Downtowns Archives - PlannersWeb

Editor's Notes & Interviews

The Return of Downtown?

Did you see a recent article in Forbes Magazine, “Downtowns: What’s Behind America’s Most Surprising Real Estate Boom”? See related articles we’ve published and join us on LinkedIN to discuss: Are there barriers in your community to having more downtown housing? Are there programs to encourage it?

PCJ Articles

How Planners Plan for Historic Preservation

by Amy Facca

Preservation planner Amy Facca provides an overview of the different kinds of plans used to strengthen local historic preservation efforts.

Editor's Notes & Interviews

“It’s Like Planning in a Big Doll House”

PlannersWeb Editor Wayne Senville, reporting from Bath, Maine.

Bath, Maine, is just nine square miles in size, with a population a little under 9,000. But it has a thriving downtown and riverfront. A look at some of the ingredients that have made downtown Bath so strong.

Editor's Notes & Interviews

The Human Squirrels of Brunswick, Maine

PlannersWeb Editor Wayne Senville, reporting from Brunswick, Maine (Oct. 4, 2012)

Brunswick, Maine has a wonderful downtown. The sidewalks are perfect for strolling and window shopping. Downtown is just about ideal. Except for one thing: those human squirrels you see scurrying across Maine Street.

PCJ Articles

What Comes to Mind When You Think about Historic Preservation?

by Amy Facca

New PlannersWeb columnist Amy Facca says historic preservation provides one of the best ways to make the most of old buildings, maintain and build on community character and history, and invest responsibly for future growth.

Insights

What’s the Market Telling Us?

by PlannersWeb Editor Wayne Senville, reporting on October 5, 2012 from Brunswick, Maine

Ed McMahon, the Urban Land Institute’s Senior Fellow for Sustainable Development provided a riveting talk at the Northern New England APA Conference in Brunswick, Maine. His focus: changing trends in economic development, and how they are affecting the shape of our communities.

Editor's Notes & Interviews

Building a New Downtown – Part II

In part II of this posting, we take a closer look at how the Town of Mansfield, Connecticut worked with UConn and and a private developer to move forward on its new downtown, Storrs Center. Including some tips from some of the project participants.

Editor's Notes & Interviews

Building a New Downtown – Part I

As someone who lives in a university town, I can tell you it’s not every day that the university’s and town’s perspectives on a key issue are closely aligned. But that’s the case in Storrs, Connecticut, where the University of Connecticut (UConn) and the Town of Mansfield both agree that what they really want an need is a new downtown center. A look at the development of Storrs Center.

Editor's Notes & Interviews

We Don’t Let Planning Get in the Way: Pt. II

How did Blue Back Square get developed? West Hartford Community Services Director Rob Rowlson takes us on a tour of the development, and explains why the Town’s developer-friendly approach led to positive results.

Editor's Notes & Interviews

We Don’t Let Planning Get in the Way: Pt. I

Rob Rowlson, the Town of West Hartford’s Director of Community Services, makes no bones about it: too often planning can be an obstacle to private investment and development. In Part I of this post, Rowlson talks about efforts to strengthen the core of the town’s downtown: West Hartford Center.

Editor's Notes & Interviews

Transit Challenges … and Opportunities

PCJ Editor Wayne Senville is reporting today from the annual conference of the Association of MPOs in Saratoga Springs NY. In this post, a look at presentations focusing on transit challenges — and opportunities — in three very different parts of the country.

Planning 101

Strengthening our Downtowns

Many cities and towns are seeking to revitalize or create a hub for their community. These include not just our traditional downtowns and main streets, but also new suburban downtowns or town centers. We look at some of the planning-related issues facing downtown development.