Retail vs. Service
I don’t know the history leading up to the spate of mixed use development projects in the City. In a general sense, I’m a big fan of mixed use development so I’m glad to see it happening. Some (maybe most/all) of these developments were approved with a requirement that the ground level space be used for retail.
With the slowing (or worse - I’m trying to not be a fear monger) economy it’s no surprise that there has been a lot of trouble getting this retail space filled. My office is located in the Tax Analysts building on South Maple Avenue (near Elevation Burger) and we’re next to Peason Square - a large mixed use development. The two buildings were approved as one entity and the requirement was that the ground level spaces be used for retail.
Last year an amendment was provided that allowed a non-retail establishment (a high end dentist office) to be put into one of the spaces in the Tax Analysts building. The owner of Pearson Square is now looking for an amendment to allow about half of the available retail space to be leased for retail/service and/or medical offices use. That means that in addition restaurants and shops there could be dentist and doctor offices, attorneys, dry cleaners - basically businesses that offer a service an not a product.
It’s an interesting issue. I think there are clear benefits to having retail businesses on the ground floor. In most of these mixed use developmens there is office space available on upper levels that would be suitable for medical offices and non-retail services. However, I think the distinction between retail and a non-retail service business is probably not the best distinction to be looking at. What you really want on street level are businesses that are complimentary, provide a convience, and are used frequently. Retail shops obviously fit that bill - but so do dry cleaners and barber shops. I don’t think a dentist office really fits. Hopefully, most of us visit the dentist only twice per year - so have a super convenient location isn’t that big of a deal.
This issue is being considered by the City Council tonight (I think) and by the EDA tomorrow (I know).
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