ARTICLES
The Original Articles archives of CharacterTowns.org presents papers that discuss practical and conceptual ideas for designing, building and managing character towns and small cities that are interesting, pleasant and prosperous places for residents, businesses and visitors.
“Last Mile” Delivery Warehouses as Retail Tenants.
THE NEW SYSTEM DEMANDS. Logistics is one of many professional fields of work that is changing rapidly. The growing demand for near instantaneous delivery of goods is changing the retail and restaurant business and the logistical apparatus that delivers goods and meals to the end users, usually in their homes. Remember the old adage – […]
Leverage and Its Corollaries
The basic idea of leverage is to take one asset and use it to increase the value of another asset. A physical asset such as a park invites weddings that build the sociability of the town. One thing leads to another, not by happenstance but by pre-meditation. [embeddoc url=”https://www.charactertowns.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leverage-3.16.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google”] FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
Leverage and the Idea of Multiple Benefits: The Tangible Benefit of Collaborative Thinking and Doing
A thought that underlies all city strategies, plans and actions is to leverage available resources to create multiple benefits for single actions. Every action should produce more than one benefit to the city; as should every dollar spent and every regulation enacted. [embeddoc url=”http://www.theamericancity.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Leverage1.pdf” height=”850px” download=”all” viewer=”google”] FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
Leverage Everything: Strategy for a Successful Main Street
LEVERAGE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. City Hall must be on or near main street to get the full impact of its influence. Locating the city library, the local history museum, the post office and the community theater on or near main street is important to attract people and private investment downtown. Employees, patrons and visitors to public […]
Lithium Discussed
From The South China Morning Post, the Wall Street Journal and The Economist CharacterTowns.org continues to be interested in the sources and uses of materials necessary for the transition to clean energy. Three articles follow that discuss the vagaries of Lithium. FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail
Local Government Capacity: Building in a Flat, Hot and Crowded Post-American World.
A Coherent Picture of the Future. The United States has always had a strategy for defining and advancing America’s interests based on the idea that the government closest to the people was the best. Our nation started with a declaration based on principles of independence and freedom. As unlikely as it may seem, the lessons applicable […]
Lowe’s Announces 5-Year, $100M Commitment to Community Impact Projects Across America
Lowe’s today announced a five-year, $100 million investment in the communities it serves – the company’s largest-ever commitment of its kind – with a new community impact program called Lowe’s Hometowns. Each year from 2022 through 2026, Lowe’s Hometowns will complete nearly 1,800 community impact projects, including 100 signature projects chosen from consumer nominations, and […]
Main Street “Activity Zones”.
New Downtown Retail and Restaurant Site Design Factors. The “Active Zone” of Shops and Restaurants. Whether you are worried about the new normal, returning to the old normal or figuring out the expected hybrid, the future of the downtown in every small city and town will depend on the continuity of successful retail and restaurant […]
Main Street as an Aggregate “Third Place”.
Main Street as a “Third Place”. The Good Great Place alludes to the idea that main street itself can be a “third place”. The stores, shops, bars, restaurants, parks, plazas and sidewalk benches can collectively serve as the place where people find an egalitarian neutral place for conversation, comfort and light-heartedness. Main street as a […]
Main Street as the City’s Holistic Center of Society.
Main Street as the Small City’s Social, Civic and Commercial Center. Main street has done a lot for America; and more will be asked of it in the coming decades. The main value of downtown, and specifically main street, by mid-century, will expand from its civic and commercial purposes to become the primary social center of […]
Main Street as the Ultimate “Third Place”.
Third Places in the 20th Century. Ray Oldenburg, see sidebar, effectively describes gathering spots that serve as third places; places where people relax and commune; the “in-between” places, not work and not home. His idea extends from small town cafés to the “Cheers” bar in bigger cities. Entry is freely accessible to customers, visitors and a […]
Main Street Innovations
Small City Innovation Advantages. Small cities and towns have a tremendous advantage over larger communities when it comes to innovation in the design and operation of municipal systems to create an interesting, pleasant and prosperous community. Size and character are the keys. A small city can be comprehended, it can be observed in its totality […]
Main Street Mobility: Getting Anyone Anywhere Anytime, Safely and Cheaply.
Main Street Mobility. Downtowns and their main streets host a wide variety of uses and activities; they are totally dependent on accessibility. Main street civic and private businesses live or die based on the ease of access to their front door. Having a library or museum on main street that is not easily accessible defeats […]
Main Street Parks and Plazas
The Idea of “Urban Open Space” Systems. MAIN STREET “THIRD PLACES” WHERE PEOPLE MEET CASUALLY, IN A PLEASANT SETTING. Downtown parks and plazas are ideal “third places”. Character downtowns have extensive areas and lands devoted to parks and open spaces. When systematically organized, the collection of parks, plazas, school grounds, stormwater ponds, protected wetlands, lakes, […]
Main Street Parks and Plazas, Open Air “Third Places”
MAIN STREET “THIRD PLACES” WHERE PEOPLE MEET CASUALLY, IN A PLEASANT SETTING. Downtown parks and plazas are ideal “third places”. Character downtowns have extensive areas and lands devoted to parks and open spaces. When systematically organized, the collection of parks, plazas, school grounds, stormwater ponds, protected wetlands, lakes, streams, private lawns and gardens becomes a […]
Main Street Retail: Virtual Stores, Robot Deliveries, Real Pubs, Bank Malls and Cash Required
RETAIL TO REINFORCE A CHARACTER VISION. Constantly reinforce the community vision and commitment to ensure that the storefronts and business models on main street “Active Zones” are consistent with the towns’ and main streets’ vision of sustainable businesses and uses open evenings and weekends. Five more ideas. Articles published in this edition of CharacterTowns.org present several ideas […]
Main Street Special Districts: Self-Sustaining System.
MAKE “SPECIAL DISTRICTS” SPECIAL. A downtown district, as a legal and geographically specific entity has the opportunity to control its own destiny. While never being truly independent from the host government and never likely to achieve the power of Robert Moses, a special district can construct self-sufficient systems. Special districts can establish a financial basis […]
Main Street: The Ultimate Community ‘Third Place’
THIRD PLACES IN THE 20TH CENTURY. Ray Oldenburg effectively describes gathering spots that serve as third places, especially in small cities and towns. His idea also extends to the “Cheers” bar in bigger cities. Members-only clubs do not qualify. Entry needs to be freely accessible to customers, visitors and a regular clientele, preferably by walking […]
Main Street: The Ultimate Community “Third Place”
THIRD PLACES IN THE 20TH CENTURY. Ray Oldenburg effectively describes gathering spots that serve as third places, especially in small cities and towns. His idea also extends to the “Cheers” bar in bigger cities. Members-only clubs do not qualify. Entry needs to be freely accessible to customers, visitors and a regular clientele, preferably by walking […]
Main Street: The Ultimate “Third Place”.
THIRD PLACES IN THE 20TH CENTURY. Ray Oldenburg effectively describes gathering spots that serve as third places, especially in small cities and towns. His idea also extends to the “Cheers” bar in bigger cities. Members-only clubs do not qualify. Entry needs to be freely accessible to customers, visitors and a regular clientele, preferably by walking. […]