Redevelopment Resources – Blog

For a Christmas gift this season I gave my business partners Peter Kageyama’s book, “For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places”.  Peter was a featured speaker at WEDA’s Governor’s Conference on Economic Development, February 9 at the Monona Terrace in Madison, WI.  He gave a dynamic presentation and got some great reviews at the conference.

I read the book in preparation to hear him speak at the conference.  Kageyama covers a lot of ground (from functional to emotional relationships, and what can be done to foster all) and I found myself more than once saying, “Yes!”  in agreement with a point he was making.  As practitioners of economic development and/or as citizens of our community, we can contribute to the loveability and the connection others feel with our community.

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As unique as communities are from one another with respect to their special geographic locations and cultural heritage, communities are also common in many respects by their infrastructure, provision of services to residents and keeping an eye on their budgets and spending.  As community economic development advisors, we are often asked what downtown things should communities invest in first with the available downtown dollars they have.

The answer: It depends…..on where your community is on the revitalization continuum.  It generally follows that an early assessment, organizational and planning phase is essential to revitalizing a downtown, but beyond that what’s the initial step communities can take to move forward?  Improve basic infrastructure, examine the conditions of commercial building inventory, create urban amenities, attract an interesting mix of retail and commercial business, eliminate blighting influences (including environmental remediation), and the list goes on.

An initial downtown assessment and planning phase will outline strengths and needs and also offer suggestions on priorities.  But to begin actually implementing plans and ideas, how do you move from where your downtown is currently?

Maybe you focus first on improving existing strengths in your downtown; maybe you work with properties which are currently available, affordable and ready to be redeveloped (the low hanging fruit opportunity); or identify and work first with an interested entrepreneur who wants to open a downtown business; or work with an investor who wants to in-fill, build or buy and renovate a building.

Other answers to the question, “What should my downtown invest in first?” include: evaluate the entry to the downtown (improving your gateway); concentrate on renovating one historic or other prominent building based on budget and scope; work with local business to create excitement in one (or a group of) retail storefront(s) (others will follow!), acquire and raze one blighted property, create and market a downtown event.

The answer to the question, “Which comes first?” is: All of the above!  Ideally a community should work simultaneously on as many opportunities as practical, but in the alternative…. at least do something!

In so many of the communities Redevelopment Resources has worked, there is a desire to be excellent. We see it across the communities and organizations where projects begin and either proceed or become stalled. Many economic development practitioners, municipal employees, Main Street employees, board members and volunteers have a desire to do the best work they possibly can.
So why are there communities with incomplete projects, struggling downtowns, languishing industrial parks, a glut of vacant commercial real estate? And at the same time other communities are thriving with “NOW HIRING” signs on many of their businesses; have vibrant downtowns; and business owners are expanding?

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No one gets uplifted or inspired when passing a vacant storefront. It’s depressing. It doesn’t bode well for the image of the community, and certainly isn’t fun for the adjacent business owners. So what can be done to bring some life back to these dark voids? If you can get permission from the building owner, here are some quick tips:

For those buildings with window displays:
Post a calendar of community events on an easel in the window and illuminate it well. If track lights are not an option, buy a floor standing light fixture that allows you to position the spot light(s). [see photo attached]

Create a fun window display using merchandise from neighboring stores. Place a sign acknowledging the merchants and where they are located. Illuminate the display and sign.

Buy some temporary paint and have an artist paint a large seasonal graphic on the window. Change the graphic monthly.

With all of the above suggestions, be sure to make room for a sign that describes the benefits of the space to entice passing pedestrians. You never know who might be interested in leasing the space, or who KNOWS someone interested in leasing a space like it.

For buildings without window displays, round up volunteers in the building trades and:

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I’ve recently had the opportunity to see inside a few organizations to understand just exactly where the commitment lies. It’s been eye-opening, and has caused me to really understand how people are motivated differently, and how effective, or ineffective it can cause the organization to become.
Commitment to the organization, its mission, vision, goals and objectives should be expected from all members of the organization. As an organizational leader, it’s important to make sure you provide a clear aiming point. Be specific about explaining the standards of commitment you are personally adhering to, and you expect them to adhere to. This commitment should be communicated to board members, city council members and other stakeholders as well. If you clearly outline your commitment to established goals and objectives, stakeholder buy-in is much easier to attain.

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