[RP TownTalk] Town Center

Wed Apr 26 12:23:28 UTC 2006

Me, I own property in the Town Center.

All markets are based on perception and price.  If folks feel good about a product and the price is right they will by it.  If they feel bad about it, they won't regardless of the price.  This applies to stocks, laundry detergent, cars, etc, and even the Town Center.  Now what is the preception of the Town Center?  Judging by all of the recent discussion on this forum, not good.  When folks pass by, all they have seen for decades is a vacant, at one time, delelict property.  This perception is engrained in anyone who has lived here for any period of time or drives through the area.  I venture to say, most people don't even look at or think about the Town Center because there has been nothing there for so long.  It has nothing to do with apartment/condo buildings, density, or other "ecomomic development".  It's easy to sell out the highest bidder rather than solve the fundamental problems.  After all, if you sell out and build apartments/condos, all you have to do is say yes.  If you want to improve peoples perception, you have to market the Town Center, work with a difficult landlord who doesn't want to lower his rents, and most importantly, be regular customers at the businesses there (I prefer this approach).  At one time, the Town Center was a successful shopping center and there was a lot less density 20+ years ago (If any long time residents have something to add here please do).

Speaking of density, 500+ condos are going to be built on the Lustine property, and 500 more are planned to replace the ERCO building, both of which are less than 1/2 mile from the Town Center.  How much density do you need?  What we need is more commerical space not more apartments/condos given this backdrop.  As far as I'm concerned, this is what we should be pushing for with the Patriot Group.

Over the years, I have received numerous "suggestions" about which tenants I should have in my spaces.  A typical comment is; "what's your problem, why don't you lease to Starbucks, a food coop, a bakery, etc".  I would happily lease my propery to any of these tenants.  It's a no brainer.  Tenants like these don't want to lease my spaces because of the adjacent vacant properties and the perception people have of the Town Center as I outlined earlier.  The only tenants I can attract are a consignment shop and store front churchs.  If any of you can bring forward one of the previously listed tenants, I will be happy to rent to them.

The bottom line is that it's not going to be easy to improve things at the Town Center.  It's going to take hard work to get those spaces leased.  The current administration has already hired someone to help with the economic development of the Town which is a good first step.  The next and perhaps more difficult step is to appeal to Doug Jemal to be more receptive to the rents being offered by parties interested in leasing his spaces.  This will take some head scratching, so does anyone have any suggestions?

Bruce

-----Original Message-----
>From: ng_md at verizon.net
>Sent: Apr 25, 2006 4:44 PM
>To: TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Town Center
>
>Dannielle is making a lot of great points. What are we aiming for with the Town Center? I would also like to take some action, but only if I knew what action to take and what it was supposed to accomplish.  
>
>I was enjoying my own personal vision of a food co-op, but darn if I know if it's practical, sustainable, attractive to anybody who might be willing to run such a thing, and feasible given the obstinacy of the main landowner. 
>
>So who does own other properties in the Town Center? 
>
>Nancy
>
>=====================
>From: Dannielle Glaros <dmglaros at gmail.com>
>Date: Tue Apr 25 13:15:07 CDT 2006
>To: TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
>Subject: [RP TownTalk] Town Center
>
>A few thoughts about the Town Center.
>
>1.  The town has hired a consultant who will help us market and  
>promote the Town Center.  She starts in June.
>2.  Jemal does not own all of the properties.  Bruce, I doubt you're  
>offering the same rates as Jemal, so maybe you can help us understand  
>the challenges you've encountered in renting your properties to  
>quality tenants (ie. not a store-front church, businesses that open  
>regularly and consequently attract additional customers) and help us  
>figure out some solutions.  Maybe J.D. Williams can help us as well.
>3.  The Doll Shop and consignment store do operate, but most people  
>don't know their hours or when they are open.  From the street, they  
>typically look closed.  Emily has a great doll shop and the  
>consignment store, I hear, has good items, but how can we help them.  
>Having businesses in the town center that do not hold very regular  
>hours makes it tougher.  Could they open during Farmer Market hours?  
>Should we have signs on major roads advertising businesses in the  
>town center? other ideas?
>4. Jemal's rents are becoming more and more competitive--unless he  
>has increased them again.  Pat Prangley told me that College Park  
>rents have dramatically increased and some businesses may be looking  
>to move....Opportunity for us????
>5. In my opinion, the only way to get Jemal's properties rented is to  
>out maneuver him.  In other words, work with the properties that are  
>not under his control to get those rented to the types of businesses  
>we would like to see.  Know are market analysis and develop a  
>marketing brochure and reach out to businesses we would like to see  
>come to our town.  Encourage local entrepreneurship and work with  
>banks to secure loans so that these businesses can get started.   
>Rumor is that there are some people with restaurant background in our  
>town.  There are definitely a lot of artists.  Let's capitalize on  
>our strengths!
>6.  The best shot we have at ensuring sustainable businesses in the  
>town center and less traffic driving to the town center is to  
>increase our population.  If at least 50+% of clients for the future  
>town center businesses come by bus/walk/bike, then the traffic will  
>not be nearly as bad as we attract businesses to the town center.   
>Yes, traffic could be worse as businesses start occupying the town  
>center unless we plan accordingly!  This means proposals like Patriot  
>Group, KSI, and EYA are critical and pedestrian-friendly connections  
>are essential.  We need quality sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks and  
>lighting.  This does not exist everywhere.  At the moment, our  
>current population cannot sustain businesses at the town center even  
>a high portion of S&J's business drives.  Dumm's corner market  
>derives a strong portion of its profits from its financial  
>transaction business (P.S. most of the people who use this portion of  
>their business do not live in town).
>
>Lastly, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting tired of  
>talking I feel the need for action.  Are other people interested in  
>actively helping the town?  Is the Riverdale Business Assn the right  
>lead for this?  Another organization?  A group of people who want to  
>meet for drinks at S&J's?  What do you think is the next step?
>
>Dannielle
>4800 Sheridan St
>
>
>Dannielle Glaros
>dmglaros at gmail.com
>
>
>
>
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