August 18, 2020: News from Main Street

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August 18, 2020 / canurb.org Rapid Placemaking to Bring Back Main Street COVID-19 has threatened the health of many of Canadian’s most cherished main street areas. Cities across the country are taking action through temporary changes to streets and sidewalks. But if we want to make local commercial areas safer, stronger and more inclusive over the long run, we need to include everyone in the process. Released today, Rapid Placemaking to Bring Back Main Street: A Pandemic Recovery Toolkit for Local Communities provides examples of programming and interventions, and provides advice on how to use an inclusive process for rapid placemaking. It can be used by residents, community groups, BIAs/BIDs, and city staff working to revive main streets and core spaces in big cities, suburbs and small towns. The Toolkit was created by Happy City as part of Bring Back Main Street. Read the Rapid Placemaking Toolkit Local portraits of the impact of COVID-19 on main streets 137th Street -Surrey, B.C. To better understand how COVID-19 has impacted main streets and businesses, Vancity, Vancity Community Investment Bank, and the Canadian Urban Institute conducted a series of seven Block Studies in British Columbia and Ontario. The Block Studies combine data and storytelling to present hyper-local, in-depth analyses of sections of main streets. The results will be used to develop insights and suggest solutions to support the strength and diversity of main streets and small businesses.  From the news: “The country really needs small businesses to be thriving, so you step back,” [Christine Bergeron, interim president and chief executive of Vancity] said, “They’re small … margins are tight. They don’t have that much capital to invest. A pandemic hits them very hard.” (Financial Post) "Rowe said it’s important to protect these main streets throughout the pandemic. 'They’re like community hearts,' she said. 'And they also drive larger economies.'" (Toronto Star) Read The Block Studies Read our latest Memos Memo #12 A Snapshot of Main Street Commercial Real Estate By Glenn Miller, Canadian Urban Institute Memo #13 Main Street Faith Buildings: Evolving through COVID-19 and Beyond By Barbara Myers and Graham Singh, CEO, Trinity Centres Foundation Five Bright Ideas Signs of innovation, creativity, and resilience on our main streets: EPL on the Square is the Edmonton Public Library's new initiative to provide a place to read books and magazines, use a laptop computer or participate in adult classes for people experiencing homelessness. A number of restaurants have recently launched subscription models for coffee and beverages. These types of initiatives can help boost recurring revenue, especially in light of shifting routines. Since 2016, Bike To Shop Days in Vancouver have supported bike-friendly business and helped to promote both local businesses and cycling.  Canada United™ is a movement that brings fellow Canadians together to show their support for local businesses by promoting a shop local weekend from August 28-30. London's High Streets - Adaptive Strategies guidance emphasizes the public value of high streets and town centres, and showcases the innovative work taking place to adapt them in the face of significant change. Thank you to our partners We are grateful to all of our partners for supporting us in building a stronger urban Canada. Donors and Program Funders Bring Back Main Street is supported by Business Improvement areas and Economic Development organizations across Canada, Vancity and Vancity Community Investment Bank Partners Black Business and Professionals Association, Bloor-Yorkville BIA, Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council, Canadian Business Resilience Network, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Canadian Institute of Planners, CGLCC: Canada's LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, City of Calgary, City of Edmonton, City of Toronto, City of Vancouver, Develop Nova Scotia, Downtown Halifax, Downtown Halifax Business Commission, Downtown Yonge BIA, Environics, Financial District BIA, National Preservation Council, National Trust for Canada, Ontario Business Improvement Area Association, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Regina Downtown BID, Retail Council of Canada, Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, Rues principales, Save Canadian Small Business, St. Lawrence BIA, Tamarack Institute, The Waterfront BIA, Toronto Entertainment District BIA, Trinity Centres Foundation, Vancouver Economic Commission Main Street Design Challenge Partners Canadian Institute of Planners, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, Council for Canadian Urbanism, ICOMOS Canada, National Trust for Canada, OCAD University, Rue principales, STEPS Initiative, Trinity Centres Foundation Research Team 360 Collective, Happy City, Simon Fraser University, Fathom Studio, JC Williams Group About CUI CUI is Canada's Urban Institute. 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