Introducing the "Strengthening Commercial Districts" Series - A Guide to Downtown Wayfinding

LOA presents “Strengthening Commercial Districts” a new series of publications that aims to highlight key actions and interventions for successful commercial revitalization. LOA works closely with municipalities and local community organizations to diagnose existing conditions and develop comprehensive and creative strategies to improve the downtown business environment.

In this first part, we take a closer look at wayfinding and signage as a key public realm redevelopment strategy to improve downtown visibility and accessibility. The guide provides a brief overview of what wayfinding systems are, their importance to commercial districts, and how downtown managers may begin to implement this strategy in their local communities. The guide also offers visuals of best practices for various types of signage so that readers are able to easily understand and implement effective wayfinding systems in their own communities.

It is important to note, however, that although physical signs are crucial for visitors to orient and navigate themselves once they have arrived, the experience of downtown really begins online. Most customers are going online to research products, services, and travel destinations before doing anything or going anywhere. In our guide, find out how you can adapt your downtown wayfinding system to ensure it is comprehensive and remains relevant in this digital age.

To find out more, download the full guide here.  

Round Up: Nerd Out on Wayfinding, Art Revitalizing a Tennessee Street, Street Design, Sharing is Caring: ED Plans

Wayfinding: Trendy Topic Extraordinaire

I like to nerd out sometimes a lot. When I do I like to nerd out on interesting podcasts like this 99 Percent Invisible piece on wayfinding.  

Jim Harding, one of the experts in the field of wayfinding, explains how it is a field of unrecognized work and discusses one of his biggest projects in the Hartsfield Jackson International airport. This audio piece also discusses the financial impact of wayfinding - it is not just about creating a visual only system that guides people through a physical environment, it is also about the bottom line. 

40,000 SF Mural Uniting and Revitalizing a Once Vibrant Street

Try to watch this film and not get emotional. Dare you.

Chattanooga gets a unifying mural on the former "Berlin wall" of a once vibrant community.  The video walks you through the history of the boulevard, the community and the artist, Meg Saligman, as she and her team take on the project.

The Future of Street Design

Download this free Next City ebook publication about the future of street design. Currently pedestrians are demanding more from livable walkable streets - this piece provides the how and why of corridor design and improvement in response to current consumer needs.

Sharing is Caring with the Interactive Metropolitan Solutions Map

The Metropolitan Policy Program run by the Brookings Institute developed the solutions map which features "stories, lessons, and resources for people in cities and metro areas" to advance initiatives and to build networks for economic development. 

Scott Landfried is a Business and Office Manager at Larisa Ortiz Associates. 

News round up...

Image source: Walk [Your City]

We scoured the web so you don't have to. Here are some things this week that caught our eye...

DIY Wayfinding Signs Are About to Go Mainstream

Former graduate student Matt Tomasulo began a project in Raleigh that debuted in 2012 drawing much attention for his self created signs which guided and informed citizens of Raleigh which direction and how long it would take to get to a certain destination, often noted in minutes by foot or by bike.  Now, after a Kickstarter campaign and funding from the Knight Foundation, Tomasulo's "WalkRaleigh" project is expanding in a big way.

Check out the story and see how the new "Walk [Your City]" project allows users to create signs aimed at guiding others to destinations within their city.  Signs are color coded for their type - Commercial, Public Space, Civic/Institutional , and Amusement.

The Neighborhood Has Gentrified, But Where's the Grocery Store?

Image from GOVERNING article,
credit: Shutterstock

Part of a series by GOVERNING regarding gentrification, this article covers the issue of the changing landscape and revitalization of America's downtowns, such as Cleveland, which still noticeably lack grocery options.






Urban Regeneration: What recent research says about best practices

The mid-19th Century brought declining population and disinvestment in the core areas of major American cities, many in the Rustbelt, and coincided with state and federal policies that effectively encouraged suburbinization. This post provides key findings and many potential strategies to address disinvestment and spur regeneration.

Why Are Developers Still Building Sprawl?

Image from The Atlantic article, credit: Don Graham/Flickr

The Atlantic points out that while data and feedback supports that Boomers and Millennials alike want to live in compact, walkable developments builders still are investing in sprawling suburban communities complete with even larger McMansions than before.