Dear Mindy,
"Dear Mindy" is a reoccurring guest blog by PSD Executive Director Mindy Biladeau. Mindy will be occassionally answering questions from you, the visitor of LansingEDC.com. To submit a question for Mindy, click the contact us link near the bottom of the page.
October 20, 2009
Dear Mindy,
I've noticed lately that there seems to be fewer and fewer traditional retail establishments in traditional downtowns, recently my husband and I spent a night out in Lansing and noticed that Lansing seems to have a small mix of retailers. So my question for you is, why isn't there more retail downtown these days?
Signed,
Erika T.
Erika,
You are right, over the years retailers have come and gone in downtowns throughout the country, and Lansing is no different. And over the years, we have seen retail being replaced by restaurants, coffee shops and entertainment venues in Lansing. However, there are other retail establishments downtown other than Michigania, like the Peanut Shop, Kositchek's, Linn & Owen Jewelers, Clem's Collectibles, the Lansing Art Gallery, Grand Art Supply, the College Bike Shop, Arendsen Jewelers, Gibson's Books and Beans, and Johnston & Murphy just to name a few.
Traditionally, retail follows rooftops, meaning that before retailers look at entering a market, they have a minimum standard of residents that need to live in a certain radius before they even consider a location to open a new store. Unless, you a specialty boutique shop that also provides a service or a destination store, it is very hard to be a new retailer and relay on just the daytime office worker traffic to stay profitable.
Just four years ago, there were no residents in the downtown area and with the leadership of Mayor Bernero and the Lansing Economic Development Corporation there are 385 new residential units in the downtown area. We all know this is not enough and we don't have plans to stop here. The downtown market can support additional residents and varieties of housing as indicated in the recently completed Downtown Market Study conducted by the Downtown Professionals Network through the Lansing Economic Development Corporation. (visit www.lansingedc.com to view the study as it takes a closer look at the commercial, office and residential markets of downtown). In the next couple of years, our residential market is sure to grow, which will help make downtown more attractive to retail oriented businesses.
Businesses also have a tendency to cluster together in an area and I think that is why we are seeing more restaurants and cafes opening up downtown, like Michigan Brewing Company who opened for business last month. So even though we all miss places like Mr. Toads and Barb's Hallmark, this may not be a completely negative thing because restaurants generate foot traffic, which retailers depend on. I truly believe in next couple of years we will get to that point where new retailers start opening up shop in the downtown area and businesses stay open later do to an increase of residents as well as the increase in new downtown employees from the new Accident Fund headquarters, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the State Police Building.
In the last four years, Mayor Bernero and the Lansing Economic Development Corporation have created hundreds of new jobs, have brought new businesses into downtown and the city, have brought people back downtown to live, and completed a Downtown Market Study, all in not the greatest economy. In addition, in the last year the Lansing Principal Shopping District has transitioned into a comprehensive downtown revitalization organization through Mayor Bernero's leadership. The Lansing PSD has adopted the National Main Street Program model for downtown revitalization and the PSD has started implementing a local program here in downtown Lansing. The Main Street program is a proven grassroots comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization by taking a Four-Point Approach to reviving traditional commercial districts, focusing on design, promotion, business development and organization. The Main Street model is based on a 10 year scale, 1-3 is your catalyst phase, 3-5 growth, and 5-10 mature. To learn more about the National Main Street Program visit, www.preservationnation.org/main-street/.
Currently, we are in our catalyst phase are laying the foundation for program success with new events, programs and beautification projects. New few new programs and events include, Team Playmakers Downtown, Trick-or-Treat on the Square, Blues on the Square, Downtown Social Hour, the Downtown Business Huddle, Adopt-a-Spot, traffic circle plantings, several beautification projects, and retaining and strengthening our existing businesses while talking to retailers and businesses in the area about locating downtown and the possibilities of opening second locations. (More info on the Lansing PSD, visit www.lansingpsd.com).
The big picture is to have a thriving world-class capitol city with a vibrant downtown with lively retail, restaurant, service, entertainment and residential sectors. But first we have to continue climbing the mountain to get to that tipping point when everything comes together and falls into place. Rest assured that Lansing is on the Move and downtown is on its way to being great.
Reviving an urban center doesn't happen over night and it takes years to accomplish. Please know that under the leadership of Mayor Bernero, cranes are in the air and the transition and rebuilding of our Capitol City has already begun.
Best Regards,
Mindy Biladeau, M.P.A.
Executive Director
Lansing PSD
