Podcast
Boots on the Ground: Episode 8
The Hidden Levers of Downtown Revitalization
with Jenn Gregory
Gaining outsized benefits with five tested strategies.
Growing a thriving downtown requires significant time and effort, leading many communities down a path of frustration and discouragement. The effort-to-results ratio of downtown placemaking can be discouraging if your energies are misplaced. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Through five strategic, cost-efficient, and time-modest initiatives, communities can unlock sought-after benefits for their downtown areas.
In this episode, host Ryder Richards sits down with Jenn Gregory, President of Downtown Strategies, to uncover the “hidden levers” that can catalyze downtown revitalization. By examining the often overlooked yet critical strategies, they discuss how five key elements, when implemented in concert, can develop a thriving community engine and boost a downtown into vibrant, sustainable growth.
5
Levers
- Strategic Business Mix
- Enhanced Walkability and Streetscape
- Community Engagement and Events
- Adaptive Reuse and Facade Improvement
- Policy and Administration
Questions Answered
- 03:37 What is the importance of having a strategic business mix in a downtown?
- 06:06 How can a downtown enhance its walkability and streetscape through incremental improvements?
- 13:01 What is the role of policy and administration in guiding the growth and development of a downtown?
- 20:15 What are some of the challenges that smaller communities face in downtown revitalization, and how can they overcome them?
- 22:26 How does accountability and support from consultants help communities achieve their downtown revitalization goals?
Whether you’re a city leader, a local business owner, or a passionate community advocate, this podcast will provide you with practical, battle-tested strategies to transform your downtown into the economic and cultural centerpiece it deserves to be. Tune in and discover the hidden levers that can lift your downtown with strategic effort.
Download
5 Hidden Levers
Download the comprehensive slide deck to dive deeper into the five critical strategies for revitalizing your downtown. This valuable resource outlines practical, battle-tested approaches to:
- Curate a strategic business mix
- Enhance walkability and streetscapes
- Engage the community through events
- Facilitate adaptive reuse and facade improvements
- Leverage effective policies and administration
Get the slide deck and connect with our downtown revitalization experts to start unlocking the hidden potential of your community’s urban core.
Featured in this episode of
Boots on the Ground
Jenn Gregory is the President of Downtown Strategies, a leading consulting firm that has helped nearly 200 cities across 25 states unlock the potential of their downtowns. With over 15 years of hands-on experience as a downtown revitalization practitioner, Jenn has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing communities of all sizes.
Prior to joining Downtown Strategies, Jenn served as the former CEO of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership in Mississippi, where she spearheaded the implementation of the Main Street program and drove policy initiatives to spur downtown growth. Her expertise spans a wide range of downtown revitalization strategies, from strategic business mix and walkability enhancements to adaptive reuse and effective policy administration.
As a passionate advocate for vibrant, thriving downtowns, Jenn brings a wealth of practical knowledge and a collaborative approach to her work with cities. Her insights and guidance have helped countless communities transform their urban cores into economic and cultural hubs that reflect the unique character of their community.
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