Not everybody has the same definition of vibrant, but Atlanta recently chose the way of Times Square and the Sunset Strip.
"[T]he Atlanta City Council voted to ease restrictions on downtown signage, clearing the way for billboard companies and downtown businesses to put up more of the digital displays," reports Justin Wilfon.
The likely arrival of new billboards is a controversial proposition, notes Wilfon. Central Atlanta Progress is the group behind the new approach to billboards, and the idea obviously has effective political support. According to a separate article by Rachel Dovey, Central Atlanta Progress is a private nonprofit with ties to the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District.
"The digital signs are for advertising, but revenue is slated to go toward funding public art and entertainment, WABE reports. The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District will manage them," adds Dovey.
According to an in-depth article by Stephannie Stokes, the City Council has approved a plan to "create a new Arts and Entertainment District that would allow dynamic, LED signs downtown — similar to those in New York City’s Times Square or Denver’s Theatre District." The plan's backers hope the new district will contribute a sense of vibrancy perceived as lacking from Downtown Atlanta.
FULL STORY: Atlanta Group Pitches Digital Signs To Liven Up Downtown
Debating Public Incentives for Private Developments
A debate common in growing cities around the country is taking place in Atlanta in answer to the question of how much support private developers need from the public.
Mark Your Calendars: Draft of Downtown Atlanta Master Plan Coming Soon
A draft of the Downtown Atlanta Master Plan will be made public on September 13, 2017. The plan focuses on revitalizing the city's urban core.
12 Strategies for Revitalizing Downtowns
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
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.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)