[RP TownTalk] Surveys to understand M-UTC and revitalization

[Rob Oppenheim]

Hello Iris and all on TownTalk
 
Last Friday (March 31, 2006), we met with Ms Kennedy Smith 
who is the town's new economic development consultant. We had
a pleasant and productive meeting in which we discussed goals 
and problems and took a tour of the M-UTC areas in town.
 
Just as your letter urges, she is planning on several "surveys". 
Initially an informal web based survey and a bit later a more formal 
survey with a more statistically valid set of data.
 
Your suggestion to assess where the town is heading in the 
long run is very interesting. I do not know if Ms Smith's surveys 
will match all of your suggestions but I expect they will be 
excellent and yield a gold mine of information.
 
She is a founder of the "CLUE" consulting firm. Here are a few quotes
from their web site that I think you might find interesting...
 
The Community Land Use and Economics (CLUE) Group is a 
consulting firm that helps communities create vibrant, dynamic 
downtowns and neighborhoods. 
 
We help local and state governments, developers, and nonprofits 
design innovative downtown economic development strategies, 
cultivate independent businesses, recycle historic buildings, 
attract young talent, strengthen downtown management programs, 
and craft planning and land use tools that mitigate sprawl and 
stimulate town center development.
 
We specialize in downtowns. One of our two cofounders, Kennedy 
Smith, directed the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National 
Main Street Center for 13 years and is considered one of the world's 
leading experts on downtowns, downtown economics, independent 
business development, and the economic impact of sprawl, with a 
career in downtown revitalization spanning 23 years. She created the 
retail market analysis methodology now used by most historic 
downtowns in the US. [emphasis mine]
 
[clip]
 
RETAIL MARKET ANALYSES 
We believe that one of the two foundations of a great downtown is a 
great market analysis (the other is a great land use strategy...). 
Without a good market analysis, you're just taking blind stabs at 
shaping the district's economy.
...
 
[End Quotes from their website ]
 
You can visit her group's website at www.cluegroup.com
You might find it very interesting.
 
Here is one more quote from their site:
 
"Any town that doesn't have sidewalks doesn't love its children."
- Margaret Meade 
 
Take care
- Rob Oppenheim
Ward One Councilman
5902 Cleveland Ave
Riverdale Park, Md 20737-1930
Home Office: 301 779 1745
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