Local Programming: Bouncing Back and Building Better: Downtowns Post-Crisis

From smaller cities like Evansville, Indiana, to medium and large cities like Denver, Chicago, and New York, planners are developing innovative approaches to re-establishing downtown as the economic, social, and cultural heart of their region. This presentation highlights examples of the most compelling and effective strategies to create vibrant, economically and socially diverse downtowns in the post-pandemic era.

Strategies covered include:
• Public-private partnerships to bring visitors and residents back to the city core;
• Financing tools, including tax-increment financing, to pay for downtown investments;
• Adaptive reuse to convert vacant office spaces into residential uses, including affordable housing;
• Public-realm investments to create vibrant, inclusive, public open spaces, riverfronts, and streets;
• Activating vacant retail spaces;
• Planning efforts to ensure equitable, resilient downtowns in the long-term.

The latter include Chicago’s central area plan, Denver’s downtown area plan update, New York City’s zoning reform (including City of Yes), and Evansville’s Ohio River Vision and Strategic Plan.