The Smart Growth Network (SGN) is a partnership of government, business, and civic organizations that support smart growth. Created in 1996, the network has become a clearinghouse for information about smart growth strategies (thus the name, Smart Growth Information Clearinghouse, or SGIC) through the website, Smart Growth Online, which features smart growth-related news, events, research, presentations and publications, including information on grant opportunities, workshops and webinars. Continue reading
Smart Growth
Popup Stores Increase Retail Options in Hagerstown’s City Center, part 2
Part 2 of a 2-part series (see Part 1)
In this blog series, we present tips and strategies for creating successful pop-up store events, spotlighting the efforts of Hagerstown, Maryland. This post features information about selecting dates, preparing a budget, raising money and marketing, and it closes with a list of additional helpful hints from Hagerstown. The first post {link} discussed securing and preparing spaces, and recruiting vendors and encouraging regulatory compliance.
Local leaders interested in filling vacant storefronts in historic downtowns and older commercial districts – to increase community livability and stimulate economic growth – might consider cultivating locally owned businesses. Continue reading
Popup Stores Increase Retail Options in Hagerstown’s City Center, Part 1
Local leaders interested in filling vacant storefronts in historic downtowns and older commercial districts – to increase community livability and stimulate economic growth – might consider cultivating locally owned businesses.
Throughout the country, local governments, business improvement districts and Main Street organizations are experimenting with ways to bring retail into older commercial districts with less of an upfront commitment from small business owners. Their tools: retail business incubators and pop-up stores. Pop-up stores use vacant building space for a day, a week, or even longer, but on a temporary basis; they bring foot traffic to the commercial district and can help business owners test the market prior to making a long-term commitment. Continue reading
Incentivizing Local Reinvestment and Community Revitalization
The 2015 Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Awards
Taylor’s Furniture Store
Designed to make reinvestment easier and bring new life to threatened historic structures, the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit has played a pivotal role in incentivizing private investment in the restoration of Maryland’s historic resources. By rehabilitating historic properties, the program spurs job growth, improves property values and encourages reinvestment of properties, commercial districts and neighborhoods into places where people want to live and entrepreneurs want to do business. Continue reading
MDP’s Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Profile Tool
By Scott Hansen, MDP Transportation Planning, & David Whitaker, AICP, MDP Communications
Models & Guidelines 30: Planning Tools for TOD
Owning a parcel near transit can open a wealth of development opportunities. Yet, how to achieve the most benefits from those locations can be a challenge. Transit-oriented development (TOD) is not any type of growth occurring near transit station. Instead, TOD features a well-designed and relatively high intensity of mixed land uses within a comfortable walk of a rail or bus transit station. Continue reading
