Knowledge Center

Advisory Services

Explore New Ideas
IDA’s Advisory Services are a time-tested way to explore new ideas, solve difficult problems, and rally the board, staff and community around priority projects. IDA has conducted more than 30 Advisory Panels, in cities as large as New York, Washington, Seattle, Cleveland and Los Angeles; in mid-sized cities like Austin, Boise, Long Beach, Lincoln, Omaha, and Providence, and in smaller cities like Duluth, Fort Wayne, and Lake Charles.

IDA Advisory Services involve some of the best and most experienced downtown practitioners, as well as experts in specialized fields including, but not limited to: retail development, parking and transportation, housing development and homelessness. Advisory Panels usually last three days, and would include a facilitator and three to five panelists. A preliminary report is delivered at the end of the Panel, and a final report is delivered within 45 days. Each report contains specific recommendations and an action framework.

In addition to full Panels, IDA also provides Advisory Visits, and Board, Staff and Executive Committee Retreats. Interested? Call (202) 393-6801 or email David Downey at david@downtown.org.

Downtown Durham, Inc.

Durham, NC

February 2023

Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership

Chapel Hill, NC

August 2018

Click here to read the final report.

Centro San Antonio / Activate Houston Street

San Antonio, TX

October 2017

Click here to read the final report.

Downtown Cleveland Alliance

Cleveland, OH

June 2017

Click here to read the final report.

Huntington Beach Downtown BID

Huntington Beach, CA

June 2017

Click here to read the final report.

Big Spring Partners

Huntsville, AL

October 2-4, 2012

Click here to read the final report.

Colorado Springs ULI/IDA Panel

Colorado Spring, CO

June 24-29, 2012

Click here to read the final report.

Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Pittsburgh, PA

May 5-7, 2010

Click here to read the final report.

City of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma

November 15-18, 2008

Click here to read the final report.

Downtown Boise Association

Boise, ID

October 18-21, 2008

Click here to read the final report.

Fresno

Fresno, CA

June 7-10, 2008

Click here to read the final report.

City of San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

May 3-6, 2008

Click here to read the final report.

Wheaton Urban District

Wheaton, MD

March 15-18, 2008

Click here to read the final report.

GSA Federal Courthouse/Civic Center Mall

Toledo, OH

December 2-4, 2007

Click here to read the final report.

South Side

Pittsburgh, PA

August 4-7, 2007

Click here to read the final report.