Retail Planning in Underserved Communities

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• What drive investor and retailer concerns about investment in undeserved markets
• Policy and regulatory solutions for planners seeking to encourage commercial-corridor investment in diverse communities
• How to replicate the impact targeted corridor investments and policies have had in New Orleans, Detroit, and Washington, D.C.

MORE SESSION DETAILS

Ethnically and racially diverse communities face unique challenges when it comes to commercial-corridor revitalization efforts. Investment in the form of capital improvements, retail attraction, and new development can sometimes be stymied by investor concerns that are rooted in a misunderstanding of the true potential of these markets. Moreover, regulatory and zoning policies sometimes create additional roadblocks that can make investments in more conventional markets more attractive by comparison. So what prevents investment in these communities and how can planners overcome the resistance? This session will cover a mix of regulatory, policy, and investment tools that planners have at their disposal when developing commercial-corridor revitalization programs, with an emphasis on racially and ethnically diverse communities. Speakers from New Orleans, Detroit, and New York will discuss the obstacles faced by their communities, offer a deeper understanding of why the private market is resistant to entry into underserved markets like these, and discuss the options that planners have in addressing the commercial and retail needs of these diverse communities.