1. Creating a Retail Strategy
Commercial Revitalization 101
Rick Jacobus
Burlington Associates in
Community Development
LISC Urban Forum, November 8, 2006
3. Buckeye Road
Historic Hungarian Neighborhood
Now mostly African American
–21 Blocks of
struggling retail
–Vacancy around 30%
–Concerns about
crime and vacant
properties
4. Weizer Building
Buckeye Area Development Corporation
purchased vacant building in 1999
14, 979 square foot, three-story building
Historic Bank Building
Now a source of blight
5. Activity
Based on what little you know about this
neighborhood, what kind of businesses
that might be attracted to this
development project?
8. Weizer Building
Entire building leased
to children’s services
agency
10 year lease at
asking rent
Completed renovation
No retail
9. Re$tore Buckeye Initiative
Established as Buckeye Main Street
Comprehensive effort to improve commercial
corridor
Soul of Buckeye Festival
Façade Improvements
Promotion
Leasing Assistance to
property owners
Safety Patrols
Security Cameras
10. Core Area Development
Strategy
Revise Zoning to concentrate retail activity
Designate unique nodes
- The Strip
Auto-oriented Retail
- Performance Row
Pedestrian oriented Art
and Culture
- The Commons
Higher Density Housing
15. Performance Row
Renovate Moreland Theater
• 800 Seat Theater
• $5 million renovation needed
• Create venue for Jazz and other performance
Attract sit down restaurants into
surrounding buildings (many already
owned by BADC)
Encourage other arts and culture uses
17. Changing Focus
Summer of Soul
- Arterial – Buckeye Arts Festival
- All That Jazz
- Book Fair
Public Art Initiative
– Install outdoor art wherever possible
– “Artistic” signs for parking lots
Bus stop/mini park
– Relocate major bus stop (in front of theater)
– Install Public Art
18. Re$tore Buckeye
Results
Reduced Retail Vacancies from
> 30% to ~ 10%
Attracted many businesses
– 2 bank branches
– Internet cafe
Purchased and renovated 11 commercial
buildings
Soul of Buckeye Festival draws 10,000 visitors
19. Rick Jacobus
538 Chetwood St.
Oakland, CA 94610
510-653-2995
Rick@Rjacobus.com
www.rjacobus.com
Contact