Downtown Hyperlocal Conversation: Why so many vacant storefronts on Main Street?
Details
Hyperlocal Conversations are neighborhood-specific monthly gatherings where neighbors explore ways to improve walkability where they live. Visit our website, dallasurbanists.org/hyperlocal, to learn more about the program, see our full schedule of upcoming conversations, and find or start a conversation in your neighborhood.
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This month's discussion: Why are there so few businesses in the "central business district"?
Usefulness is the most important ingredient for walkability; we want most aspects of daily life to be located close at hand and organized in a way that walking serves them well. When empty storefronts are plenty, walking becomes less useful, safe, and interesting.
As we consider why downtown keeps losing businesses big (like AT&T) and small like (Ari's Pantry), it's worth noting this problem isn't unique to Dallas. Most large cities across America are dealing with the same fundamental challenge of commercial activity leaving downtown for the suburbs. And if we can't solve this for downtown Dallas, whose to say it won't happen to Plano or Irving a generation from now?
For this months' conversation, let's fast-forward past the usual suspects that always dominate these discussions. Setting aside questions of street homelessness, office-to-residential conversions, and parking availability for another time, what other factors impact retail viability downtown? How expensive are retail leases compared to what neighborhood-scale services can afford? Do we have enough right-sized units to match commercial needs, or are all available spaces excessively large and inflexible? Do micro-businesses have access to same level of support as large corporations? Are there stepping stones for recurring popup vendors to graduate to a permanent or semi-permanent space on Main Street, or do we have a need for "missing middle" commercial downtown? How does streetscape and roadway design impact foot traffic and discoverability?
Key Question: as residents and stakeholders of downtown, what steps can we take to bring most aspects of daily life into our neighborhood so that they are close at hand and organized in a way that walking serves them well?
Reading Recommendations: to keep discussion flowing and productive, please take time to read some or all of the following articles from Strong Towns.
Specific for downtown discussion:
- What’s With the Vacant Storefronts? 8 Reasons for Empty Commercial Spaces | Strong Towns
- Why Do Commercial Spaces Sit Vacant?
- The Paradox of Persistent Vacancies and High Prices
- What's With That Empty Lot in the Heart of the City?
- The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…Improving Downtown Success by Building Experiences
Principles for any neighborhood