Speakers and attendees threw out dozens of ideas at yesterday's "downtown summit." Here are a few of the suggestions that were floated.

* Attract students and faculty from UMass Lowell and Middlesex Community College

* Improve signage to bring people in and help them get around

* Bring a sharper focus to the city's marketing efforts

* Encourage more shops to stay open during the evening

* Work to alleviate suburban residents' concerns that the downtown is dangerous

* Bring more unique and upscale businesses into the downtown

* Improve infrastructure such as pedestrian paths, street lights, cobblestone streets, green space and benches

* Change the layout of confusing downtown streets

* Improve the environment for local artists to show and sell their art

* Allow new residents to have a greater voice in shaping the city's future

* Make the city's gateways more "inviting (and) warm"

* "Cluster" similar businesses together instead of having them spread around the downtown

* Have more ethnic stores and cultural events downtown

This story appeared in the Lowell Sun on Thursday, January 25, 2007