As a landlocked community with older housing and a stagnant population, Cudahy faces big challenges.

But Cudahy — named for its 19th-century industrial roots — is taking steps to attract new residents and commercial development.

That includes a recently approved downtown development plan that features design guidelines to encourage more density as well as public improvements such as bike lanes and outdoor plazas; allowing restaurants and bars to use street parking lanes for outdoor seating, and creating a tax incremental financing district to help pay for commercial projects....