Featured Articles
Lewiston Wins $30 Million Choice Neighborhood Grant!
We received the FANTASTIC news today that U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant to fund the Growing Our Tree Streets Choice Neighborhood Transformation Plan in Downtown Lewiston. We couldn’t be more excited for the Tree Streets community, the City of Lewiston, Healthy Neighborhoods and all the project partners. Congrats to everyone involved!!
Read Article
10 Big Ideas for Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh
Downtown Raleigh Alliance has released the first part of the Downtown Raleigh Economic Development Strategy, which is focused on activating Fayetteville Street.
Read Article
Who is Downtown Raleigh for?
Raleigh Magazine talked with Scott recently about reimagining DTR to make it more attractive to both Raleighites and visitors and to help reveal the City of Oak’s distinct identity.
Read Article
Macon Action Plan Open House
Maconites came out in force to share ideas for the Macon Action Plan 3.0.
Read Article
Downtown Raleigh Economic Development Strategy
Raleigh is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US and downtown is booming with new construction. We are excited to kick off an economic development strategy for Downtown Raleigh along with &Access and Ninigret Partners.
Read Article
It's great to be back in Macon!
Macon's transformation since our first Macon Action Plan (MAP) was completed in 2015 has been nothing short of stunning. We were back in town in April for two separate but inter-related projects: to kick off the third iteration of MAP and to join the Reimagining the Civic Commons Studio in Macon.
Read Article
Downtown Fort Worth Inc. focuses on wins for city
Successful downtowns have places to play, places to sit and places to grow, Page said. He showed examples of an urban farm in downtown Detroit and an alley in Philadelphia revamped into a plaza. Interface Studio is working with Downtown Fort Worth Inc. on its Plan 2033, a road map to guide development for the next decade. The firm also is working with the city on a similar plan for the Las Vegas Trail area. The firm is surveying residents and downtown stakeholders about what they want to see downtown. Interface will use those results to try to find what Page called “threads of connection,” where people agree on what they want for the city’s urban core. If you do the engagement well and reach out to a lot of people, Page said, by the time the draft comes out, people will agree on about 90% of it, Page said.
Read Article
Community input sought in Montgomery’s ‘Downtown Action Plan’
Montgomery residents were invited to attend the “Defining Downtown Open House” to weigh in on future developments in the capital city. The open house event is part of the research to complete the city’s downtown action plan. The action plan is an opportunity to build on achievements made downtown by defining the next strategy for growth and investments. City leaders say the 2007 Downtown Montgomery Master Plan provided the foundation for the plan, which will focus on enabling the community to continue this vision forward through strategic projects, policies, and programs.
Read Article
Downtown Challenge Grants awarded to 23 Macon projects
Congratulations to the people of Macon, Georgia, and the 23 winning projects of Downtown Challenge Grants! Each project will push forward the goals of the Macon Action Plan and help implement our recommendations. Some of the winning projects include: a mural by the Macon-Bibb Transit Authority; bike racks, bus stop seating, and lighting from Bike Walk Macon; and roving pop up wildlife events from the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Can't wait to see these awesome programs take shape!
Read Article
Harrisonburg’s first-ever downtown master plan in progress
“For the last 20 years, downtown Harrisonburg has seen a tremendous amount of growth and redevelopment,” says Brian Shull, Harrisonburg’s director of economic development. We are excited to get started working on a long-term visioning process that aims to engage residents, visitors and business owners to identify priorities that should guide downtown’s development over the next two decades!
Read Article
RESTART, RESET, RETOOL, REFILL: Considerations for downtowns, commercial corridors, and main streets
We are at the end of the beginning. There are going to be closures, vacancies, and job losses across communities. How long and how deep will be a function of how well the next three-to-six months are managed, how that impacts consumer confidence, and whether planners and development officials are ready to respond in meaningful ways. Moreover, the pandemic magnified and amplified glaring, pre-existing disparities in our civic and economic structure. How communities address vacancy, maintain a sense of vibrancy and ensure equitable action is at the heart of today’s challenges. As designers and economists who have worked in urban revitalization for the past 20 years, we propose a framework for downtowns and main streets to consider - RESTART, RESET, RETOOL, REFILL
Read Article