Bring colleges downtown and create an arts district

 Add walkable outdoor amenities for vibrancy: dog parks, skate parks, cafe seating, farmers markets and music venues (indoor and outdoor). Target a neighborhood and build out from there. If amenities are spread too thin, it doesn’t achieve the goal. Moving colleges downtown would also help restore vibrancy. The arts district where I live in Portland, Maine, has 10 music venues of all sizes within a 10-minute walk. It draws people to restaurants and hotels outside the more touristy Old Port neighborhood.

Kirsten Springer, Portland, Maine

Look at examples around the world

Christchurch, New Zealand, is a good model for other cities around the world. Christchurch brought people back through parks, foot transport and more apartments.

Geoff Canham, Tauranga, New Zealand

Opinion 15 ideas to revitalize ‘lifeless’ downtowns in the work-from-home era https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/01/readers-react-downtowns-revitalize/