Friday, 28 September 2012

Effects of Downtown Revitalization

By Michele Moncrieffe


There's this show on television where this guy buys a house, and he and his team fix the property up. They put in new floors, doors, walls, plumbing, etc., and then he turns around and sells the improved house for a lot more money than he had originally purchased it for. That program is kind of a layman's explain of what downtown revitalization is.

The drive behind urban renewal is to bring a declining city or town back to a place where it can sustain economic and community growth. It is kind of like a park beautification on a massive level. Specific and targeted planning and development help embolden building and property owners to invest due to strategies that strengthen local businesses. Furthermore, the growth due to investment in local businesses and other properties demands more workers and raises the stand of living. An area that was once on the decline is now on the raise.

When considering the best strategies for downtown revitalization, it is essential that you keep in mind the location you would like to revitalize. Recently, in New York City, a new parking garage was built to accompany the new Yankee Stadium. City parklands were paved over to accommodate the erection of the parking garage, which charged between $35 and $48 for valet parking. In April of 2012, the parking garage was closed because it didn't have enough patronage to sustain it. No one took into account if there was a need for more parking in the area. Moreover, there are several cheaper parking garages near Yankee Stadium.

If you devise a plan for urban renewal, and you don't think about how the development will be advantageous for the community, then your plan is destined to fail. Annex Mills just recently renovated a block of abandoned brick buildings, converting them into green, affordable housing in Rochester, NY. This is similar to the guy on TV with his show. The buildings were growing mold, the roofs were in shambles, but Annex Mills fixed the entire block up and made it green. This drives the property values of the buildings around it up, and the influx of people means more patronage for local businesses. It's a win-win situation.

Downtown revitalization is only advantageous if it benefits the community both civilly and economically. Ill-conceived restorations are counterproductive and can lower the property values of the community and surrounding areas. Investigate the needs of the community and what options and avenues before you hold the greatest overall benefit.




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