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March 12, 2010
Brookings: Retail Trade as a Path to Neighborhood Revitalization
Retail trade is a highly visible feature in a community, and is often a symbol of economic status. Terms like “upscale retail,” “strip mall,” or “big box store,” convey very different images of retail trade that are widely associated with economic prosperity, or the lack thereof. But, does retail trade really revitalize run down or neglected neighborhoods? And if so, what are the mechanisms at work, the successful strategies, and necessary conditions that lead to success? In “Retail Trade as a Route to Neighborhood Revitalization,” Karen Chapple and Rick Jacobus tackle these questions.[More]
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December 09, 2008
SF Chronicle: Coffee Shops Perk Up Streets
Cafes revitalize neighborhoods by providing safe gathering places, drawing other businesses Neighborhoods like North Beach and Noe Valley are teeming with coffee shops, but head south and you're likely to find people clamoring for a cafe. In recent years, these businesses have become a key part of community efforts to revitalize commercial strips, arguably the most visible and telling element of any neighborhood. Coffee shops offer a safe, warm gathering place for neighbors, bring foot traffic to areas that need it, and tend to reflect the flavor of a community.[More]Posted by Rick Jacobus | Comments (0)
August 26, 2008
Market Data Webcast for LISC Staff
This webcast provided an overview of the ESRI Business Analyst Online tool for obtaining neighborhood market data. Presentation Handouts: Powerpoint Neighborhood Market Snapshot: Understanding the Data Bayview Materials: Bayview Market Conditions Overview San Francisco Grocerty Attraction Handouts Related items: Commercial...[More]Posted by Rick Jacobus | Comments (0)
September 08, 2007
Commercial Revitalization Planning Guide
This hands on guidebook is filled with detailed direction that will provide practitioners with a starting point for organizing comprehensive commercial district revitalization efforts. It takes the reader through each stage of revitalization from planning, research, and visioning to understanding the potential of the community, analyzing the business mix, marketing the assets, and implementing the work plan. The planning guide also provides a set of practical tools to assist in implementation.[More]
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August 22, 2007
Commercial Development Trainings
I developed this series of day long and multi-day workshops for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation's national Center for Commercial Revitalization to help community development corporations and local governments understand the unique challanges associated with neighborhood retail development. I have been delivering these training courses in communities around the country including: Philadelphia, Providence, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Toledo, Jacksonville, San Diego, and Cincinnati.
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August 08, 2007
Lower San Antonio Neighborhood Plan
 | The Lower San Antonio Neighborhood plan grew out of a 2 year long community planning process involving over 1000 neighborhood residents. I led a team of planners and community organizers in an outreach process to bring together community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and cultural institutions from the area's many different ethnic groups. |
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EastLake Revitalization Plan
 | The EastLake Main Street Strategy outlined overall goals for a commercial revitalization program for Oakland's EastLake district, identified key stakeholders whose support would be essential and spelled out a 3-year workplan and budget. |
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May 12, 2007
Commercial District Stabilization
| The paper provides real world examples that support the idea that stabilizing and improving a neighborhood serving commercial district can not only be achieved without fueling gentrification it may be a necessary step in preventing gentrification. |
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December 12, 2006
San Francisco Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative
Mayor Newsom Announces Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative Unique program targets public, private resources to strengthen neighborhood business districts May 23, 2005 SAN FRANCISCO – Speaking at a national conference on urban commercial district revitalization held in San Francisco today, Mayor Newsom...[More]Posted by Rick Jacobus | Comments (0)
September 19, 2005
Commercial Corridors - Linking Housing, Retail, and Jobs
On September 13, 2005 LISC Knowledge Sharing Initiative's Experts Online, in partnership with Fannie Mae KnowledgePlex, produced a session, co-sponsored by Smart Growth America, focused on how commercial corridors have capitalized on their ethnic and cultural diversity, proximity to transportation, and availability of affordable housing to create destinations that attract businesses, residents, and visitors.[More]Posted by Rick Jacobus | Comments (0)
June 09, 2005
Understanding Market Data
This workshop provided a general overview of sources of online market data including where to get it, how it might be useful in commercial revitalization programs as well as what some of the limitations of public data are. The handout provides an annotated reference to data reports available from ESRI which places the data in context and points out some of the problems with the data and techniques for reality checking these reports. Download the PowerPoint presentation and guide to market data.[More]Posted by Rick Jacobus | Comments (0)
Commercial Revitalization 101
This two part workshop provided a broad overview of the field of commercial district revitalization. Part one focused on framing the problems that commercial revitalization programs are attempting to solve and outlining the general techniques available. Part two covered planning for commercial revitalization and development of a specific economicaly viable strategy as well as organizational models for managing revitalization and maintaining momentum over time. [More]Posted by Rick Jacobus | Comments (0)
