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HRSR INFORMATION 09-07-2004 INFORMATION • City of Elk -�-, River MEMORANDUM TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority FROM: Heidi Steinmetz, Assistant Director of Economic Development DATE: September 7, 2004 SUBJECT: Rivers Edge Downtown Business Association Update Attachments • Rivers Edge Downtown Business Association Meeting Minutes o June 9, 2004 o July 14, 2004 • Rivers Edge Agenda,August 11,2004 o Challenge and Solution List • o Additional Challenges and Solutions Background For the past several years staff has attended the regular Rivers Edge meetings,which are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 8:00am at the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce office. Issue Attached are the June and July 2004 Rivers Edge Meeting Minutes. In addition, the August 11, 2004 Rivers Edge Agenda is attached including Challenge and Solution lists completed by Rivers Edge members regarding the Downtown Revitalization Project. Staff and Vern Hanson of MetroPlains answered questions regarding the challenges and solutions at the August 11th meeting. Rivers Edge has not distributed the August 11th Meeting Minutes yet. • • Rivers Edge Minutes June 9, 2004 The Meeting was called to order at 8AM. Minutes were approved as written. There is 2518.76 in the treasury. This includes revenue from the May 22 garage sale. Our treasurer, Jim Simpson, said that there was a$50.00 check made out to the city in 2002 that was never cashed. The recollection was that the check may have been a deposit to have a temporary sign. A motion was made and seconded to include that money back into the treasury balance. The motion passed. Old Business: Old Business: Heidi Steinmetz told us that there would be no July HRA meeting. There is a HRA Work Session scheduled June 30. The purpose of this meeting is to review and identify priority redevelopment issues for downtown north of Hwy 10. In addition, the HRA will consider requesting that the City Council call a public hearing for September regarding the establishment of a TIF District. Heidi gave us a timeline overview of what we could expect if the Downtown Revitalization Project is approved. Planning for the establishment of a TIF District is a 60 to 90 day process. A Final Development Agreement will be presented after the TIF District is established, which is anticipated for Fall of 2004. Richard Hinrichs has signed a purchase agreement with MetroPlains for his property. MetroPlains is negotiating with U.S. Bank and the Nadeaus. The negotiations are a private process held between the • developer and the property owners. A new Q & A newsletter responding to some of the recent questions regarding the project will be sent out in the Star News in June. It was felt that it would be helpful to have an open line of communication between downtown businesses and MetroPlains. Wendy will contact Vern to see if he or someone from his group would be available to attend a rivers edge meeting prior to the final development agreement. Garage Sale: Thanks to Meryl Gisselquists who did a wonderful,beyond expectations great job of organizing, cleaning and managing the garage sale. Thank you also to Linda Kopp from First National Bank of Elk River, and Betty Thomas and Lynda Harrison from Kemper Drug for their help. Thank you also to the other individuals who volunteered their time and those businesses and individuals who donated merchandise. With their help we took in $330.00 on the rainy May 22 garage sale. Placemats advertising downtown businesses. Marlys Ellingson from the Star News is working on a placemat advertising promotion. For under$30.00 businesses will be able to place a business card size ad around the border. The middle part will be a picture relating to downtown. The placemats will then be offered free of charge for community groups to use at their fundraising functions. Our goal is to have the placemats done by September. • • New Business: Another Garage Sale: Because of the awful weather on May 22, it was decided to hold a second garage sale June 17 to 19th to try and improve our results. Meryl will once again be running the Sale. Downtown SideWalk Sale: To help boost traffic for the garage sale, we thought it would be a good idea to hold a Sidewalk Sale the same days as the Garage Sale. Wendy will pass out Door Signs advertising the sidewalk sale and garage sale to downtown businesses. We will also put a garage sale and sidewalk sale ad in the Elk River Star News. Wendy will also get a sidewalk sale banner made to hang by the side of Kemper Drug. Jeff Gongoll said that he would put the garage sale on the Chamber of Commerce's outdoor sign to help us with advertising. III . Rivers Edge Downtown Business Association Minutes • July 14, 2004 The meeting was called to order at 8AM at the Elk River Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room. Attending were: Tony Mikols, Heidi Steinmetz, Meryl Gisselquist, Cliff Lundberg, Patti Hipsag, Marlys Ellingson and Wendy Simenson Secretary's Report: The minutes from the last meeting were accepted. Treasurer's Report: The Balance is $2535.23. Recent additions have come from the garage sale ($650.90). Recent subtractions have been for flowers ($404.00) Old Business City Update: Meryl asked Heidi to explain Tax Increment Financing (TIF) since the establishment of a TIF District is part of the project. As stated in the June 2004 Downtown Revitalization Q &A Newsletter, "TIF is a financing tool created by the MN Legislature in the 1970s to help encourage development and redevelopment of underutilized and/or blighted properties. Under TIF, property tax revenue equivalent to what the current property generates continues to go to all taxing jurisdictions. The portion of the tax revenue that results from the increased value of the new development, also called the "tax increment", is used to pay site costs such as acquisition, demolition, water, sewer, and street improvements. Once the site costs have been paid, the tax increment goes to the taxing jurisdictions." Heidi told us that the BRA was holding a visioning work session on June 30th to discuss a • redevelopment plan for downtown north of Hwy 10. City Staff will then take the results of the work session and put together concept options for HRA review this Fall. Since there are properties adjacent to the downtown post office available, Tony questioned whether the post office would consider expanding downtown rather than relocating. Post offices are governed by the Federal Government. We need to find out the best way to forward his suggestion. Garage Sale: Meryl reported that the garage sale was a success. Items are still being sold as she is emptying out the building. Estimated final revenue is $830.00. Unsold items will be donated to GoodWill in Elk River. We would not have had the success that we had without Meryl's hard, work. Make sure to thank her for her efforts. Flower Pots: Meryl has planted all of the pots with roses and dianthus using the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's 2004 color scheme. Most of these plants will be moved to the Handke Stadium perennial garden in the fall, the remainder will be planted at the Chamber of Commerce. Steve Eid from Steve's Nursery in Elk River has said he would help with the planting and a mystery path at the stadium. Tina from Natural Expressions has donated recognition plaques for businesses participating in the adopt a pot program and helping pay for the plants. The adopt-a-pot program will continue for the next year. If you sign a contract to faithfully water the pot during the summer and give $20.00 for a mum to be planted in the pot in September, you can have a pot placed in front of your business for the following year. If you have not been contacted by Meryl, you can pick up an adopt-a-pot form at Kemper Drug and drop off your$20.00. • Once again, thanks to Meryl for taking care of buying the plants, planting them and taking care of the adopt-a-pot program. • New Business: The Next Meeting will be held August 11, 2004,at 8AM at the Elk River Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room. • 1110 Rivers Edge Downtown Business Association Agenda for Wednesday August 11, 2004 g Y g 8AM Chamber of Commerce Conference Room Secretary's Report Treasurer's Report Old Business City Update Heidi Steinmetz Cathy Mehelich Revitalization Challenges Vern Hanson MetroPlains And Solutions* Elk River City Staff Placemats Marlys New Business Oktoberfest: October Downtown Promotion Connecting to Art Soup *Please help be part of the solution to making the revitalization process a positive experience for downtown businesses. We need you to share your experiences with previous building or repair projects, in our downtown or other areas where you have worked, and how they affected business traffic. We can then look at ways to try to minimize the negative effects and maximize the positive effects on our downtown as the revitalization process progresses. We also need to see the people working on these projects downtown as potential customers and how can we help make their jobs easier. Remember to forward your list of these challenges and solutions if you have them to Wendy Simenson at Kemper Drug prior to the meeting on August 11. Drop them off or Fax 441-9004, or email: kemperdrugs @mcleodusa.net THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MEETING FOR OUR DOWNTOWN. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A RIVERSEDGE MEMBER TO ATTEND. MAKE IT A POINT TO BE THERE! • Rivers Edge Meeting: Challenge and Solution List Challenge: Control construction workers parking so that present businesses can exist: Solution: Off site parking—shuttle service—ticket those vehicles that don't comply. Challenge: Provide adequate additional parking for employees and customers. Solution: Expand main lot behind brick block—identify employee vehicles and have police monitor for commuter and construction parking. Challenge: Lower than normal ratio of parking stalls for this development compared to other developments in Elk River Solution: Encourage Elk River City Council to increase the ratio to be equal to other developments. Challenge: Identify staging areas to reduce adverse effects on present businesses. Solution: Shuttles -work nights and weekends to stay away from peak shopping times Challenge: Road closures and traffic snarls impairing access and discouraging people from coming downtown. Solutions: Schedule work that will block the roads at non peak traffic times,preferably in the evenings and on weekends. Coordinate all of the construction entities so that road closures are kept to a minimum. Penalize the contractors/subcontractors for causing excessive road closures and delays. Never allow Jackson Avenue and Main Street to be closed at the same time. Challenge: Use of heavy equipment causing vibration and structural damage to existing buildings downtown. Solution: Require contractor to carry insurance to cover damage to downtown buildings caused by vibrations and ground shifting when they dig up the ground downtown for underground parking. i Page 1 of 1 Mehelich, Catherine From: wendy simenson [simen003 @umn.edu] Sent: Monday,August 09, 2004 9:17 PM To: Cathy Mihelich; Hsteinmetz @ci.elk-river.mn.us; pklaers @ci.elk-river.mn.us Subject: Meeting with MetroPlains Hi, Some people have not been receiving my emails -hopefully that is not the case with you. If you know of anyone who is not beeing contacted and should be,please let me know. Also, we feel strongly that 1.5 parking spots per rental unit is too low. What is your position on this?Also, attached are a few more challenges that have come in. Challenge: Finding new businesses that compliment and are different from the existing businesses downtown.  Solution: Allow the downtown Rivers Edge Business Group to be a part of the recruitment process for new businesses.  Challenge: How can the new central park with its access to the river and Main Street be used to the ben •  Thanks for working with us on this! Wendy • 8/11/2004 r a l��a:,TIA7"14N ... .:s.... .. ...‘:4:,': :::,::::',.1'1..• ..:.::r! .,x`!;�. !.x-j::"''•.:r:.S '.'e�:c`.,... .-i_ •.i 'a .v1,' y.3.'�` i1 Yt. 4x.Y... t .b` '`r Planning Building `,.Better i• so ...,...:.Communith' sK - , .. .P. •a.. � , x .. T i Y ,'�'- ', � -• ad. 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With over $70 million in capital, Greater _ imi III ii, NM. 1 u Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF) has been + i� 4n" + _ ��O supporting the creation of affordable housing in the 80 counties outside the Twin Cities metro area since including natural resources, recreation, transportation, 1996. Launched as a joint effort of The McKnight economic development, zoning and public financing. Foundation and Blandin Foundation, GMHF is an intermediary through which foundations, corporations In its pilot year (2004 2005), Growth Corridor and local employers contribute to affordable housing Initiative funding will be offered to municipalities in through gap loans, technical support, public education Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne and Wright Counties. and research, and special initiatives. Catalyst for Progress and Innovation: GMHF serves Program Overview 11101 Principles as a catalyst for progress and innovation, specializing in creating strategically important programs that promote GMHF is launching the Growth Corridor Initiative livable neighborhoods through wise use of land, mixed- at a critical moment in time for high growth communities income housing, cost reduction techniques, traditional on the edge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. While neighborhood design and employer involvement. development pressures have,been steadily increasing, communities have not yet lost the opportunity to conduct A Broad and Ambitious New Initiative: Building on careful,community-driven decision making that will focus the success and lessons of GMHF's Building Better on results and the implementation of real projects that eghborhoods (BBN) starter home program, GMHF is will set the stage for future growth. nching Growth Corridor Initiative, a new, broad and ambitious initiative designed to meet the needs of high- Through partnering witlticiterested communities,and growth,ex-urban communities along the growth corridors serving as the catalyst for other philanthropic and local of greater Minnesota. investment, the principles of GMHF's Growth Corridor Initiative program are: While high population growth and rising land costs offer tremendous economic opportunities; ute challenges ® Planning:Support effective,area-wide master planni ` T remain for preserving the quality of life for both long that addresses needs in growing communities for affordable' time residents and newcomers. Ensuring that the rich housing, economic development, transportation t natural resources, small-town charm, and local infrastructure, community facilities, open space and employment and affordable housing opportunities do not recreation, and preservation of natural systems. disappear under metropolitan sprawl is critical to the long- ® Land Use: Promote efficient land use patterns that term vitality of these high growth communities. support the growth of economically,environmentally,ands Beyond a Single, Residential Subdivision: GMHF's socially healthy cities and towns. new Growth Corridor Initiative will provide funding El Housing: Encourage development of a variety of support for area-wide integrated planningeffts,capacity- housing types, styles and price points that meet 4. building for planning and implementation staff, and affordability and life-cycle housing needs of growing .y continued BBN project funding to foster large scale, communities and reduce distances which workers must integrative model projects in greater Minnesota's growth travel to reach employment. corridors. 4. Community Participation &Local Control.: Increase Although GMHF's primary focus will continue to be meaningful citizen participation throughout the the creation of affordable housing, Growth Corridor community planning process to facilitate greater public ,iative is intended to go beyond a single residential education and awareness of local development issues. division. Broad and flexible support will assist communities to plan for comprehensively addressing the range of other opportunities and challenges before them, , Program Description and Resources Goals and Policies: Includes goals and policies related IIIto growth management and the orderly expansion of its D ,..i,---1- :_ 54, ,_,-7-' 4, It E urban area and the infrastructure systems to support that a-� e growth, including land use, transportation, community Frequently, when communities undertake facilities, environmental protection, and housing and Comprehensive Planning, they have limited resources and economic development. staff capacity. Consequently, Comprehensive Plans can Conservation Design: Utilizing the Minnesota Land often be uncharacteristic of the community and impractical Classification System mapping will be the first step for the to implement. The GCI program will help communities plan community to explore the many advantages of conservation and build better communities through: design strategies. Better Land Use Planning: By accessing higher quality Community Vision,a Master Plan for its Future Form, data, GIS mapping and assessment, and market research Plan Elements: GMHF will very strongly encourage a tools, communities will be able to make more strategic and master plan for the community's growth areas, which will informed decisions about managing growth. represent a manifestation of the community's future vision Enhanced Community Participation:By incorporating as it has emerged from the sustained involvement of the principles and methods of community-based planning, a public and the rigorous evaluation of numerous alternatives. more creative and complete community participation process will develop local leadership and knowledge. . #2: Implementation/Capacity-Building Grants Actionable Goals:Practical goals and new resources will GMHF will provide "capacity-building" grants to cities result in implementation of concrete projects that to provide two years of support for local planning and demonstrate a better vision for the community. development staff or contract personnel to manage the Funding for Staff to Implement Plan: Participating ~.. implementation of pending housing projects.Up to$25,000 communities will receive access to funding to add planning per year for a two-year, capacity building grant. Each city community development staff for a two-year period. would be required to obtain 1:1 matching funds from other local, philanthropic or state sources. Capital Funding for Model Project: Participating communities will receive priority funding for technical #3: Capital Project Funding for Model Projects assistance grants, plus loans for site assembly, construction financing and homebuyer assistance to complete one or In each community, one (or more) development more demonstration-quality developments. project(s) that includes at least 50 affordable housing units must be identified as part of the larger planning process. #1: Area-Wide Planning Support Affordable housing units must be part of a larger mixed- income and/or mixed-use development. GMHF will GMHF will provide up to$50,000 per community for provide BBN technical assistance funding,and may provide community-based planning and design assistance through capital funding for construction and homebuyer gap. a professional planning firm for the creation of long-term community plans,including creation of a 10-year,affordable GMHF would allocate up to $15,000 per affordable housing p GMHF will work with cities to raise unit in deferred loans to qualified homebuyers. Projects additional matching funds(cash or in-kind)of$25,000 from should leverage othe ace of 10:1,including strong other sources. The community planning process will address: participation of private (mortgage), state, local, and/or employer dollars. •GMHF will also seek opportunities to Growth Forecasts: Population, household and job be an equity investor in land required for current or future growth. housing developments. Land Inventory, Supply and Intrinsic Suitability: Mapping and analysis of natural resource systems and #4:Building Better Neighborhoods Planning Support features using the Minnesota Department of Natural GMHF will provide up to $25,000 of model project Resources data and mapping; a comprehensive inventory BBN planning support*6)site- specific model projects: existing land uses utilizing GIS technology; and an GMHF will award tech• (stance rants for professional enturousing units by type, age and value. =a g p services related to sitt ' 4"•n and site design; public Co' pity and Neighboring Community infrastructure planning, f,,,`°' ome designs. Participation and Communications: Several models will be provided to organize and sustain strong community Technical assistance is provided by GMHF staff and participation throughout the planning process. contract architects. . a. Development Patterns: Promotion of compact development patterns, including the provision of a igible Communities diverse housing stock and well-planned transportation options? b. Public Infrastructure & Community Facilities: Local government agencies in Chisago, Isanti, Efficient and cost-effective provision of public Sherburne and Wright Counties are eligible to receive infrastructure and community facilities, including GMHF Growth Corridor Initiative funding in the pilot the consideration of environmental and social costs? year 2004-2005. c. Economic Development: Advancement and Communities who can positively answer the following retention of sustainable economic development questions will be most competitive for funding: strategies, including the development of local ® Growth:Is your community experiencing rapid growth resources? and projected to continue to develop rapidly? d. Natural Resources:Conservation and enhancement ® Community Process: Is the community willing to of natural resource systems, including agricultural conduct an integrative master planning process with broad- land, forests, water resources, open spaces, based community participation, timely and meaningful recreational areas, and scenic resources? involvement of stakeholders, and sustained 4. Site Control: Does your community have, or can it communication with all the participants? obtain, site control for a large-scale residential or mixed- ® Planning Principles: Is the community open to use development? exploring the potential benefits that may be available ® BBN Objectives: Is the site suitable to accomplish through the use of GMHF technical assistance and funding GMHF's Growth Corridor Initiative and Building Better • to achieve the following community planning principles: Neighborhoods (BBN) objectives,including (see next page): .° • TRENDS - Job Growth Strong Along Interstate Corridors Facts: • Growth corridor counties are expel ieueing significantly higher job growth LHaii the typical - Mtnnesota county (median=1,46(3). �_ °` .. ■ F3� •d'w • Percentage glow di of the labor force in the North — a"t, fia i Central Lakes Corridor s■as among the highest of all regions reflecting business firm expansion and a r. growing, recreation industry. Interstate Highways • �I he greatest glow rates in coutii ies adjacent to the [ + f i > Percent Change in Labor Force(1990-2000) f 1 10.18-0% \1etro mere in Chisago County along, 1-35. .' ' � 36 -` 0.01 -1046• ,', i 10.1 -35% • The largest zone of growth is along I-35 heading 1 _35.1"62.77% 1 North tosti°ands Duluth especially in Chisago and Pine *? counties. e! �,�plications: .+ • A growing workforce should be matched with an adequate supply of Housing. • • • • 'e s,''4'6;1,147 pf K ! CO ::a'n' �v Nils '54-fi..c ' z •° `�� V• ®w r $$ 1g s ' ifik„.4 Interstate Highways 4 e r - • p k • .j1» ,s,} Percent Change in htumbera(Households 4 �r,, I I-5.39 0% `; •' a �.• • n _ 0.1 -10% �� -� i01 -25% • f1C1 ' 25.1 58.5% .,gip s • 4� 'e� • • , � t • • 'i' Q®� t :a0TOT-Mil • s"�• " a • • • I �� % ,� +3Fk. . xc s a. Master Planning: Providing impetus for a master d. Ten Year Housing Plan:Preparing and adopting a planning effort? ten-year housing plan, which would contain goals b. Model Project: Serving as a positive model to for housing diversity, affordability and the influence future development choices and relationship between proposed housing and opportunities in the area? employment opportunities? Planning Beyond the Project Boundaries:Serving e. Municipal Utility Service:Avoiding the expansion c to achieve community planning objectives beyond of lame lot, private well and septic development the project boundaries (e.g. extension of essential patterns? infrastructure; key roadway, trail and pedestrian 6. Commitment for Implementation: Will the linkages; natural resource system conservation and community commit to implement the community plan, enhancement; strategic linkages of housing with including the housing plan, and be willing to devote local jobs; expansion of parks and open space; or the resources to ensure effective implementation? improvement of market conditions for local businesses)? �f y • Mfg, r ��gh 11; <,....,. fi ` ( r CC ,�r- , y I : 1 v I tom_ -,tri i „ .___ - _-_, ,- . � r1 ,,, ' • - ! r r 1} f 1 �_ �T irxg• c,_—,...� x ; r r/r :,.ftiemt - yam.--_... w _ -IC —_ t r `:-. J W •nlita t �..» .d t � ,.r-t _" L �,„oy�cy "4 1,M114TY-0ff_ CASE STUDY ' •.. •-, : • rrr., �r i' t>�d North Branch: ESSBY Development Area . ...,..147,=.7.--;, ..-- '... ..o. - The City of North Branch is currently planning for ,, a the development of a 400 acre site adjacent to ;� Interstate 35 for a large-scale mixed use project that will include housing, commercial and industrial uses. -4 Incorporating extensive community and master planning, with a special focus on GMHF's Building Better development and growth strategy includes linkages to Neighborhood principles, the planning will provide a major area-wide infrastructure improvements. community growth strategy for the next 10 years. The GMHF is assisting the City of North Branch with BBN community's vision for growth includes "inclusionary Technical Assistance and funding for planning in the spirit housing” and "permanent affordability" policies. The of the Growth Corridor Initiative, and expects to award housing project is planned to begin construction in spring interim financing for land acquisition and homebuyer of 2005. gap financing to this exciting project. North Branch envisions an exceptionally well This is a highly competitive model project in the designed, master-planned development with a mix of growth corridor that demonstrates excellent planning business and residential uses, housing choices that will and design, innovative city policies, cooperative public- private families of all income levels, community facilities private partnerships and the creation of a range of and well-designed open space components—all- in a housing choices, including the creation of permanently planned area that utilizes proven cost reduction affordable housing and employer assisted housing. techniques and the best in urban design. The lidi ,. CASE STUDY of Cambridge: Heritage Foundation Challenge Grant funds for development models best practices Green Development *City G l - ni participation, mixed land acquisition, construction, and in community p p , The City of Cambridge, along homebuyer gap financing. use development planning home with its development team, is City leaders participated in design and partnerships among many developing a 292 unit mixed Minnesota Initiative Foundation's philanthropicfunderstohelpachieve income, mixed-use development on Healthy Communities program, and a community vision for growth. 86 acres in the central city. ultimately received funding from Located on the old state mental Blandin Foundation for further [Development Team: City of Cambridge, health facility site, the highlights of leadership development training and R-1etroPlains Development, Central this model project include: grants funds to purchase the site. Minnesota Housing Partnership, Lumber One, Bright Keys Development, and • Combination of single-family Combining with GMHF's Technical Hoisington Koegler Group.] homes, for-sale and rental Assistance and project financing, this townhomes for families and seniors. • High-quality home designs on compact lots with alleys. - _` .-_, • Pedestrian-friendly streetscape _. with street trees, sidewalks and i linkages to surrounding neigh- ) ,;;,,•„„ �' `w _ - borhoods. t '. f_ v �' • Preservation of open space and a central park;community center and �' ` �� I 410 library.. l + • Connections to the central city and . ..�--. .tS c existing infrastructure. C,., t !'L4`,v,� r'. J ; c_ c-- . PLC ,-. �+m� • v _ The community, Cambridge city I '" '~ ti officials and the development are ' ° ii " • :rr` '�'� I W, r w „ committed to features of Traditional - "°• if; r—r rtt�`,_.<--''-'' `�" " t ,.....""` Neighborhood Design, including the _ r r i.7...5` ? 7 7 'I w . - t Cti'a ' 1 r � � Cf•' M design principles of the Building ' _ - i� _ F ., a.�- 1 � . � � i4- 'il 16 i 2. Better Neighborhoods program. �, � ��-, � r ,'-;:�- �f<� � ..,� .,�� I : With a commitment to making a b ;- ,' . `-4re--' „ �' „ I., substantial number of units 00,e,',.- " " " " j " �� r r r r ��4` t: affordable, the City is exploring how Y ' c "a ° .: rr r r-` ` 0t to incorporate a Community Land err -, �A- - Trust to keep a percentage of the i r , ' r.. -_S ;" �.-- - - t owner occupied units permanently .4 ,,,-h �`r `�. i _ affordable. • 1 • "` `" "' r More than 150 community �� ,1 ,- %; VI ' ., members have participated in a � `.� "-',7. :' `r . .. ' - • : community-planning process that '; - ""`•"'" - =r'rr: II .. II y A _ began in April 2001 . GMHF is `, "-i r. , rt'e« __.-x, -.4. f� ,�. ,j;�_<t! t assisting this development with BBN .� ' "`' `~ ' �� o �` - Technical Assistance, funding for er''•_:E �..,.• , fr ,r . planning in the spirit of the Growth +'%' - 1 ._.__.- -° f: ti E *'� .-- Corridor Initiative Initiative, and a v '`-::: - "7-—; r r '" �,` t 5 , _-''- - r r .�.. $1 million loan of McKnight � ..,. State Hospital Redevelopment Sae:Revised Concept Plan e mbndee,Minnow ' a f • Growth Corridor Initiative • s.:!:,;.irr., 1 Program Launch I Falb .2004 '� Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMFIF) will launch its pilot Growth fl t. �'arfrw + i Corridor Initiative program in Fall 2004 through a competitive Request for =I1 MI allala an —rJ Proposals (RFP). Interested communities are strongly encouraged to attend I ii I GMHF's Growth Conidor Initiative kick-off event (date TBA) in Elk River. `n F., - AUG 0 2 2004 INFORMATION 1,..t ® i ® . . ® ' . , 1 , Vol. 51, No. 15 ♦ August 1, 2004 Ask IP i . 4. Traffic Trash collection revi . woOr Optimizing traffic an ever-challenging to be more civil balancing act for downtowns The Downtown Da One universal planning chal- "Bulb-outs" slow cars Partnership, Dayton, pop. 166,200), does not -ntly lenge for downtowns is establish- on too-busy streets have a clean and crew, ing an appropriate balance between Intersection "bulb-outs," or but it has helped ' ' ence revi- the various kinds of traffic that pass protruding sidewalk corners, are sions in the mu sal trash col- through. being implemented as a traffic lection syste downtown.A Making downtown easily and calming device for Aberdeen,WA "User Friend' ommittee"of the safely navigable for pedestrians (pop. 16,460), which has U.S. Partnership .`looked for ways as well as drivers is sometimes Highway 101 running through its to make dr town cleaner,safer, complicated by a third variable downtown. and fries' to residents and 0 — such as the presence of a light visitors, : its work comple- The highway brings millions rail line, a historic train line, or ments ivility Resolution the of visitors each year on their way to a major highway. Here, we exam- Dayt. ity Commission recently and from the Pacific Ocean, 20 miles Me a few traffic-balancing initia- appr d, emphasizing respect away, says Lisa Scott,planning and fives from around the country, as an. urtesy. Beautification pro- development manager with the city. well as their unique dilemmas and gr. .,a panhandling ordinance, solutions. (Continued o gage 2) a = revised student bus pass , a ram are among other recent Business Recruitment and Retention <;"' irts to enhance downtown Iiv- 7' a i lity. Insurance man does volunte ontact:Laura Woeste, Downtown double-duty selling dow Dayton Partnership, (937)224-1518, info@downtowndayton.org;www. Many small towns have volun- etaining businesses," says downtowndayton.org. teer fire departments and first-aid ocky D'Entremont, one such squads that are highly effective a volunteer. ` 7 In extremely tough and unquest;� 'q -q ably important jobs. Mayor's team talks up the town s 3; % . ,,; � on business calls eared If volunteers can ;.11y 04 4.ti cpnf s►c " ,p save lives, why not, " e skills Appropriately enou h, that s s W � !, . i L y g sys- and goodwill of community tern is named MEDIC, short for m ,11.� stakeholders i in the art of the Mayor's Economic Development ; �, '.' ' deal to at nd retain businesses Invitation Committee a subcommit e s , �' !r s n u.. art or ® F i down , tee of the Main Street Mount Holly , tee _ 147 t, • economic restructuring committee. es�� t o e �oust Holly, NJ (pop. g �IFwres,,� �err� s s+� �nte � # :4 � "The term MEDIC seems to tai purr renest e �. .:x„r,i': 0), for exam le, "we have a -� P ,1.,41 .` 4 -. . stem or method of both attracting (Continued on page 4) ©2004 Alexander Communications Group, Inc.All rights reserved. ISSN 0012-5822 Downtown® Optimizing traffic -continued from page 1 40 Idea Exchange a publication of the But they typically "treat this as a signal poles that the department of Downtown Research&Development Center highway and not as a downtown," transportation recently installed in 28 West 25th Street—8th Floor she says, "and fail to recognize that the downtown. New York,NY 10010-2705 Phone:(212)228-0246•Fax:(212)228-0376 pedestrians are walking around the It helps to be creative in find- Email:info @DowntownDevelopment.com ' area." ing grants to fund traffic improve- Website:www.DowntownDevelopment.com` A$2-million project creating ment projects, Scott says. "Our Editor bulb-outs at 12 highway intersections niche happened to be pedestrian Paul Felt, ext. 119 through the downtown recently went safety improvements; find pockets pfeit @DowntownDevelopment.com to bid and should be complete by that fit and go after them," she rec- Customer Service this time next year, she says,helping ommends, "and partner with your Mary Pagliaroli,ext.101 - to correct the safety issue and tap local transportation authority." mpagliaroli@DowntownDevelopment.com more cars passing through for Contact:Lisa Scott, City of Aberdeen, Reprints and Permissions business. (360)537-3238, lscott @aberdeeninfo.com. Mary Dalessandro,ext. 103 mdalessandra @DowntownDevelopment.com "The bulb-outs are designed to make the pedestrian more visible New train whistle regulation Publisher squeezes Main Street Margaret DeWitt ext. 106. to the vehicles on the highway by q msdewitt @DowntownDevelopment.com ? bringing them out into the right- La Grange, KY (pop. 5,680), Downtown idea Exchange®is published twice monthly of-way," Scott says. "This not only has shared various forms of traffic by the Downtown Research&Development Center.The decreases the distance that the pe- with a commercial railroad running Center provides news,information and analysis for suc- cessful downtown revitalization through its newsletters, destrian has to travel but it also down the middle of its Main Street books,reports,and website, draws the driver's attention to the since the 1840s—before Henry i)Alexander Communications Group fact that, `Yes, this is a town, there Ford was even born. CELEBRATING 50 YEARS• 1954-2004 are pedestrians, maybe I should "The train track is flush with •2004 Alexander Communications Group,Inc,All slow down.'" the road, and in the narrowest rights reserved.No part of this publication may be parts of Main Street, the road is reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,or transmit- p ted rn any form or by any means,electronic,mechani- Making the case for funding only about 49 feet wide. So there cal,photocopying or otherwise,without the prim'Writ- ten permission of Alexander Communications Group. The highway bulb-outs will are times that when the train is Subscription Order Form: likely benefit public safety as well not coming, we are driving right as the downtown's image and local on the tracks," says Keli Quinn, , Please start renew my one-year commerce, but it is the improved executive director, Crossroads-La subscription to Downtown Idea Exchange for$197.* safety that Aberdeen leveraged to Grange Main Street Inc. get funding through the downtown- That scenario would seem NAME enhancing project, particularly ,far from ideal,but the Main Street as TITLE through the state department of train street is something of a tourist transportation(DOT). attraction. "Train enthusiasts visit FIRM/ORGANIZATION Since receiving a$550,000 from all over the country to take pic- ADDRESS federal pedestrian safety enhance- tures," Quinn says. "Everyone gets a CITY STATE ZIP ment grant through the DOT two big kick out of it.We like that, and it years ago, the city budgeted money is part of our history." PHONE for a match to the grants and has With a slow downtown train FAX been successful in acquiring a fed- speed, and warning bells and flash- EMAIL N15 eral appropriation from Senator ing lights to alert passersby, the MAIL: 28 West 25th Street—8th Floor Patty Murray as well as other DOT town has been fortunate with few New York,NY 10010 grants, Scott says. accidents, Quinn says. But without QIII FAX: (212)228-0376 Featuring sidewalk lighting, more reliable safety precautions, 41,U"PHONE: (800)232-4317 ( EMAIL: infoC�DowntownDevelopment.com planters,benches, brick pavers, and new federal railroad regulations *North America,$197.Elsewhere,$227 street trees, the bulb-outs will com- would require trains to sound their (includes airmail delivery). plement new cantilevered traffic horns as they roll through.And 2 Downtown Idea Exchange • www.DowntownDevelopment.com August 1, 2004 ;.` :' ' " draft a possible plan that would 4i<< ' - .� '' ;`:%� F include all of the required safety lip :z . 0•14;k:. ., Y•,.:. a-; f. -''— measures, keep two-way traffic, Y :4t ._ ? and reduce parking, Quinn says. It is also serving as the de facto +�, { , � Y r Y,4 _ mediator, "attempting to get every- I I ,,,, one to the table" (meaning city•` i� `'' / - 4 ii' government, the railroad, Federal • ; 4 f t rj.�., < , . I ,p,, Railroad Administration, mer- L. :."` • -', chants, and residents) to work out di" = the best compromise. "We believe that the more Downtown La Grange, KY(pop. 5,680), is bisected by a commercial railroad. New federal input we have, the more creativity whistle regulations require better separation of road and track if the downtown is to main kill lead to synergies and hopeful tain its peace and quiet. ly the best possible outcome," with up to 30 trains a day, Quinn Trade-offs may have Quinn says. fears what that would do to the to be made A traffic analysis of the downtown area is also being corn- downtown ambience. "We have parallel parking on missioned to inform the city's To maintain the downtown's one side and angled parking on the decision-making. Quinn expects "quiet zone"designation under the other side," Quinn says. "In order that up to half the parking on new safety regulations, Quinn says to have two-way traffic continue Main Street's small retail section that at least a dozen feet of space on Main Street, we may have to will have to be eliminated. would need to be freed up on Main eliminate some parking. This will "We're going to have to make Street,to allow installation of eight- obviously be a challenge to our some choices,"Quinn says. "If we APinch-tall, concrete curbing separat- retail area." want two-way traffic on Main Street, ing the road from the tracks, as well Crossroads-La Grange Main we'll need to eliminate some park- as crossing gates. Street had a committee formed to ing.If we are satisfied with one-way Email can help clear construction confusion = In Houston, TX(pop. 2 million),the street-grade site that Davis's staff main -' •rovides sug- MetroRail light-rail line was obviously a massive gested alternate rout-- ,vebsite is complement- undertaking for the city, and caused inevitable disrup- ed by a weekly : •rming regular downtown tions. Its construction lasted from April 2001 until last visitors of A eets will be closed. December, and was concurrent with a streetscape. Y`- a constant feeding of information to the project intended to accommodate changes in mass ' - ` .I public about construction downtown," Davis transit, with new traffic lane designations and pedes- ays,and his experience shows that email can be a trian signage. low-cost and effective means of educating the pub- "Construction was extremely fast pa - '• lic about downtown road construction. some would say there should have •-. . e con- The key to successfully communicating via sideration for street-level busin - ays Tom email is distributing the notices through building Davis, director of capital p -' :nd construction managers rather than trying to maintain a huge for the Houston Dow • anagement District. distribution list in-house, Davis says. They can Some restaurant •htclubs closed doors dur- then forward it to their tenants, to distribute to ing construc - _ says. their employees. Ho . -t least downtown employees and Contact Tom Davis, Houston Downtown Management (. vi • •uld plan their trips to avoid construction District, (713)650-3022, tom@downtowndistrict.org, ,s through www.downtownstreets.com, a web- www.downtowndistrict.org. August 1, 2004 Downtown Idea Exchange • www.DowntownDevelopment.com 3 traffic,we'll be able to keep more Get input from street-level contractor and to voice their con- parking,"which she says merchants businesses cerns. re interested in. Traffic calming bulb-outs at "Keep everybody informed and "They understand how much get ideas from what the street-level Y a half-dozen Central Avenue inter- g easier it is for somebody to park sections were also implemented businesses want,"Madson advises right in front of your store and as a result of talking to retailers, other downtowns planning street- walk in," she says. and appear to have slowed traffic scapes. Contact:Keli Quinn, Crossroads-La down as intended,Madson says. The BID is encouraging the Grange Main Street Inc., (502)269- he Great Falls BID will continue handful of restaurants located at 0126, kquinn @lagrangemainstreet.org. bulb-out intersections to place cafe working closely with the city to Angled or parallel parking, tinker with traffic light sequencing tables outside their corner establish- or a combination? and slow traffic further,he adds, ments,Madson adds, as there's no "so a motorist doesn't have a better downtown feature than peo- A streetscape in the early ple. Flower pots and public art will 1990s beautified the main street, straight shot through the greens. All of this traffic calming also be placed on the bulb outs. Central Avenue, of downtown With about 8,000 employees in Great Falls, MT (pop. 56,690 , and parking enhancement work was (p p. ) the downtown core and nice weath- with brick pavers, trees, benches, p of a just completed, $800,000 er in season, "pedestrian life is fair- and "period lighting" that harks project that was funded 75 percent ly active,"he says,but there's room back to the early 1800s. Charming by the city and 25 percent by the for more. amenities can go a long way, but BID.During the construction,the Contact:Gregory Madson, Great Falls a number of retailers said that BID welcomed businesses to attend Business Improvement District, (406)727- angled rather than parallel parking weekly meetings with the city and 5430,greg @downtowngreatfalls.com. • would help bring more shoppers to their stores. Insurance man sells downtown Gregory Madson,director of the —continued from page 1 al Falls Business Improvement District, says he and the BID's mar- fit from an emergency helper point Area business is persuade• keting director would meet once a of view in a practical sense," D'En- to expand week for morning coffee and make tremont says. "MEDIC is a group Stacey Blacker, pro. •f themselves available to downtown of four highly motivated and enthu- Red White & Brew, • e first business people who wanted to talk siastic bell ringers for our commu- heard good thin: ount shop. "Parking always seemed to be nity who also have some business Holly's revit. • and turn- a topic of discussion,"he says. savvy and the personalities to get around fr• ding inspector The BID undertook an in in front of people and present the frien. pected her first store house survey of the businesses,he glass half full." in - . n Florence, NJ "We reach out to [desirable] (pop. says, and found"there was a really 22 minutes away. strong interest in having angled businesses, and report back to the In particular, her interest in parking and slowing traffic."The mayor once we think we've made ount Holly was piqued when her contact with somebody that sho traffic calming and parking over- potential,"he says. friend told her about a prominent haul initiative was born. And D'Entremont is r local family who owns the down- "We did a test block where we town Bridgetown Pub and Robin's out to area entrepreneu e had a combination of angled park- lime in the course o pork as Nest Restaurant, and is especially ing and parallel parking, and the an insurance ma, supportive of female-owned busi- public really favored it,"Madson In the ca - ed White nesses at its Mill Race Village says. He devised a design to alter- &Brew, a -nd wine and enclave of arts and crafts shops. nate angled parking on the north gourme shop opened in June, So Blacker was receptive to and south sides of Central Avenue D'E. .nt didn't get the insur- the idea of opening shop in Mount eery two blocks, with angled . - •e but he did manage to sell Holly when she was in the market parking on the sides with the ner on expanding to down- for new insurance a year and a half greater concentration of retailers. • n Mount Holly. later, and Rocky D'Entremont paid 4 Downtown Idea Exchange • www.DowntownDevelopment.com August 1, 2004 AUG � � INFORMATION Essential Information For Downtown Revitalization ` ° Vol. 51, No. 17 • September 1, 2004 0110 „TA 44._ 44.-!-.<4,71/.e.,-,,,:=. Iti--: , etf,:)..y.. E,,',:-, ,V7,:.,: ;'Vii'.,, ',.;;C:.-e.'-..,...,1,t: ' ',. - \ ' -, 1,' ' 1: ', , -i„ z r&i,:lii;-7 V.,;;Q::::4:::-1-;:,/ `e,_--' ' Vi;'-' : rri r:,,,,,c,'-' V'1;_-' ';°::,- ' ''',,,''':'. : ' ' ,,. , " .4., , .„ mi,� Ex~`„... ,,. Qt. . µ Trends, Analyses & Commentary City may lower facade mini What can downtowns learn from newly loan rate '�� ' "? The City of Aberdeen, , emerging "lifestyle centers"? rdeen,(pop. 16,460), administer-/," What are the so-called "life- lifestyle centers are always chang Good Neighbors Revolv'` style centers"?Why are they a ing, catering to people's evolving Loan Fund that make to rising retail trend, and what can and fickle tastes and their interest $5,000 per lot, paya ' downtowns learn from them? in having places to visit, shop and three years at thre- cent Privately developed and in recreate," says. interest, available 9, :own Gordon sa s. He likens � town businesse ,;: improve many ways resembling downtowns their rise to "supermarkets growing , their buildings' R,'.-des. —with a mix of retail, services, to accommodate more services, Pir In conjunc , with a pro- and residential—lifestyle centers becoming centers in themselves." ' y gram of dow,p, n improve are a market driven evolution of So a basic lesson is that,like ments,says,,,/ . Scott, planning 0 malls and suburban shopping cen- malls, supe�inarkets, and any other s/f kind of retail and entertainment and devel., ent manager for ters, says Peter Gordon, University city, , are also looking at the ci " ' of Southern California professor of activity center, downtowns must be ` " p making, ,rovements to this economics and planning, and co responsive to consumers'changing tastes. "Change should not be seen loan p am, such as lowering author of The Voluntary City. g the i st rate to two percent, "The conspicuously named /A , p� y (Continued on page 2) in o�� to make it more entic- in•. ' business owners. Since Case Study tr ity is taking a stake in revi- Live/work lofts adjacent to transit ing downtown, the busk introduced to downtown in "the OC" sses might step up and start proving their buildings." ontact:Lisa Scott, City of %° Aberdeen, (360)537-3238, Santiago Street Lofts, located DiRienzo, about ors make Iscott @aberdeeninfo.com. across from the Santa Ana, CA a location • or a transit vil- _ '411‘141'.< V(p 0 p 338,000), train depot, recentl y la e, turnkey appeal to PStd ,S ,, - broke ground as a joint venture of a home-business entrepre- �r,r, developers Lennar South Coast and , s, and how a city's willingness a't 'des, e °' �' Urban+West+Strategies. It is . - to change zoning supports redevel- ,71...- "e sawn - r 3 if breaking ground in a plan • °e opment. E.,e R e±o' ' town s!r_ for Southern Califord- s the ",agar robe ®1[ntee�". 4 � first transit-orien = ork loft Downtown activity begets ;� � � �� . f ��•m a�, `hin t g s4, community •. :.e County. redevelopment onct it'':',- omtm r Do dea Exchange re '�`_ emu g The Santiago Street Lofts live/ train station al cen e with one of the transit `-f' � work village location was chosen Streetscape inolu�de nder f s co developers, Urban+ grouni3 -:-berdu v -ve-� 8 ,` st+Strategies president David (Continued on page 4) �ib du ." :fin' ° -. -ia"; ©2004 Alexander Communications Group,Inc.All rights reserved. ISSN 0012-5822 !- Downtown® What can downtowns learn —continued from page 1 Idea Exchange aa publication of the as a problem,"Gordon says. "Power- business function of a downtown,and owntown Research&Development Center ful trends are usually best accommo- the fact that people like to go where 28 West 25th Street 8th Floor dated rather than resisted." there is activity:business activity, New York,NY 10010-2705 Another lesson is that rather other kinds of activity, special events. Phone:(212)228-0246•Fax:(212)228-0376 Email:info@DowntownDevelopment.com than imposing central,top-down If you have something that's going to Website:www.DowntownDevelopment.com planning by politicians, he adds, attract large numbers of people fre- Editor downtowns can best keep pace with quently in your downtown area,then Paul Felt,ext 119 market forces by what he calls "bot- you have an opportunity for the retail- pfelt @DowntownDevelopment.com tom-up planning"—following the ers downtown to do well" Customer Service lead of"profit-seeking developers Mary Pagliaroli,ext.101 with a keen ear to the ground, stir- Study successful mpa gliaroli @DowntownDevelopment.com business areas viving by correctly anticipating con- and Permissions sumers'quickly changing tastes." The second tenet of Gann's Mary Dalessandro,ext.103 Market Street approach is to learn mdalessandr o @DowntownDevelopment.com Downtown is a business area, from those business areas that are Publisher not a museum especially successful today. Nothing Margaret DeWitt, ext.106 msdewitt @DowntownDevelopment.com "Imitation is the sincerest form succeeds like success, so study the of flattery, and lifestyle centers are best management practices in retail Downtown Idea Exchange®is published twice monthly by the Downtown Research&Development Center.The imitating, at least in their physical to guide downtown management Center provides news,information and analysis for suc appearance, what the old down- initiatives. cessful downtown revitalization through its newsletters, books,reports,and Website towns were like," says community While downtown cannot compel �` and economic development consul- its business owners to maintain uni- ,�Alexander Communications Group CELEBRATING 50 YEARS• 954-2004 tant John L. Gann, Jr, president of form store hours as a mall developer Ilk Gann Associates. can, a downtown can "educate them 004 Alexander Communications Group,Inc.All "while reserved.No part of this publication may be However, while lifestyle cen- as to why the lifestyle centers and reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,or transmit- ters have the old-style architecture other shopping centers are doing so ted in any form or by any means,electronic,mechani- cal,photocopying or otherwise,without the prior writ- and format, they're supported by well in competition with down- ten permission of Alexander Communications Group. strong, upscale retail chains" and town," Gann says. Subscription Order Form: exemplary management, Gann says. "Convince the independent retail- Please start renew my one-year There are three management ers in the downtown area that it is to , subscription to Downtown Idea realities that downtowns must em- their advantage to get a little more Exchange for$197.* brace in order to thrive, comprising professional and better managed,"he what Gann describes as a"Market says,which better positions down- NAME Street" approach to downtown revi- town as a whole to explore and capi- TITLE talization. talize on its distinctive assets. First, downtown is a business FIRM/ORGANIZATION Listen to and serve area. Downtown should therefore ADDRESS be chiefly managed as a business the customer CITY STATE ZIP area—not a"museum of historic The third tenet of Gann's Mar-ket architecture." Street approach: Customers rule. "As PHONE "Business places live or die by in a business,downtown's customers FAX the rules of commerce," Gann says. are the people who provide the funds EMAIL N15_ "But many downtown programs to keep the enterprise going,"he says. MAIL: 28 West 25th Street—stn Floor have substituted non-commercial "To succeed, you have to look New York,NY 10010 values that they've considered to what customers want," says QI FAX: (212)228-0376 somehow more virtuous." Gann. "Many downtown programs PHONE: (800)232-4317 "What attracts most people is have taken their eyes off the cus- lich e EMAIL: info @DowntownDevelopment.com the contents and not the container," tomer and have instead given priori- `North America,$197.Elsewhere,$227 (includes airmail delivery). he says. "You have to focus on the ty to what the planner, urban 2 Downtown Idea Exchange • www.DowntownDevelopment.com September 1, 2004 designer, preservationist, or consul- they're interacting with the cus- Burnes Consulting. tant valued" tomers, and they know a lot about "If the only thing that we leave • What's the best way to deter- what people want. I think it's a on the table for consumers to make 4 mine what the customer wants matter of mining that infolivation, their decision by is price, then they downtown? and using it to your best advantage." will choose price first" "Mom and pop retailers tend to An independent retailer can tilt be a lot closer to their customers Destination shopping trumps the scale with exceptional service, than the big corporate people," Gann cut-rate prices and a downtown can tilt it even fur- says.They are your best source of "Consumers today are interest- ther with an exciting retail and intelligence about the local market. ed in a lot of things when they restaurant mix and people-watch- "If they're behind the counter, buy, but it's not always price first," ing scene, Burnes says. or have a few employees who are, says Kent Burnes, president of "As an independent [retailer], Leading lifestyle center points to time-saving services High-touch service amenities is an area lifestyle In a special election this month, Glendale voters centers excel in, and it's an area many downtowns are being asked to endorse a 15.5-acre rezoning of might do well to emulate. downtown from a central business district zone to a •For example, The Grove, a lifestyle center adja Glendale Town Center-specific plan. Like The Grove, cent to the Farmers Market in the Fairfax district of the Glendale Town Center would also feature a con Los Angeles, CA(pop. 3.7 million), features a full cierge service and valet parking. service concierge service rated best of 10 reviewed "People, more than anything today, need time," nationwide in an article in The Wa/l Street Journal, Caruso says in a Los Angeles Times Q&A article "Battle of the Concierges" (August 30, 2002). (January 1, 2004). "So the more services we can provide to give back time to them gives us an The concierge service outshined even that of r •. advantage from a business standpoint." ,Y, top hotels and is a hit with customers as well as �, CID � , ,, ,9 ; .r , ,rte,. �.. .r�...--- mall businesses. Last year, The Grove attracted more visitors than Disneyland, and it has a visitor to , T customer conversion rate of 92 percent, compared to 50 percent in indoor malls, its developer claims. 4 `� ,' i The Pittsburgh (PA, pop. 334,600)Downtown F Partnership,which offers a concierge service for dining i ;", and parking reservations, must be doing its "Market t ' Street" homework. Similarly, a concierge service is ( ; offered by local merchants to time-pressed commuters at the downtown train station of Maplewood, NJ (pop. j ;w ® � I 23,870, see article, page 7). 1 . is Another Grove service that downtowns could adapt mixes high-touch with high-tech: '1 % Digital signs on each level of parking at The Grove ;' � indicate how many spaces are available, observes ;r; r downtown revitalization consultant and author ' X 15 ii. r �'' " David Milder. Similar technology eases parking- ��;��" .' : � related traffic congestion in the town center of � ' t Stirling, Scotland (see DIX, July`15, 2002). ' t� ..„,,,,..„,,,,,:,:,,, Rick Caruso, developer of The Grove, is looking to follow his success there with Glendale Town 4 •1 °'_ s 4 Center, which is proposed for downtown Glendale, � � � � _ (41/ CA(pop. 195,000), and slated to include 100 con- A full-service concierge service is offered by The Grove, dos and 238 rental apartments along with retail. a lifestyle center in Los Angeles. September 1, 2004 Downtown Idea Exchange • www.DowntownDevelopment.com 3 their business mix, he believes, even if they must make an either/or choice between Applebee's or Chili's, based on their market. "Up to a point, [national chains] are good," Gann says. "The national 3 = chains have a broad following, they ice% �E I s� do lots of advertising,they bring ' t _ i in traffic, and they do their market tgg 1 1 eat ,— research very well. If a national Sit chain has an interest in your down- 2 town, that's saying some good things.And if you let them in, that's going to make your down town more attractive to others." "A good mix of national chains Digital signs on each level of parking at Los Angeles lifestyle center The Grove indicate with local stores is the best bet.That how many spaces are available.The technology could be adapted to individual parking gives you something that has some lots in downtowns, consultant David Milder observes.Stirling, Scotland is a case in point. broad appeal that these national I'm looking for a very strong shopping models either. chains have,but also has something downtown, where I am just one "For most communities that's distinctive in terms of the local store in what the community con- not going to work," he says. How- retailers,that you might not find ciders a destination," Burnes says. ever, in smaller cities where there m the mall:' "I think that's the difference. Can is no lifestyle center and probably Contact:John Gann, Gann Associates, a downtown compete with Wal- none will be built based on the (800) 762-4266, cirykid @uwalumni. art?Absolutely." demographics, "downtown could corn;Kent Burnes,Burnes Consulting, ( "We go to Wal-Mart because we have the best chance to serve as (530)346-818 8, kept @burnesconsult have to for certain things,"Burnes the next best thing." ing.com;www burnesconsulting.com, says, "But you're not going to be And those downtowns should Peter Gordon, University of Southern picking Mrs. Jane up at night and not shut out national tenants from California,pgordon @usc.edu. saying, `Look at how I furnished my entire self with my Wal-Mart clothes • today.'Even though you may have Live/work lofts near transit —continued from pa.' gotten a few things there. "What you would really like to for its proximity to downtown "Living in the city do is go to that downtown district, entertainment and activity as much vogue,"DiRienzo .anta Ana take her out to some nice place, an d as to commuter transit.An influx has over 60 �'-` eighborhood show a few little hip styles. That's of commuters actually rides in to associati� residents moving what specialty downtowns are all work in downtown as well as out, into ntown are forging small about," and that's the appeal the as Santa Ana is the county seat. irhoods an d communities." lifestyle centers trend is based on, The five-acre location is at An additional transit boon for Burnes says. the doorstep of a transit hub for the downtown:A 10-mile light rail Amtrak and Metrolink(Ora • line,to be completed•in 2009,will Opportunities for smaller County Transportation ) lead from the transit village through downtowns? trains between San �' d Los Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and Irvine, Finally, Gann points out, Ange-les, DiRie s,but it ending at John Wayne Airport. most areas don't have the affluent was also set cause of its demographics to support upscale conveni- unity to attrac Change of use meant centers, and excepting tion .ding •the civic center, letting go of some history 'affluent suburbs, most downtowns district,Artists Village, The developers started negotia can't support uniformly upscale Testa Marketplace. tions several years ago with former 4 Downtown Idea Exchange ♦ www.DowntownDevelopment,com September 1, 2004