The Downtown Curmudgeon

N. David Milder, founder and president of DANTH, Inc. is a nationally recognized authority on downtown revitalization and a leading proponent of developing market niches. He has more than 35 years of experience utilizing market research and management skills to help revitalize business centers.

Subscribe to our Downtown Curmudgeon Newsletter.

Download a FREE copy of our Downtown Business Recruitment eBook!

Non- Autarkic, Easy to Define, Pedestrian Friendly, and Residentially Centric 15-Minute Neighborhoods/Cities?

Posted on March 13, 2022 by DANTH

By N. David Milder

Introduction

15- Minute Neighborhoods/Cities are a hot topic these days, with many eyes on Paris and folks wondering if this concept would work here in the US. The leaders at CNU have given it serious and interesting attention and thought. It is a concept worthy of a close look to clarify its meaning and viability. Given that I want to analyze a complex concept in as few words as possible, I will avoid mentioning who said what when …

A Search for a Clearer and More Useful Vocabulary for Talking About and Analyzing Downtowns

Posted on December 14, 2021 by DANTH

By N. David Milder

Over the past decade I have become increasingly focused on what I have been calling Central Social Districts (CSDs). The simple analytical framework I’ve been developing saw downtowns being composed of two major components: Central Business Districts (CBDs) and CSDs. However, over the past year or so, email discussions with members of The ADRR board, and an interview by Rob Steuteville at CNU’s Public Square have prompted me to take a much closer look at the vocabulary …

The “Unbonding” of a Growing Number of Creative Workers From Their Employers Can Impact Our Downtowns

Posted on November 8, 2021 by DANTH

By N. David Milder

Introduction

In recent months I have again confirmed my conclusion that remote work is here to stay, and that it will undoubtedly impact our large and suburban downtowns. In the past, I felt this was the case because:

So many more employees now have tried and liked remote work. They also have become much better at it
Major corporations are adapting their operations to it and investing substantial sums in equipment and programming to help assure its optimal performance. This is …
Read More...

More on Central Social Districts, a Webinar on Downtown Retail, and an Article on Downtown Retail and Restaurants

Posted on August 27, 2021 by DANTH

More about CSDs from CNU’s Public Square

Rob Steuteville, the editor of CNU’s journal Public Square, recently interviewed David Milder about his article in The ADRR, Strong Central Social Districts: The Keys to Vibrant Downtowns. The interview was published on the Public Square website in two parts, on August 17th and 23rd. David thanks Rob for his great questions that helped him explain more fully CSDs and their importance.

Here’s Part 1: The power of Central Social Districts

Here’s Part 2: …

The Downtown Curmudgeon’s Take on Downtown Central Social Districts

Posted on July 15, 2021 by DANTH

As the readers of this blog probably know, I have spent a lot of time and effort on identifying the components of our Central Social Districts and analyzing what makes them succeed or fail. I’ve dug deeply into public spaces, movie theaters, housing, and various other components in cities large and small.

Recently, I was asked for one article that put it all together. I realized that I did not have one, so I consequently set out to write it. That …

N. David Milder at DANTH, Inc.

Downtown Revitalization Specialist

The Downtown Curmudgeon

A Search for a Clearer and More Useful Vocabulary for Talking About and Analyzing Downtowns

The “Unbonding” of a Growing Number of Creative Workers From Their Employers Can Impact Our Downtowns