creating a neighborhood retail strategy

Creating a Retail Strategy

Commercial Revitalization 101

Rick Jacobus

Burlington Associates in Community Development

LISC Urban Forum, November 8, 2006

Buckeye RoadCleveland, OH

Buckeye Road

Historic Hungarian Neighborhood

Now mostly African American

–21 Blocks of struggling retail

–Vacancy around 30%

–Concerns about crime and vacant properties

Weizer Building

Buckeye Area Development Corporation purchased vacant building in 1999

14, 979 square foot, three-story building Historic Bank Building Now a source of blight

Activity

Based on what little you know about this neighborhood, what kind of businesses that might be attracted to this development project?

Buckeye Road

BADC bought 11 buildings in the center of the commercial district

Weizer Building

Weizer Building

Entire building leased to children’s services agency

10 year lease at asking rent

Completed renovation

No retail

Re$tore Buckeye Initiative Established as Buckeye Main Street Comprehensive effort to improve commercial corridor

Soul of Buckeye Festival

Façade Improvements

Promotion

Leasing Assistance to property owners

Safety Patrols

Security Cameras

Core Area Development Strategy Revise Zoning to concentrate retail activity Designate unique nodes

- The Strip

Auto-oriented Retail

- Performance Row

Pedestrian oriented Art and Culture

- The Commons

Higher Density Housing

The Strip

Children’s Village

Performance Row

Performance Row

Renovate Moreland Theater• 800 Seat Theater

• $5 million renovation needed

• Create venue for Jazz and other performance

Attract sit down restaurants into surrounding buildings (many already owned by BADC)

Encourage other arts and culture uses

Artisan Square

Changing Focus Summer of Soul

- Arterial – Buckeye Arts Festival

- All That Jazz

- Book Fair

Public Art Initiative– Install outdoor art wherever possible

– “Artistic” signs for parking lots

Bus stop/mini park– Relocate major bus stop (in front of theater)

– Install Public Art

– Internet Access

Re$tore Buckeye

Results Reduced Retail Vacancies from

> 30% to ~ 10% Attracted many businesses

– 2 bank branches

– Internet cafe

Purchased and renovated 11 commercial buildings

Soul of Buckeye Festival draws 10,000 visitors

Rick Jacobus538 Chetwood St.Oakland, CA 94610510-653-2995Rick@Rjacobus.com

www.rjacobus.com

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