This document provides an overview of the DC Vibrant Streets Toolkit and its applicability to revitalizing retail areas in Fairfax, Virginia. It defines what makes a street vibrant, analyzes case studies of successful vibrant streets, and outlines the toolkit's process for assessing neighborhoods and supporting the development of a retail strategy. The toolkit aims to provide tools to create vibrant streets in any community through workshops, webinars and research on best practices from different types of areas. It argues that vibrant retail centers are now expected and can positively impact communities by fostering identity and investment.

1. DC Vibrant Streets Toolkit:
Overview and Applicability to
Fairfax Revitalization
October 22, 2012

2. BEGINNINGS…
MARKET ANALYSIS PLANNING BRANDING BROKERAGE INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE

4. process

5. DEFINED
VIBRANT STREET (adj + noun):
A neighborhood’s core. A retail
environment that is treasured by its
residents, customers and retailers
whose daily actions ensure its
enduring vitality.

6. ANALYSIS
Small-Scale Shopping Streets
Carytown • Richmond, VA
North Market Street • Frederick, MD
Main Street • Manayunk, PA
Charles Street • Boston, MA
Oak Street • Chicago, IL
Madison Park • Seattle, WA
Bethesda Row • Bethesda, MD
East Davis Street • Culpeper, VA
O’Donnell Square • Baltimore, MD
Atlantic Avenue • Brooklyn, NY

7. ANALYSIS
Destination Streets
Walnut Street • Philadelphia, PA
Newbury Street • Boston, MA
North Michigan Avenue • Chicago, IL
Third Street Promenade • Santa Monica, CA
Champs-Elysees • Paris, France
Omotesando Dori • Tokyo, Japan

8. DATA COLLECTION
Year Supported by Average Retail Average Daily
Established an Assoc./Org. Rents Traffic Count
Avg Sidewalk Within an Condition of
walkscore
Width Historic Dist.? Ownership?
# of Blocks in Underground Retail Vacancy Vehicles per
Length Utilities? Rate HH
Public Open Residential Mix of # of Bus
Space? Population Retailers Routes
Streetscape Median Locals : Subway/LR/
Design Household Inc Nationals Streetcar Stop
Located Daytime Civic /Cultural Parking
within a BID Population Anchor Facilities

9. FINDINGS
• 100% have an active and unifying
management/representation structure.
• Population, income, and employment data alone
did not ensure retail success.
• Traffic counts had a “sweet spot”: 10k – 16k AADT
• Small shopping streets: Avg retail rent = $18/sf;
Destination streets: Avg retail rent = $120/sf.
• 100% have underground power lines.

10. PROCESS DIAGRAM

11. education

12. retail decision-making trees:
regional home decor
Example Neighborhoods 1 2 3
Population:
39k 52k 16k
35,000 + within 3 miles
Avg HH Inc:
$50k+ within 3 miles
$83k $63k
Min. Education:
College Grad College
Competitive Environm’t:
Low High
Low to Moderate
Appropriate Site 4,000 sf
Available signed

13. retail decision-making trees:
national nail salon
Example Neighborhoods 1 2 3
Population:
32k 17k 8k
5,000+ within 1 mile
Avg Household Income:
$25,000+
$38k $45k $82k
Daytime Population:
10,000+ within ¼ mile 9k 11k 18k
Competitive Environment:
High High High
High
Appropriate Site
1,800 sf 1,200 sf 1,000 sf
Available
signed signed signed

14. retail decision-making trees:
regional organic grocery store
Example Neighborhoods 1 2 3
Population:
30k 18k 27k
10,000+ within 1.5 miles
Avg Household Income:
$45,000+
$62k $85k $44k
Traffic Count:
12,500 AADT+ 14k 7k 22k
Applicable Incentives:
No Yes
Priority Development Area
Appropriate Site
6,500 sf
Available
signed

15. MARKET DIAGNOSTIC

16. RESOURCE ALLOCATION
Neighborhood Goods & Services
Food & Beverage
General Merchandise, Apparel,
Furnishings & Other

17. implementation

18. VISION
We want to give every neighborhood the
necessary tools to create a Vibrant Street of
their own, regardless of population, ethnic
composition, location, income, or budget.

19. WEBSITE

20. WEBINAR SERIES
• Series
• Guest experts
• FREE
• Market Analysis and
Neighborhood Broker Training
$$$
• All webinars available for
download on our website

21. PARTICIPANTS COME FROM…
To-date, 260 participants from 190 cities, suburbs, towns, and villages.

22. ON-GOING RESEARCH
• Areas in most need are the
suburbs.
• Not all suburbs are alike!
Vibrant Streets offers tools
for 4 community typologies:
incl. suburban and urban-
suburban.
• Vibrant Streets™ Toolkit to
be released next spring.

23. LEARNING LAB (April 29-30, 2013)
• Hands-on training. How to
grow a great retail
environment “from the
grassroots up.”
• Developers, retailers,
economic development
experts, planners, market
analysts.
• A new way of thinking
about street retail.
• Everyone leaves with a “do
this NOW!” list.

24. VIBRANCY for FAIRFAX CO.
Herndon
Tysons Corner, 2050
McLean
Centreville Annandale
Fairfax

25. VIBRANCY for FAIRFAX CO.
Today, a vibrant retail center:
1. Is driven by “experience,” perhaps
even more than commerce;
2. Impacts home purchasing decisions;
3. Creates community identity (+/-);
4. Is considered a RIGHT, not a privilege.
5. Establishes common ground, and
allows stakeholders to become
invested in one another.

26. QUESTIONS?