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process early. For example, Bob pared to listen and negotiate.Also, additional redevelopment projects.
<br /> Benecke, the city manager of Engle- look to establish common ground. 10. Chose savvy developers.
<br /> IIIwood,NJ,has held workshops on 9.Avoid long lists of projects. Look for developers who are will-
<br /> downtown revitalization for council Experts have long advised down- ing to try to buy out property own-
<br /> members, and he frequently briefs town leaders to take a comprehen- ers, and who don't rely entirely on 1
<br /> them on potential projects in the sive approach to revitalization. public takings. Conversely, the
<br /> confidentiality of caucus sessions to Sometimes this advice im-pels municipality should try to mini-
<br /> test and mobilize their support. downtown leaders to want to pub- mize the number of properties on
<br /> 6.Try to mobilize civic licly identify every possible down- which it has to use its eminent
<br /> groups.Neighborhood groups from town redevelopment project so they domain powers in order to assem-
<br /> areas not immediately adjacent to a can show their constituencies just ble a redevelopment site.
<br /> redevelopment site sometimes may how thoroughly they are doing their N.David Milder,president of DANTH
<br /> have good reasons to support a pro- job. But if one project is going to Inc., an urban-planning consulting firm,
<br /> ject.An illustration of this occurred stimulate public opposition, you has more than 25 years of hands-on
<br /> downtown experience.He is author of
<br /> in Garden City, NY, which is run can image how much agitation a
<br /> the forthcoming book Downtown Busi-
<br /> politically by four residential prop- long list of projects can ignite.A ness Recruitment&Retention,published
<br /> erty associations.A few years back, more prudent approach is to move by Alexander Communications. Contact
<br /> one property association—the one project by project, using one pro- him at www.danth.com, dmilder @nyc.
<br /> closest to the main commercial strip ject's success to garner support for rr.com, (718)805-9507. •
<br /> —objected to the implementation
<br /> of long-planned parking improve-
<br /> ments that were needed to assure • downtown newsboxes, neat is n e
<br /> the financial health of some key —contt .ed from page 1 perceives an easier • • an she'd
<br /> office buildings. Its objections pre- CityRax of -w York,will replace otherwise have coa . g publishers to
<br /> vailed until the other property asso- 24 single news.:ser units or stands. get on board wi • • e newsracks.
<br /> ciations realized that this would The timing is ••ht for tidying Kilmer Si,• e, across the street
<br /> result in more of the tax burden up the train station, s. Colleen from the tr,' station, a 145,000-
<br /> being shifted from downtown com- O'Connell, district man..-r,New square- '•t, Class A office and retail
<br /> mercial rate payers to residential Brunswick City Market,as • new, corn. •x owned by one property
<br /> rate payers throughout the town. renovations-minded owner ha stir- o er, is O'Connell's target as the
<br /> 7.Don't hold large public chased it. The station's flower st..•d ext downtown block to be outfitted
<br /> meetings.In large public meetings has been reworked, and the station with the modular newsracks.
<br /> about redevelopment projects,the will soon be fitted with Dunkin' The neater newsracks should.
<br /> group dynamic usually encourages Donuts and Baskin-Robbins sho•.. tie in nicely with broader street beau-
<br /> participants to be critical and vitu- At a cost of$18,000 for t' • pair, cation work in downtown New
<br /> perative. Rational discussions and the newsracks are among v . ous B .I swick. Some of the grant money
<br /> civil exchanges of information are improvements New Bru'. ick City fund . _ the newsracks has already
<br /> minimal. Project proponents never Market will be maki • to the dis- _ gone to .grading other downtown
<br /> convert those on the fence or op- trict, thanks to a s. -tscape grant street . re,notes Glenn Patter-
<br /> posed to the project. On the other that the City obt-. ed from Middle- son, directo if the City of New
<br /> hand, these meetings often galvanize sex County. Brunswick's I '.artment of Econom-
<br /> and strengthen project opponents. Kathie: Kahng, CityRax prin- is Development, `. d the City's
<br /> 8.Use small group meetings cipal, "w able to assist us with get- looking into doing upgrade of the
<br /> for public input.A more effective ting the •ublications to buy into streetscape of Georg& treet,the
<br /> approach for public outreach is to this," O'Connell says, "to get their main commercial stree'.
<br /> meet with small groups,especially lo,•s represented, and to get the
<br /> with the leaders of significant neigh- ••in operators to be able to use the Ordinance leaves eye-. aping
<br /> • borhood and civic associations. In units we provide." colors to the flowers
<br /> these smaller meetings,the conversa- By starting small, with an instal- The City of Lincoln,NE(pop.
<br /> tion cannot be one-sided—be pre- lation at the train station, O'Connell 225,600),has regulated the location,
<br /> May 15, 2004 Downtown Idea Exchange • www.DowntownDevelopment.com 3
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