This ties directly into some thoughts that I was having regarding Davis Square and what will be quite a bit of retail development if 337 and Dilboy and a hotel get built. I also heard that the Rite Aid building is for sale, which could end up being a hotel but perhaps something else. There are the same pressures in Teele and someone just told me about the Powderhouse School and how big a project that could be.
To be honest, as much as I love the current mix of businesses, how many coffee shops, burrito joints, pubs and tony restaurants (and convenience stores)do we need ? Since we were recently on the topic of parking, traffic and high density housing, we are really trying to figure out how sustainable,attractive,urban,pedestrian friendly neighborhoods can be developed and sustained. How do we foster the establishment and success of businesses that actually provide for some more day to day needs as opposed to simply being ways to spend disposable income?
The current city model, and I am only now trying to educate myself, seems to be to let the developer build it or landlord rent it and then just see who moves in. I'm not sure they really care who pays the tax bills, if the patrons are residents or visitors, and if the business contributes or detracts from the current livability of the district. It seems as if any successful business is a good one in their mind.
People vote with their dollars and those businesses that don't respond to the community will not survive. But then again, what community should be best served? Residents or folks from "away".
So perhaps things like building certain sized retail spaces, offering small business loans/grants, changing zoning to promote certain businesses,etc. I don't know as I have no background in this just a deep curiosity and vested interest, being a currently happy (if concerned) local resident and property owner.
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How to foster diverse businesses?
Date: 2009-06-01 03:28 pm (UTC)To be honest, as much as I love the current mix of businesses, how many coffee shops, burrito joints, pubs and tony restaurants (and convenience stores)do we need ? Since we were recently on the topic of parking, traffic and high density housing, we are really trying to figure out how sustainable,attractive,urban,pedestrian friendly neighborhoods can be developed and sustained. How do we foster the establishment and success of businesses that actually provide for some more day to day needs as opposed to simply being ways to spend disposable income?
The current city model, and I am only now trying to educate myself, seems to be to let the developer build it or landlord rent it and then just see who moves in. I'm not sure they really care who pays the tax bills, if the patrons are residents or visitors, and if the business contributes or detracts from the current livability of the district. It seems as if any successful business is a good one in their mind.
People vote with their dollars and those businesses that don't respond to the community will not survive. But then again, what community should be best served? Residents or folks from "away".
So perhaps things like building certain sized retail spaces, offering small business loans/grants, changing zoning to promote certain businesses,etc. I don't know as I have no background in this just a deep curiosity and vested interest, being a currently happy (if concerned) local resident and property owner.
Chuck