Downtown Friendly Store Formats, Facades and Signs

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Over the years I have seen downtown developers, landlords and store owners propose retail store formats, facades and signs that are appropriate only in a highway or shopping center setting. They invariably claim that the retail chain demands exactly what they are proposing. Sometimes they go on to claim that their way is the only way the chain does things. Consequently, I have tried to accumulate photos that can be used to disprove these assertions. I have tried to find …

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Learning From Las Vegas

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I don’t gamble, but I love to go to Las Vegas. For a downtown revitalization specialist, it is a working laboratory that is intellectually provocative.

How to move people efficiently and effectively is an apparent concern of casino owners and local government officials. The responses have ranged from hotel elevators with nil wait times to a monorail and a pedestrian mall.

Double click on the photo to access the photo album.

DANTH, Inc: Moving People in Las Vegas

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Downtown Friendly Garages

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This collection of photos aims to show that a downtown garage does not have to be a hideous, massive structure that visually violates the surrounding area while creating a dead space that severely dampens pedestrian activity. These garages are all mixed use. Most have ground floor commercial activity. Some have residential units. Some are completely hidden from the street, except for their entrances and exits.

DANTH, Inc. Downtown Friendly Parking Garages

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Paying “Premiums” For Downtown Redevelopment Projects

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A wave of public indignation and anger against the use of eminent domain for economic development purposes now threatens the renewal of our nation’s downtowns, Main Streets and neighborhood shopping areas. However, evidence suggests that the use of eminent domain for economic development purposes can be salvaged if universally acknowledged abuses are avoided AND the property owners and tenants dislocated through the use or invocation of eminent domain are paid a meaningful “premium.” The characteristics of the …

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The Often Meandering Path of Downtown Innovation

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Change Agents. Good downtown managers assume the role of “change agents.” After all, revitalization is a process that results in positive changes and downtown managers are charged with stimulating, cultivating and guiding the revitalization process. Very frequently, the downtown change agent role is seen as involving the linear implementation of a sound plan or strategy. However, in my experience, successful downtown innovations very often follow a path that meanders a fair amount from the original plan with the results, …

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