Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/02/2017 - Special

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Encourage mixed -use develop- ments. A mix of housing and offices supports retail by creating more customers, supporting Longer business hours, and bring- ing in rents up to 20 percent higher than would be likely in the same place without the mix of housing and office space. Office components provide daytime retail and restaurant demand, while res- idents add customers in the evening. It isn't necessary to attract national retailers to be a success. Successful streets often have a mix of locally owned and operated vendors, especially specialty food stores (sell- ing baked goods, ethnic foods, coffee, and wine), ethnic restaurants, pharma- cies, art shops, antique stores, hardware stores, and service providers (laundry, video rental, garden). If you sit around waiting for Pottery Barn, nothing eke is going to happen. Recognize that although neighborhood residential development provides a strong shot in the arm for retailing, it does not provide the only source of demand. Encourage mixed -income housing. A big challenge of retail is the recruitment of retail workers, and they need a convenient place to live. A stock of potential workers living close by enhances the attractiveness of the site for retailers. Ground floor space does not need to be all retail. If the neighborhood street is too long for shopping the entire length, retailing should be concentrated in designated blocks. Shoppers typically will walk for only three or four city blocks. Residential or office uses should predominate beyond a core walking area. Don't underestimate the value of anchors on the street. They help the smaller, independent tenants succeed by drawing customers to the area. Residential units above retail keep the street active around the clock, providing convenience for residents and sales volume for retailers. 7