A Clear Roadmap to Revitalize Your Downtown Core.

Downtowns are the economic, civic, and cultural heart of communities—and revitalizing them takes more than good intentions. A Downtown Strategy, delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute under the Main Street Canada platform, gives you the tools to assess, align, plan, and deliver.

Whether you're planning from scratch or refreshing an older plan, we help you develop a focused, fundable roadmap tailored to your downtown’s unique context. These strategies are grounded in real data, shaped by community priorities, and designed to deliver proven, lasting results.

What Is A Downtown Strategy?

Combining data analysis, policy review, stakeholder engagement, and investment planning, each strategy delivers a practical roadmap that’s ready to fund, implement, and sustain. We help you:

  • Diagnose current conditions with real data, on-the-ground observations, and clear visuals
  • Engage local leaders, businesses, and residents to surface priorities and build alignment
  • Identify quick wins, long-term goals, and high-impact investment opportunities
  • Align municipal departments and BIAs around a unified vision and implementation plan
  • Build the case for funding with evidence-based recommendations and performance metrics
  • Strengthen local capacity and collaboration to sustain momentum and support long-term success 

What’s Included 

Every Downtown Strategy includes a comprehensive set of modules designed to assess your core, engage your community, and guide revitalization with confidence. These elements can be delivered as part of a full strategy—or offered as à la carte modules to meet specific needs, timelines, or budgets. Whether you're looking for a complete roadmap or targeted support, we meet you where you are.

  • Downtown Snapshot & Walkabout – On-the-ground scan with early observations and visuals
  • Downtown Profile – Demographic, economic, and built form scan to guide planning and investment
  • Policy & Regulatory Review – Review of zoning, CIP tools, and downtown programs with practical recommendations
  • Market & Opportunity Assessment – Business mix, retail gaps, and investment-readiness analysis
  • Stakeholder Engagement & Priority Mapping – Facilitation to align community voices and leadership priorities
  • Best Practices & Case Studies – Curated Canadian examples to inspire and facilitate action
  • GIS Mapping & Data Visualization – Visual tools to show business activity, infrastructure, and opportunity areas
  • Marketing & Communications Plan – Strategy to promote and reposition your downtown
  • Strategic Framework & Action Plan – 12–24 month implementation roadmap, including quick wins, KPIs, and lay the foundation for long-lasting downtown transformation and success
  • Grounded in Real Data – Uses local and national sources, including Main Street Metrics 
  • Tailored to Local Context – No templates—your strategy reflects your reality 
  • Designed for Implementation – Clear timelines, KPIs, and practical next steps 
  • Built for Alignment – Brings departments, BIAs, and communities together 
  • Backed by National Experts – Developed by CUI’s experienced planning and economic development team 
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