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 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
 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

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

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

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 Jacobus
538 Chetwood St.
Oakland, CA 94610
510-653-2995
Rick@Rjacobus.com
www.rjacobus.com
Contact

Creating a Neighborhood Retail Strategy

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