Downtown Economic Decline
Historic downtown areas struggling with vacant storefronts, reduced foot traffic, and competition from suburban shopping centers, undermining community identity and local economic vitality.
Ways to address it
3 approaches- Arts and Entertainment District DevelopmentDevelop downtown as an arts and entertainment destination through venue development, artist live-work spaces, cultural events, and entertainment programming that draws visitors and creates economic activity.
- Downtown Revitalization and Mixed-Use DevelopmentIncentivize mixed-use development combining residential, commercial, and office space, improve pedestrian infrastructure, create public gathering spaces, and attract anchor businesses to drive foot traffic downtown.
- Historic Preservation and Adaptive ReusePreserve historic downtown buildings through tax incentives, grants for building improvements, and streamlined processes for adaptive reuse that maintains character while enabling modern commercial uses.