BusDev Highlights 2006 0914 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• ^ Open spaces are appropriate if they're lined with interesting uses and shops. ^ Retailers are scared of the unproven, such as parking structures in cities that have not yet embraced them. Need to balance structured parking with surface parking, e.g. 25% surface parking to introduce and allow traffic flow into garage -people will become more comfortable over time. Street parking success depends on policing and pricing of meters. ^ Parking requirements need to be relaxed: they are too high now in San Leandro. ^ A lack of willingness to use eminent domain authority may be problematic. You need good strategies to assist developers, such as tax increment financing, or creating a parking district. - Other cities are starting to aggressively target specific retailers to attract them. ^ Downtown needs to be "branded" as a destination. Includes signage, lighting, furnishings, etc. Use a public survey to determine what people want -retailers will pay attention. ^ People appreciate authenticity; preserve San Leandro instead of recreating it. ^ Retail isn't a driver of redevelopment; it follows residential. San Leandro isn't going to become something entirely different from the type of community that it is now. Need to identify who you are and who you want to be, then determine what type of destinations you want and how to create them. Work with existing demographics; e.g., existing base includes a lot of retirees. Many ethnic food restaurants on East 14`h St is a plus. Focus on growing and supporting local retailers. Use Transit and Pedestrian Connections to Enhance Downtown Retail ^ Shuttles, pedestrian paths and streetscape improvements are unifiers of downtowns and contribute to identity. Private shuttles often are more attractive to users than public buses, such as the Emeryville Go-Round. - Think about how projects relate to transit? Retailers need to know accurate ridership information with population counts to help create and sell hot spots. - Shuttles done right can extend the public bus system - There already are existing San Leandro shuttles, including curb-to-curb service for seniors, and a link from BART to the industrial area, funded by a Business Improvement District. ^ People view bus lines as movable and transitory. If it's not a fixed rail line, the general population doesn't see it as transit. ^ BART contributes to retail patronage if retail is convenient to transit users, especially on the route home. However, transit needs to be more supportive of riders, e.g., allowing coffee on board. - Also need more attractions for pedestrians between the BART station and downtown - BART is close to downtown and East 14`~ St but is not connected. ^ Try to link downtown to the new Kaiser development to capitalize on that growth. ^ Emphasize a walkable environment: "park once and walk." People will walk if the route is interesting. ^ Invest in connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists; it's important for retaining downtown character. 4