encouraged residents to go downtown, snap a photo, and share it online. In doing so, residents shared their rich experiences of downtown, and gave the city lots of photography to use royalty-free in its downtown marketing. Hear a radio ad and see bus and transit stop ads from the campaign.

Branding rebuilds excitement in the promise of downtown. Through the “I Am Downtown” campaign, Downtown Lafayette is inspiring a new sense of ownership and pride within its growing creative class. The campaign succeeds by showing and telling about the ties between downtown and real people. View Downtown Lafayette’s Brand Book and Brand Standards.

Utility boxes as a downtown canvas. The Downtown El Cajon [CA] Utility Art Box Program invites artists to design and paint utility boxes. The idea is to bring more art into downtown to beautify the streetscape. See the complete UArt guide including the application, FAQs and more. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

Potluck stars the arts. The 20th Annual Grand Marais Arts Festival brings art-lovers downtown. See how a simple two-page self-mailer provides all the details that artists need to participate.

August 2010

Use a timeline to make the community visioning process most productive. Having a plan for the planning process — what to do when — is vitally important. It enables downtown leaders to translate good ideas into implementable units, put them on a calendar, and make them a reality. See the Downtown Waco Planning Process Timeline and the draft Downtown Waco Plan. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

“Connect the dots” between existing assets to generate foot traffic from car traffic. During the community planning process for West Point, MS, it became clear that the downtown had everything it needed to succeed. It just needed to link those assets better. So the charrette team worked on “connecting the dots” to give the community a solid foundation on which to build future efforts. View the charrette presentation. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Research could help downtowns and users know where the parking is. Seeing tight parking as a real-time information problem rather than a supply and demand issue, two Rutgers professors are working on an intriguing, information technology-driven solution. Read the Rutgers Focus Report on the technology. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Bikeways provoke legal issues. While many communities are looking into the development of bikeways and bike facilities on downtown streets, they should be aware of potential legal issues -- particularly liability for accidents that could impact the local government. Read the TRB's report Legal Research Digest 53 on Liability Aspects of Bikeways. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

How many people will work here? A mega-study done at Rutgers University suggests these rough parameters for estimating the employment that various space uses generate. Read the report How Many People Live Here. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Invest those marketing dollars and other resources where they'll do the most good. So many downtowns are in the difficult position of trying to do more with less. With some strategic long-term investments and creativity though, it can be done. See how the City of East Lansing, MI shapes up it's budget. (Downtown Promotion Reporter)

July 2010

If downtown is not firing on all cylinders, a task force should find out why. The mayor’s task force in Summit, NJ, takes an objective look at the roles and responsibilities of the various organizations involved in downtown revitalization and makes recommentations for improving management and leadership. Read the Downtown Review Task Force report’s recommendations. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Using a score sheet simplifies choosing the best development proposal. The DeLand Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) used a score sheet when it met to interview two development firms that proposed bringing housing projects downtown. Review the Request for Community Redevelopment Action, including the ranking sheets and comparisons of two competing proposals. Plus a Final Tally Sheet, which shows how the two proposals were scored. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Repurpose obsolete commercial areas as residential. Read the full report Managing Neighborhood Change: A Framework for Sustainable and Equitable Revitalization from the National Housing Institute. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Invest those marketing dollars and other resources where they’ll do the most good. Many downtowns are in the difficult position of trying to do more with less. With some strategic long-term investments and creativity, it can be done. A case in point is the City of East Lansing, MI’s, Downtown Management Board (DMB). While the organization would like to do more marketing, its overall budget is only $50,000, what the DMB still manages to do is remarkable, a study in investing money and resources wisely. View the DMB’s budget in detail. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

June 2010

Supporting others’ events helps promote downtown. The Downtown Stockton Alliance offers a range of services to individuals and organizations hosting events downtown. Here is their eight-page agreement.

Subsidy helped businesses with construction outside their doors. Using tax increment funds, the Fort Myers (FL, est. pop. 65,390), Downtown Redevelopment Agency established the Common Area Maintenance Subsidy Program, essentially a rent subsidy that provided restaurants, retail stores, and nightclubs affected by construction 50 cents per square foot per month, for as long as construction was underway in front of the business. Read the application for the Common Area Maintenance Subsidy Program. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Ad campaign relies on fund-raising for long-term implementation. The goal of the Downtown Savannah Brand & Marketing Campaign is to increase awareness, foot traffic, and sales in downtown Savannah, GA (est. pop. 132,400), by targeting the greater Savannah residential market. The campaign theme and brand revolve around personal experiences and illustrate the unique attributes of downtown Savannah. The first phase of the campaign kicked off last August with two professionally developed television commercials, one presenting downtown by day and the other by twilight. Here’s an early fund-raising mailer soliciting business support for the ad campaign. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

Wonderful Day TV commercial

Twilight TV commercial

Print ads

Poster ads

Campaign fund-raising mailer

Public art show presents both technical & marketing challenges. For the last three years, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) in Albany, NY (est. pop. 93,540), has presented an outdoor public art exhibition and walking tour. Guided tours of the exhibition and downtown could be arranged through the Albany Aqua Ducks and Trolleys, and this walking tour. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

May 2010

Successful facade grant program works hand in hand with design standards. A facade grant program in Ocean City, MD (est. pop. 7,040), is credited with making a striking impact on the appearance of downtown, encouraging significant private investment, and extending the tourist season for this resort community. Through the program, the Ocean City Development Corp. provides architectural services at no charge to the applicant. What’s more, the Town waives its permit fees for program participants. However, recipients of the exterior improvement grants must follow the Town’s design standards for the traditionally mixed-use downtown. View the Ocean City Downtown Design Guidelines. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

Executive directors stress value of networking with peers. Networking with colleagues to share ideas, insights, and best practices is central to the work of many downtown organization managers. One such collaboration produced tools to educate downtowners about crime prevention. View the Partners in Prevention guide and poster. (Downtown Idea Exchange)

Bike rides can show off downtown districts in a positive light. The 15-mile Tour de Elizabeth, a fun ride around the City of Elizabeth, NJ (est. pop. 124,800), starts and ends in downtown. For locals living in northern New Jersey, whose impressions about the city are often vaguely negative and outdated, this family fun event can be a special eye-opener. View the Tour de Elizabeth entry form and release statement. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

Modernizing approaches to marketing. A downtown that has thoroughly modernized its marketing is Memphis, TN (est. pop. 669,700). Upon visiting Downtownmemphis.com, one is greeted with colorful, energetic photos of downtown and its community. The central message positions the website as an idea-starter and planning tool for fun and leisure with the tagline: ‘log on + go out.’ Elements of the campaign include cheeky YouTube videos (represented by still frames here) and “My Week in Downtown” print ads. (Downtown Promotion Reporter).

YouTube video 1

YouTube video 2

YouTube video 3

“My Week in Downtown” print ad 1

“My Week in Downtown” print ad 2

“My Week in Downtown” print ad 3

“My Week in Downtown” print ad 4

April 2010

In taking on implementation of a plan, make a short list. When the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership and the City began working on the new Downtown Development Plan, they determined that they needed to group redevelopment opportunities into districts to maintain some consistency in the areas and to show potential developers that there is a larger vision for each area. This approach resulted in 10 concepts for areas that are clearly defined on a map of the downtown. The Partnership will focus on three of those concept areas, aiming to create more vibrant and cohesive placemaking and activity centers. (Downtown Idea Exchange).

City of Fond du Lac Downtown Development Plan

Business retention programs maintain the harder gains made through recruitment. An impressive regimen of business recruitment and retention activities by the Rochester Downtown Development Authority shapes and maintains the vibrant and largely independent business mix of downtown Rochester, MI (est. pop. 11,000).