Noah Smith says "shops" will save American cities. Nope. After Covid, the secret to vibrant American urban streets involves businesses that require face-to-face contact, like bars and restaurants
I’ve done market studies for about 40 years. We need about 3 sf of walkable retail per person. That means that 1000 dus will generate local demand for about 4500 sf, or 2-3 small retail spaces. On Vancouver’s downtown peninsula, which has about as much housing density as most places, the primary retail is coffee shops. Ot much more on most blocks. There are retail areas within walking distance of most residential buildings, but not many. Like the suburbs, those centers are anchored by supermarkets, about one per 8-10,000 people. There are formulas for what will work where. Today, most local retail involves food and drink. Tourists will find their way to picturesque places, not residential centers.
Thanks, Rod. Yes, we see these general patterns elsewhere as well. There are smaller-scale retail formats that work -- the question is how to get them and whether there is a market for them even in dense urban locations.
I think you're spot on with say we need more restaurants and bars, rather than retail shops (which are also important to meet daily needs). I'd add that anchors can be really important and are sometimes forgotten or misused. This can include a supermarket, a full service hotel, or a department store like Wal-Mart or target. That said, walkability is even more important. And the lack of walkability between residential and commercial is what we seem to get wrong way too often.
We walk at least 5 times week to the local markets to by groceries. We also walk to the BART, the bus line, Kaiser, movie theater, friend's houses, bars, Coles Hardware, Blick art supplies, a thrift shops etc. College Ave Rockridge has a great commerical district.
I thought our Blick would close becaues CCA left, but its sill there. Cities also needs museums and galleries. I spent a day in Downtown Riverside going to museums.
For every Rockridge, there are miles of San Pablo with no retail. These places need to be located with the right frequency and at the right pulse point. Retail isn’t peanut butter.
I’ve done market studies for about 40 years. We need about 3 sf of walkable retail per person. That means that 1000 dus will generate local demand for about 4500 sf, or 2-3 small retail spaces. On Vancouver’s downtown peninsula, which has about as much housing density as most places, the primary retail is coffee shops. Ot much more on most blocks. There are retail areas within walking distance of most residential buildings, but not many. Like the suburbs, those centers are anchored by supermarkets, about one per 8-10,000 people. There are formulas for what will work where. Today, most local retail involves food and drink. Tourists will find their way to picturesque places, not residential centers.
Thanks, Rod. Yes, we see these general patterns elsewhere as well. There are smaller-scale retail formats that work -- the question is how to get them and whether there is a market for them even in dense urban locations.
I think you're spot on with say we need more restaurants and bars, rather than retail shops (which are also important to meet daily needs). I'd add that anchors can be really important and are sometimes forgotten or misused. This can include a supermarket, a full service hotel, or a department store like Wal-Mart or target. That said, walkability is even more important. And the lack of walkability between residential and commercial is what we seem to get wrong way too often.
We walk at least 5 times week to the local markets to by groceries. We also walk to the BART, the bus line, Kaiser, movie theater, friend's houses, bars, Coles Hardware, Blick art supplies, a thrift shops etc. College Ave Rockridge has a great commerical district.
In Little Italy San Diego, Blick is closing, making way for a high-rise apartment building, and moving to North Park.
I thought our Blick would close becaues CCA left, but its sill there. Cities also needs museums and galleries. I spent a day in Downtown Riverside going to museums.
For every Rockridge, there are miles of San Pablo with no retail. These places need to be located with the right frequency and at the right pulse point. Retail isn’t peanut butter.