[OMS_MANAGERS] winter ideas

Thu Nov 5 13:39:26 PST 2020

Hi all - here's the info I mentioned on the call this morning about making our downtown's feel "cozy" in winter! Thanks to all who participated...Sheri

Keep People Coming Downtown, Even in Chilly Weather

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November 5, 2020

Can Outdoor Dining Coexist with Winter?

[Downtown Digest]The COVID-19 pandemic forced many downtowns to rethink their outdoor spaces. By summer, downtown leaders had adapted - vacant lots, sidewalks, and even streets gave way to al fresco dining.

Now, though, the changing of the seasons will present a new challenge: Are downtown visitors willing to sit outside when the weather turns cold?

"Everybody is scrambling to find the best way to prepare their cities for winter," says Jaime Izurieta of Storefront Mastery. In addition to stocking up on propane heaters, Izurieta advises changing perceptions.

He suggests embracing cold weather in the spirit of polar-bear plunges, the New Year's tradition that finds people plunging into frigid waters.

This winter will be a challenge, he says. You can provide tents and outdoor heaters, but if you don't entice visitors with creative events and promotions, your downtown will be empty. The solution, he says, is to think like a European.

Most Americans move inside during the winter months, but in northern Europe, people enjoy outdoor markets and other outdoor events all winter. "People really don't mind the cold," Izurieta says.

He also advises raising the perceived temperature, if not the actual mercury, through "guerilla warming." Install temporary wind-breaks, paint "warm murals," roll colorful yarn and lights around trees that have lost their leaves, and use banners that tout wintertime events.

"When people are looking at these warm displays, it feels warmer," Izurieta says.

Giving out free stuff is another tried-and-true tactic. Blankets, scarves, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or hot cider can all make visitors feel warm and welcome.

More approaches to reopening, repositioning, and moving forward appear in the November issue of Downtown Idea Exchange. Click below to learn more about Downtown Idea Exchange<https://ddc.downtowndevelopment.com/product/downtown-idea-exchange/> and other resources for revitalizing downtowns and commercial corridors.

Learn More ><https://ddc.downtowndevelopment.com/product/downtown-idea-exchange/>

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Recommended Reading

Cities are increasingly focusing on the arts, culture, and entertainment to revitalize their downtowns and enhance economic conditions.

In Cities and the Arts<https://ddc.downtowndevelopment.com/product/cities-and-the-arts-a-handbook-for-renewal/>, editor Roger Kemp has gathered articles from a wide range of sources to demonstrate that when community investment focuses on the arts, business, commerce, and tourism will follow.

The centerpiece of the book is the section on best practices. Here, readers will find 35 case studies on how cities and towns are using the arts to stimulate downtown and neighborhood revitalization.

Examples include:

  *   Working with museums to promote cultural tourism,
  *   Developing community arts facilities,
  *   Using public art to shape the streetscape,
  *   Developing a master plan for the arts,
  *   Creating an arts district,
  *   Building artists' lofts to spur downtown revitalization,
  *   Developing urban cultural parks, and more.

The cities covered range from populations of just over 11,000 in Madison, IN, to over three million in Los Angeles. But the majority are midsized cities demonstrating successful practices for revitalizing downtown with the arts.

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Order Today ><https://ddc.downtowndevelopment.com/product/cities-and-the-arts-a-handbook-for-renewal/>
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