Having lured its first major retailer on Main Street, revitalization efforts in Columbia, South Carolina's urban corridor seem to be finally paying off.
Jeff Wilkinson reports that city officials have been working for more than a decade to bring new life to the old town center, and things are finally starting to turn around:
"With Mast General Store opening, a new Nickelodeon art house cinema, new restaurants and clubs, an emerging arts scene and almost monthly festivals, markets, tours and crawls, Main Street is becoming livelier than it has been since the department stores fled for the suburbs some three decades ago."
Recent efforts by the city included significant investments in facade improvement.awwqs
FULL STORY: Main Street on the cusp of a new life
Retail: Walkable Urban Primer with Southwestern Inspiration
Need some pointers on how to make downtown retail sing? Check out Hazel Borys' crib notes on Bob Gibbs' directions.
Keeping Downtown Main Streets Full
Oakland County, Michigan has announced an initiative to attract and retain retail businesses.
On the Life Cycle of Suburban Malls
Using Greenwood, Indiana as an example, Eric McAfee discusses how the value of individual suburban malls depreciates over time. Shiny new shopping centers compensate for inevitable vacancies in older ones.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service