Built around a BART station in 1999, Oakland, California's Fruitvale Village has had a tough time keeping its retail space alive (as have many TODs). The property managers have learned some lessons over the years about how to overcome the challenges.
One of the central arguments in favor of retail space in transit-oriented development is that regular traffic from commuters guarantees business. But Jeff Pace, chief operating officer of the Unity Council (who manage the site's retail), says that it takes a lot more than just proximity to make the retail work.
In this article from the New Urban Network, Pace gives five hard-earned tips for successful retail in TOD. Here's one:
"Mix retail and services: "We evolved from a pure retail strategy on the ground floor to one with a mix of traditional retail and community and professional services. For example, we have a State Farm insurance office, and our children's counseling clinic and high school both have ground-floor facilities as well as second-floor facilities. Altogether, almost 25 percent of the ground-floor retail is being used for non-traditional uses and an expansion of the community services presence on the second floor.""
Read the full story: Five keys to successful retail in a transit-oriented development
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