Student Corner: Key Elements of Successful Downtowns

<p>Having a vibrant downtown or town center can have numerous benefits for a community. Aside from creating a “sense of place” and a node of commercial and cultural activity, research shows that businesses prefer locating in downtowns or walkable “live-work-play” communities due to advantages in attracting and retaining workers, developing creative collaboration, creating desirable brand identity and corporate culture, and positioning the business within close proximity to customers and business partners. Additionally, evidence suggests that town center residential apartments can attract young professionals, who prefer walkable, urban settings.</p> <p>Downtowns can take on different forms: traditional downtown pedestrian corridors akin to Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, or town centers like the famous Reston Town Center, in Reston, Virginia. However, successful downtowns and town centers share common attributes. This post, however, will highlight several of the key elements that experts agree, and examples demonstrate, are shared characteristics of successful downtowns.</p> <p>Successful Downtowns have:</p> A “Critical Mass” of Businesses: Successful Downtowns have a critical mass of businesses. Specifically, this critical mass needs to include a mix of places that sell food, such as coffee shops, bistros, and sit-down restaurants, etc.; at least two destination retail shops that serve as anchors to draw non-local customers; and multiple places open after 6 p.m. such as entertainment venues, bars, and evening dining options. A Mix of Uses: Successful Downtowns have a mix of uses, which could include retail, office, residential, hospitality, entertainment and events spaces. These uses do not necessarily have to be vertically integrated (within the same structure), but they must be integrated [...]