Sizing Up Downtown
How do you size up the health of your downtown district? Kennedy Lawson Smith offers some insights.
Downtowns & Town Centers
Many cities and towns are seeking to revitalize or create a hub for their community. These articles and postings focus on the planning issues facing downtown & town center development.
Continue to older articles & posts — or return to newer ones — where you see the green buttons at the bottom of the page.
Why Downtowns (Should) Matter to Planning Commissioners
Noted national “main street” expert Kennedy Lawson Smith makes the case for why downtown should matter to planning commissioners and others..
Planning for Historic Preservation
Planning Commissioners Journal issue #52 included a series of articles providing an introduction to historic preservation planning and why it is has become important to our cities and towns. The download includes the full issue.
Public Buildings Keep Town Centers Alive
Post offices, municipal halls, libraries, courthouses, and other public buildings can play a critical role in keeping downtowns and town centers strong. Conversely, the loss of key public buildings can seriously damage the fabric of downtown.
Downtowns Grow One Step at a Time
Local entrepreneurs, working building by building, can be the most effective resource in strengthening downtowns. Author and lecturer Roberta Gratz recounts the step-at-a-time revitalization efforts that are having a big impact in Columbus, Ohio.
“We Don’t Have Enough Parking”
It’s not unusual to hear complaints that downtown retail districts suffer from a lack of adequate parking. Roberta Gratz takes a closer look at this concern, and outlines “people first” steps to better address downtown parking.
An Introduction to Urban Design
What do you see when you walk down the main street of your city? Are the buildings and public spaces interesting to look at? Do you feel comfortable and secure? In this well-illustrated 7 page article, planner and landscape architect Ilene Watson provides an introduction to urban design..
To Market, To Market
Local farmers’ markets provide one of the best ways of increasing downtown activity, while offering a valuable outlet for area farmers. Author and lecturer Roberta Brandes Gratz takes a closer look at the role farmers’ markets can play — and why they’ve become so popular.
Up With Downtown
Community development consultant and author Jack McCall with some ideas on strengthening downtown retailing.
Planning for New Downtown Development
Planning for new development in downtown districts, whether in towns or cities, requires flexible zoning and careful consideration of design issues.
