Fringe Benefits continued: How should "Avenues" develop? ⇒
16 July 2008, early morning
On condo retail space: "Rabba, dry cleaner, Subway, Blockbuster. Repeat."
This is a post from my link log: If you click the title of this post you will be taken the web page I am discussing.
no time to really read the article thoroughly but here’s a response to the comment about leasing of condo retails space. I think they are commonly lease-controlled by the condo board / management corporation.
I remember being told by the sales rep for an upcoming development that they will ensure all tenants are “high-class” and “compatible” with the “lifestyle” of condo owners. That’s the real problem to “avenue” planning. Much of planning is beyond the control of planning instruments – market forces that are currently unregulated dictate how the city looks.
I think this is something that planners have often overlooked – it’s not simply enough to plan for mixed use. There needs to be consultation and dialogue with condo developers so that our mixed use retail won’t all just be starbucks and dry cleaners — the so called “high end” tenants. Of course the form of the development is very important but they need to be functional as well.
That is why I love and cherish the suburban strip mall in my neighbourhood. It’s got the perfect mix of “peasant” tenants – donut counter, harveys, a bank, a bike store, pet store, a drug store and a Macs. It may look like it should be bulldozed, but it sure beats the starbucks- rabba- dry cleaner combo.
by tiff on July 16 2008, 2:12 pm #