Areas like St-Denis Street used to be bustling shopping destinations, but a shift in recent years has resulted in many empty storefronts.

René Bruemmer explores the issue of commercial vacancies in Montreal, where 15 percent of street-level retail spaces are empty. "Among the causes cited are some of the highest commercial property taxes in Canada, avaricious landlords demanding high rents, online shopping, restrictive zoning policies and debilitating road construction."
St-Denis Street is one commercial area that has been hit especially hard. Once a premiere shopping area, the corridor is now struggling with vacancies and decreases in foot traffic. "Experts say the vacancies are also a symptom of stores failing to adapt as consumers shift to buying local instead of driving to destination streets, seeking neighbourhood shops for vegetables or manicures or shoe repair. St-Denis has relatively few stores and shops catering to local needs, and merchants say that’s killing their businesses," says Bruemmer.
Solutions for revitalizing areas like St-Denis are not always clear. The causes of decline vary from street to street and are dependent on local policies and regulations as well as external factors, such as online shopping. "Arteries that are flourishing, like Fleury St. in Ahuntsic or Wellington St. in Verdun, have strong business associations that have reconsidered their needs," notes Bruemmer.
FULL STORY: Montreal's vacant storefronts: 'I think this street is dead'

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service