This message contains images. If you don't see images, click here to view.   Home   About   Contact Us   Jobs   RFPs   Join IDA Jul. 12, 2012 Photos courtesy of Dennis Burns       Successful downtown revitalization hinges on good communication Northumberland Today    Share    Communication is the key to successful downtown revitalization, according to the person in charge of one of the projects heralded by the province as an example for others. More  News From the Top Innovation in New York City, by David Downey, President & CEO Share    Construction projects in Lower Manhattan, New York City present yet another challenge for the Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc. whose district encompasses all of Lower Manhattan's central business district including ground zero. Battling changing traffic patterns and added congestion, the Alliance works tirelessly to retain its existing businesses, many of whom considered leaving the area due to the impacts of rebuilding. While there is no silver bullet solutions to retention in a unique setting like Lower Manhattan, one program by the Alliance is helping to humanize the massive scale of the reconstruction process. A program that can be replicated most anywhere. You can learn more about RE:CONSTRUCTION here. Our role at the IDA is to continue finding ways to connect downtown practitioners and share innovative programs. I invite you to share a story about a favorite program from your organization. You can send it to me at ddowney@ida-downtown.org.  Membership Spotlight Kansas City, Mo., redevelopment gains renewed momentum The Kansas City Star    Share    A sense of development momentum has returned to downtown Kansas City, Mo., after several years of relative dormancy. And if the plans disclosed the past three weeks are successful, more people and activity are on the horizon. More Testimonial from 125th Street Business Improvement District "After seeing a demonstration of the technology, I knew immediately, that the service Springboard provided would be valuable for 125th Street Business Improvement District. Now we are able to blast monthly customer traffic information through our e-newsletter, we absolutely love our new Springboard Technology" Barbara Askins President & CEO enquiries@spring-board.info more BIDs face budget holes from unpaid taxes The Washington Post    Share    District property owners owe more than half a million dollars in overdue taxes to Business Improvement Districts, the nonprofit groups that provide enhanced cleaning and marketing services to eight areas of the District. More Center city to host North Carolina's first bike-sharing program The Charlotte Observer    Share    People who want to ride a bike to work in Charlotte, N.C., or just run a quick errand, will soon be able to rent a cycle from one of 20 stations in and around uptown. Charlotte Center City Partners is expected to formally unveil Charlotte B-Cycle, which they say is the state's first bike-sharing program. The first stations have been installed uptown at Trade and Tryon streets and outside 7th Street Public Market. More  This Week @ IDA Minneapolis welcomes you! Share    We hope you are gearing up to attend the IDA 58th Annual Conference and Tradeshow, September 21-24, 2012, in Minneapolis. Register now to take advantage of early bird savings and to secure your hotel accommodations. Make your hotel reservations by going to this link. The schedule is complete and we're thrilled to soon share with you all some of the exciting programs and events. A stellar line-up of Plenary Session Keynote speakers includes Rich Varda, Senior VP of Store Design at Target, and Richard Davis, Chairman, President and CEO of U.S. Bancorp. More than 50 breakout sessions addressing the hard-hitting and relevant trends in Retail, Downtown Economic Development and Finance, Marketing and Branding, Events, Downtown Management and Leadership, Clean and Safe, Transportation, Trends and Hot Topics, and more are planned. A special day of programming is planned for Monday, September 24. Plan to stay the entire day in order to participate in these unique off-site sessions where you will experience downtown Minneapolis' innovative approaches to key areas that make it one of the most dynamic cities in the nation. The day will conclude with a Twins vs. Yankees game at Target Field, a spectacular urban baseball park. The conference timetable including session titles, preconference workshops, evening events, and tours, will soon be available. Stay tuned for further details! Upcoming webinar: July 17 at 3 p.m. EST, Houston Downtown Management District, Market Square Park Share    Join us for the next Best Practices webinar featuring Houston Downtown Management District, and their project Market Square Park on July 17 at 3 p.m. EST. Houston Downtown Management District (Downtown District), Downtown Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ #3 and the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department redeveloped Market Square Park in August 2010, after lending their ears to downtown residents, business and property owners. With these stakeholders in mind, the park has been transformed into a destination for residents and visitors alike, while preserving the park's historical and artistic roots. Mark your calendars for July 17 at 3 p.m. EST and sign up in the Webstore! $35 for members (log in to view member rate) $70 for nonmembers  Downtown Talk Spirit of giving is still going strong after wildfire wanes The Gazette    Share    The outpouring of support Colorado Springs has shown during the Waldo Canyon fire has continued in the aftermath — with much of it aimed at victims of the fire. The fire resulted in the deaths of two people, destroyed 346 homes and numerous buildings at the Flying W Ranch, and burned 18,247 acres. More How much do planners make? APA    Share    The fifth in a series of surveys conducted by the APA and AICP, beginning in 2004, this year's Web-based Planner's Salary Survey received an exceptional 49 percent response rate from regular and new professional APA members. More Canadian cities trying to redefine what it means to be an urban planner The Globe and Mail    Share    When Rollin Stanley worked for the City of Toronto, he often joked that he didn't "do suburbs." Shortly after he started a new job as Calgary's top planning official, a local alderman presented him with a bumper sticker that read, "I do suburbs, and I do them better." More Car-pooling makes a surge on apps and social media The New York Times    Share    The annual ritual of piling into the car for the great American summer road trip has a new twist as more travelers are inviting strangers along for part of the ride. More City launches extensive rezoning initiative Indianapolis Business Journal    Share    The city of Indianapolis has launched an initiative expected to result in the first major overhaul of its zoning and development regulations since 1969. More Pedestrian malls are so 20th century PlaceShakers and NewsMakers    Share    Scott Doyon writes, "I don't like pedestrian malls. There, I said it. And it's not because there aren't some good ones, because clearly there are. Let me explain. By the mid 60s, America's race to the suburbs had left many downtowns in tough shape." More Is downtown South Bend, Ind., bouncing back? WSBT-TV    Share    South Bend, Ind.'s Common Council unanimously approved a resolution regarding the future of Chase Tower. Council members said they will work towards finding a reasonable solution to save the building and ensure it maintains a strong presence in the city. More Kiosk will direct downtown shoppers Mount Vernon News    Share    The Heritage Centre Association in Mount Vernon, Ohio, is undertaking a new project that will make it easier for downtown shoppers to find their way around. The project will install several kiosks in the downtown area that will include a map and directory of businesses, and display fliers and event announcements on the other. More Why an urban Downtown and lots of free parking spots are mutually exclusive Las Vegas Weekly    Share    If the average Las Vegan could rewrite the Bill of Rights, the new First Amendment would blend guns and 24-hour access to booze and video poker. And the new Second Amendment? Ample free parking. We're a real Sun Belt city that way, in love with the freedom we derive from our cars. And that means free parking right near our destination. Otherwise, what's the point? More   IDAdvantage Weekly news & views of the International Downtown Association Colby Horton, Vice President of Publishing, 469.420.2601 Download media kit Tammy Gibson, Content Editor, 972.402.2677    Contribute news Rowena Gono, IDA Information and Research Director, 202.624.7189    Ask questions This edition of the IDAdvantage was sent to ##Email##. To unsubscribe, click here. Recent issues July 12, 2012 July 5, 2012 June 28, 2012 June 21, 2012 7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063