with re: to this question, it is the one area in which I say local gov’t can not do much on revitalization with one exception: local ordinances. Many local ordinances are designed in such a way that they detract from Traditional business development. For example, look at infill construction. Most zoning ordinances require new construction to be set back a minimum number of feet. In some communities, that is as much as 30 feet. Now, look at all the other buildings in your downtown. Front door right on the sidewalk. That’s intentional and all new construction should be very similar to that model. Set backs detract from pedestrian activity and create barriors for connectivity. That’s just one thing, but it starts with the ordinances. INclude things like parking intot hat equations. Most parking requirements are based on suburban models, which require far more parking than is necessary.

BTW, I taxes have nothing to do with this. Some of the highest taxed communities in SE PA have the lowest vacancy rates in their downtowns.

Zoning is a big factor. Much of it is based on false assumptions, but the laws still stand.

Local municipalities like to hew to “national” standards, for fear of legal entanglements if they don’t. They also like to use them because, for the most part, they simply don’t know any better.

One thing you should try desperately to avoid is use of downtown first-floor building space for offices, rather than retail. Offices kills walk-in traffic and present a dull, blank face to the street. To make “downtown” vital, you will want to create as much traffic on those sidewalks as you can!

Pilt

Local government can provide a foot patrol police presence on the main drag thru Beaver Falls. The sight of a police officer (or two) patrolling the street may help encourage more of the area’s seniors to also stroll the main drag – just like back in the 1950’s.

Crime is not rampant in the area, but when you look at how the local news channels all sensationalize their coverage by focussing on crime, seniors become fearful of walking the street.

How many seniors do you know that drive to the local super-mall to get some walking exersize?

I can think of no other function that local government can (or should) provide to business other than crime prevention.

However…local municipalities are loathe to add beat cops. They like to keep them in their cars, because they can cover more territory that way…which is technically true. They can also respond to other calls much more quickly. Keep that in mind if you go to Council to suggest this change…

Pilt

Does BF have a Downtown Improvement District? Erie formed one a few years ago, and while it hasn’t been HUGELY successful, it has gotten people to come downtown. In fact, the main criticism I’ve heard from some of the Downtown business owners is that it only helps the downtown bars – closing streets for block parties, that sort of thing – but I think that’s a failure of management, rather than of concept. (Our DID hired as its director, at a ridiculous salary, a 23-year-old former City Hall intern whose main job qualification seemed to be his ability to suck up to our disgraced former mayor.)

I think that, if managed correctly, that kind of public-private partnership can help a cash-short municipality and a less-than-thriving downtown business community work together to bootstrap a downtown into a solid destination for shoppers, tourists, and citizens. But politics and nepotism and favoritism have to be kept in check. Good luck with THAT.

Info on Erie’s DID can be found here: http://www.eriedowntown.com/

Hi PD,
Great discussion here. I’m running for borough council in my small outer-ring Philly suburb borough, and this discussion is right in line with what we’ve been talking about. One thing that I think has real potential here is setting up a revolving loan fund for basic improvements. I’m thinking in terms of loans with very minimal interest rates, specifically to help residents fix up sidewalks throughout the borough & possibly for facade / street side improvements within our central business district (all 4 blocks :-). We’ll need to pull in some grant money to seed the loan fund, but if we can get it started, should be able to keep it going OK.

The second thing that I’m seeing, that was referred to in an earlier comment is volunteerism. When we formed a new parks and rec board a few years ago in the Spring, they didn’t think they had time to pull together the 4th of July parade, and planned to cancel it. That didn’t sit too well, so instead, a group of active residents joined forces and just did it themselves. The parade is in it’s third year, and getting bigger each summer. It’s a great example of citizens stepping up where small-town government falls short. There are some other ideas along this line in the works, including an adopt-a-part program that may work out.