The European Observatory for City Center, launched by Centre-Ville en Mouvement in February 2024 at the European Parliament, held its first online conference on April 3rd, focusing on governance and financing models for downtowns and commercial arteries, with examples from Canada and Italy. Discussions highlighted practices such as Commercial Development Corporations (CDCs) in Canada, which establish public-private partnerships to manage downtowns by raising mandatory contributions from merchants.
These CDCs have proven effective since their introduction in Toronto in 1970, becoming significant players in downtown revitalisation, especially during the health crisis. Similarly, in Italy, similar models of public-private partnership are employed, such as downtown management cells, with notable success in regions like Piedmont. These initiatives foster collaboration between municipalities, merchants, and other stakeholders to invigorate downtowns and stimulate the local economy. The European Observatory for City Center continues to explore these practices in upcoming webinars.
