Even cities without an official program for revitalizing their downtowns can take steps to transform their urban cores into a collection of vibrant places. The urbanSCALE website has collected a list of such strategies.
John Karras shares strategies for transforming your downtown into “a thriving urban district,” even if your city lacks a long-range plan for its downtown or a downtown-focused organization.
The list varies from structural changes, like street reconfiguration (“Turn one-way streets into two-way streets”), interim steps (“Establish a regularly occurring public event”), and management (“Consolidate regional economic development partner organizations into a single downtown location”).
FULL STORY: 12 Strategies That Will Transform Your City’s Downtown
Project Team for Milwaukee's New Downtown Area Plan Takes Shape
A new plan for Milwaukee's downtown will build on a "major renaissance" in the area since the approval of the last version of the plan in 2010.
Downtown Milwaukee Area Plan Update Kicks Off
Billions of dollars in investment and thousands of new residential units later, Milwaukee is ready to update the plan for its downtown.
With 2020 Democratic National Congress on the Way, Downtown Milwaukee Revitalizes
Downtown Milwaukee is getting makeover, from high-profile new buildings on the skyline to ambitious adaptive reuse projects and an emerging entertainment district.
Minneapolis Housing Plan a Success—Not for the Reason You Think
Housing advocates praise the city’s move to eliminate single-family zoning by legalizing triplexes on single-family lots, but that isn’t why housing construction is growing.
New White House Housing Initiative Includes Zoning Reform Incentives
The Biden administration this morning released a new program of actions intended to spur housing construction around the United States.
‘Mega-Landlords’ Threaten Housing Stability for Renters
As institutional investors buy up a larger share of single-family homes, the families renting them are increasingly vulnerable to rent increases and eviction.
More Funds to Transform the Puente Hills Landfill into a Regional Park
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors just approved an additional $28 million to support the development of the Puente Hills Regional Park at the landfill site.
Denver Freeway Widening Plans on Hold
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s plan to widen the Interstate 25 freeway through Denver is one of a few plans to widen urban freeways under consideration in the United States.
Public Perceptions of Sprawl and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Urban density has a bad reputation.
Clarion Associates
Urban Planning Partners
Sandy City
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Redwood City
City of Rohnert Park
City of Hot Springs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
