Billings enters the design phase for a downtown street conversion project

Designs for a downtown Billings makeover are underway. A big part of the project includes a traffic conversion from 1-way streets to 2-way streets that are safer for pedestrians and better for commerce. What’s especially interesting is how Billings plans to pay for the improvements; it’s with a Tax Increment Financing District (TIF). Why does

Read & Share   sourced from: Billings Gazette

Downtown Fargo Developments Expand to Riverfront and Former Parking Lots

The renaissance of downtown Fargo shows no signs of slowing down. Two projects were recently approved by the City Commission. Kilbourn Group will be delivering a $28 million 114-apartment unit development along the riverfront, the goal is to bring that area to life. And another project will deliver a mixed-use commercial and residential development onto

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Fargo in a Fight to Keep Adult Store Out of Downtown

It’s playing out at the speed of government, but it’s a fight nonetheless. The issue is Romantix deals in “adult” retail, and they’ve been trying to move into a new location in downtown Fargo. The City of Fargo changed laws to keep them out. And now it’s in court. Get caught up on the whole

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

St. Cloud betting big on downtown revitalization

St. Cloud is putting all its economic development eggs in one big downtown basket. They’ve recognized that vibrant downtowns are a tool for attracting the most precious resources – talent and people. They’ll be asking the Minnesota legislature for an investment beyond $100 million to deliver the vision.

Read & Share   sourced from: Star Tribune

Bozeman’s plan to bring the crowd back to Main Street

“When [people] have choices they’re choosing to live or relocate to places that are amenity rich, meaning vibrant community corridors or vibrant downtowns that offer unique social experiences in terms of different kinds of services and retail and restaurant offerings.” — Patrick Frey, Main Street America Minot’s been on its own mission to fully capitalize

Read & Share   sourced from: Next City

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This is why downtown Minot matters more

If you’ve been paying attention the past few years, you may have noticed a renewed focus on downtown Minot. It’s coming from the City through intentional investments, it’s coming from private investors taking leaps of faith, and it’s coming from non-profits supporting all these efforts. Over the course of that time, there’s been no shortage

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On Moorhead’s Center Avenue, the past is the future

In downtown Moorhead, old buildings are revealing new potential. For uses from apartments — Moorhead has a goal of getting 500 apartment units downtown — to event space, the bones of the historic downtown buildings are providing valuable blank templates for architects and developers to imagine new uses.

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Downtown Fargo continues on a path of continuous improvement

Over the past 20 years, Fargo has been successful in creating a downtown environment that is the envy of all the other cities in North Dakota. How did they do it? Fargo’s Downtown Community Partners President Tim Flakoll provides some commentary on the success; the ingredients Fargo used won’t surprise you, but they will point

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Downtown Parking Garage Update: Questions and Answers with Derek Hackett

Though we can now park in Minot’s downtown parking garages, the projects are far from complete. Seeing as they haven’t been in the news for a few months, I reached out to Derek Hackett,  the City of Minot’s Public Information Officer, with a few questions. Here’s the latest information. Question: Will we see construction on the

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Downtown love: Devils Lake business owners look to new ideas for boosting shopping, foot traffic in city’s center

The struggle to bring life back to North Dakota’s downtown commerce areas continues. This article from the Grand Forks Herald highlights the efforts that a group of business owners in Devils Lake is taking to create foot traffic.

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Wrapped Up! Main Street Construction Completed in Time for Holiday Season

Main Street in Minot is fully open for business! After a many-months-long construction season, phase II of Minot’s downtown infrastructure project is a wrap — and just in time for the holiday shopping season. Joe Skurzewski with KMOT has the story.  

Read & Share   sourced from: KMOT News

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Downtown Fargo ice rink planned for next three winters

After a successful season last winter, the Downtown Community Partnership in Fargo has made plans to re-open a downtown skating rink for three more winters. For the 2015-16 season, the rink attracted about 30 skaters per day.

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Parking Uncertainty Remains: Cypress Development Parts Ways With Imagine Minot Architect

The downtown parking saga continues. Gary Reddick, the architect of Minot’s beleaguered parking structures and the more broad Imagine Minot downtown concept, has been released by Cypress Development, the primary developer of the projects. Mr. Reddick’s contract with Cypress was terminated just as another contract between the Portland-based architect and the City of Minot was

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Downtown Minot Construction Update

Lance Meyer, the City of Minot’s Engineer provided a construction update to the Public Works Committee on Wednesday. You can listen to the complete update on the project below, but the key points are as follows. The project is going well. The first contract milestone is July 15th, and with concrete work moving more quickly

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Letter: It’s Time to Do More for Downtown Businesses

Why the hell isn’t the City of Minot doing any kind of “Shop our Downtown” advertising? Come on, people! I’m sick and tired of watching our local businesses slowly waste away from this construction disease! We are going to lose these places if something isn’t done, and soon. These small businesses have been fighting the good

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It’s Open! Renaissance Parking Structure Ready for Cars

One of Minot’s embattled downtown parking garages is now open for cars. City leaders and project managers gathered Thursday afternoon to officially cut the ribbon. Work will continue around the structure as the commercial and residential space is built out.

Read & Share   sourced from: KMOT News