Knowledge Center
Economic Development
A primary objective for place managers is fostering a healthy, sustainable, diverse and prosperous economy for the managed place. The place manager collaborates and works closely with various levels of local and regional economic development organizations, developers, real estate brokers, private firms, philanthropic foundations, destination management organizations, non-profits, and state and federal government agencies, while representing the specific and unique needs, challenges and trends of the managed place.
Additionally, the place manager will work to recruit and retain businesses, conduct market research, encourage a strong local workforce, maintain a diverse mix of commercial and residential development, and facilitate a built environment that is accessible for all users to live, work, play, visit and invest.
Curated Pathways
Curated pathways guide you through a focused set of resources on key topics that build on each other to help you understand a challenge, explore strategies and see them in practice.
Converting Office Buildings: An Opportunity to Reshape Downtowns
As cities are adapting to reflect evolving patterns and preferences among user bases and adjusting to the continuing impact of the transition to remote and hybrid work, many downtowns and city centers have a significant inventory of older (Class B and C) buildings that are now considered obsolete for office purposes. What are the challenges and advantages of converting these buildings?
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Catalyzing Storefront Vitality Through Public Policy Advocacy
Public policy has tried to address the vicissitudes in the market for ground-floor space in urban places, alternately trying to constrain or unleash market forces in ways that advance broader district and city-wide goals and imperatives. This session explores public policy innovations that shape ground-floor vitality.
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Historic Preservation Incentives
Learn how historic preservation incentives are a powerful tool for reviving downtown real estate. This presentation highlights the identification and execution of tax credits, preservation easements and tax abatements to offset construction costs, making projects work, especially in mid-sized and small cities. UPMOs are central to coordinating and communicating incentives, and may even manage them directly.Â
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
The Power of Night for Visitor Economies
Vibrant nighttime industries contribute significantly to destination appeal but also present challenges to year-round communities. This presentation brings together experts in tourism development, safety and security, and cultural/entertainment economies to explore the value and impacts of nighttime cultural destinations and the strategies destinations are using to achieve a sustainable balance between visitor expectations and local stakeholder needs.
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We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Why Downtown Denver Website
The Downtown Denver Partnership wanted to deploy short-term American Rescue Plan Act funding to devise a tool to re-tenant downtown to give it more relevance to current consumers, and continue to be relevant after funding expiration in 2026. The solution was to use GIS to create a business recruitment website, allowing technology (rather than staff hours) to maintain evergreen data dashboards and provide up-to-date information on available spaces to tenant prospects and brokers.
Read MoreMarket Street Arts
Market Street Arts is a collaborative initiative led by the Mid-Market Foundation to revitalize San Francisco’s historic Mid-Market theater district by cultivating a thriving arts and entertainment ecosystem. The project aims to transform Mid-Market into a world-class cultural destination by connecting existing cultural infrastructure with new creative enterprises.
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Beyond the Pop-Up: Addressing Large Scale Retail Vacancies
Addressing not just heightened vacancies in a post-pandemic environment, but also the unique challenge if large-floorplate retail vacancies, are challenges shared by many downtowns and commercial districts. Learn from industry professionals and peer organizations about innovative approaches to tackling these challenges and the role Urban Place Management Organizations can play in restoring retail vitality to the district.
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Cultivating Placemaking with Economic Impact
Economic Development drives our mission to support constituents and ratepayers while enhancing place vibrancy through programming, events, art and merchant support—all within a clean, safe environment. How can we choose the right path and maximize our initiatives?
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
From Vacant to Vibrant – Adaptive Reuse Strategies for the Great Lakes
Transforming underutilized buildings can drive economic growth, create jobs and revitalize communities. Discover case studies from the Great Lakes region, showcasing adaptive reuse as a cost-effective, sustainable solution. Gain insights on leveraging retrofits to reduce costs and carbon emissions while improving community outcomes.
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Supporting an Experience Economy – One Free Concert at a Time
In our post-COVID world, Downtowns are transforming into 18-hour entertainment districts fueled by the experience economy. Free, high-caliber concerts in Dayton and other cities catalyze consumer spending and propel further downtown investments. Get a crash course in the principles of the experience economy and gain insight into today’s consumer preferences.
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
