GEOG 442 Day 19: Commercial and Retail Analysis, and Community Facilities

2 Retail and Commercial Uses Independent retailers are being replaced with chain supermarkets and department stores. Independent retailers are being replaced with chain supermarkets and department stores. Delivery services are tailored to bigger retail operations. Delivery services are tailored to bigger retail operations. Population is being redistributed to outer suburbs; inner city shops are losing business. Population is being redistributed to outer suburbs; inner city shops are losing business.

3 Retail and Commercial Uses Corner stores offer place of contact, meeting place for the less mobile. Corner stores offer place of contact, meeting place for the less mobile. Absence of small local stores may cause loss of community feeling. Absence of small local stores may cause loss of community feeling. To encourage/ sustain local neighbourhood shops, we need to have more flexible policies allowing shops to expand when they need to, and encourage the provision of housing above the shops or the conversion of a ground floor of a house into a shop. To encourage/ sustain local neighbourhood shops, we need to have more flexible policies allowing shops to expand when they need to, and encourage the provision of housing above the shops or the conversion of a ground floor of a house into a shop.

4 Retail and Commercial Uses Key to success for planning old shopping streets to make them economically viable is be selective. Key to success for planning old shopping streets to make them economically viable is be selective. The boundary for improvement should be clearly defined The boundary for improvement should be clearly defined Combo of tactics includes pedestrianizing street, some restrictions on automobiles, closure of some shops, redevelopment, beautification of building facades, adding rear access and parking, etc. Combo of tactics includes pedestrianizing street, some restrictions on automobiles, closure of some shops, redevelopment, beautification of building facades, adding rear access and parking, etc.

5 Retail and Commercial Uses CBD should be located centrally in the peak flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. CBD should be located centrally in the peak flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Suburban centers should be located next to major transportation routes and residential areas. Suburban centers should be located next to major transportation routes and residential areas. General rule: size of such a centre should be between 30 and 150 acres; this avoids large concentrations of traffic and impervious ground cover. General rule: size of such a centre should be between 30 and 150 acres; this avoids large concentrations of traffic and impervious ground cover.

6 Retail and Commercial Uses At the project level, some retail location strategies exist. There are three steps: Area Identification – variables identified, then used to generate the best area for project Area Identification – variables identified, then used to generate the best area for project Sub-Area Identification – additional square footage of sub-area calculated to find adequate support spacing. Sub-Area Identification – additional square footage of sub-area calculated to find adequate support spacing. Site Selection. Site Selection.

7 Retail and Commercial Uses Sizing – Two general questions considered: Is operation too large for site? Considerations related to internal circulation, parking and loading, and visual amenities. Is operation too large for site? Considerations related to internal circulation, parking and loading, and visual amenities. Is operation too large for general environment? Considerations related to activities and traffic, environmental impact, and compatibility with surrounding areas. Is operation too large for general environment? Considerations related to activities and traffic, environmental impact, and compatibility with surrounding areas.

8 Community Facilities Siting is based on adequacy of service delivery, which focuses on convenience and economy Siting is based on adequacy of service delivery, which focuses on convenience and economy Basic principles are: Basic principles are: - Site should be level - Major parks, golf courses, etc. should be located on the urban fringe - Direct access to public transportation.

9 Community Facilities o Adequate sizing for site o Public sites, such as churches and stadiums, located centrally on low cost land o Community facilities should be considered part of the open space system.