South Florida downtowns struggling to revitalize
By YUDY PINEIRO MiamiHerald.com
Even before the economy started to stumble, main streets in municipalities across Miami-Dade County struggled to spur business and attract folks.
Tough times have merely piled onto the dilemma, slowing but not strangling the efforts of several cities to revitalize their main streets.
''There's not much you can do to make people go downtown,'' said Homestead Mayor Lynda Bell. ``I think the economy is tough, but I don't think our downtown is challenged by the economy. I think it's challenged, period.''
Downtowns come in all forms -- from strip malls that stretch just a few blocks to full-fledged central business districts with residential components.
Most municipalities define downtown as the nexus of the community. For most, it's usually the point where government meets business. The city halls of Homestead, North Miami, Miami Lakes, Doral and Coral Gables are located in or near their downtown area.
Officials say the way to pump life into a downtown is to create a buzz.
Take Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, who recently initiated an effort called Bike Miami that closes some streets to encourage bicyclists, skaters and pedestrians to visit the heart of the city.
Miami Lakes also tried to infuse more life into its struggling main street by hosting music nights and weekend arts and crafts fairs, but while people come out for the events, they don't shop there. So businesses keep coming and going.
''A lot of people just do their shopping in the malls these days,'' said Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi. ``They don't go to the corner shops anymore.''
One city that has managed to create a destination downtown: Coral Gables, where the restaurants and shops are always abuzz with people and Friday's gallery walks draw dozens.
Ashley Norman, spokeswoman for downtown Coral Gables' business improvement district, said it hasn't struggled like other commercial districts. Five businesses have opened downtown since January and at least seven more plan to open soon, she said.
One of the reasons it hasn't been affected as much, Norman said, is because it already had an established brand.
''Also because we have a business improvement district in place. That's the foundation,'' she said. ``Not everybody has the structured resources in place to devote to bringing new businesses and helping businesses in place prosper.''
The success of any downtown is more than just in the branding; it's also in the packaging, according to Nathan Kogan, the planning and zoning director for Doral.
''Our downtown areas here have to have residential because the retail areas will not survive if you don't have that residential component,'' he said. ``Downtowns that have a big residential component are successful, just look at New York.''
Though the 5-year-old city of Doral is only in the beginning stages of forming a downtown, Kogan said he has put an emphasis on mixed-use projects that feature business, retail and residential to ensure the area's growth and vitality.
Two such projects -- Downtown Doral and Park Square -- are currently underway.
The development phase may have slowed somewhat, but not by much because the projects are planned for the long-haul anyway, Kogan said.
''We're not so concerned that these won't get built,'' he said. ``Perhaps with the downturn economy, things may not develop as quickly, but that definitely doesn't put them under.''
Cities in the process of revitalizing already established, yet floundering main streets have felt the economy's punch though. They've even seen quite a few businesses go under.
''Starbucks, ours was one of the first to close. That and Dogma. We lost both of those -- and those are both kind of victims of the economic downturn,'' said Pam Solomon, a spokeswoman for North Miami.
At the same time, North Miami, which has efforts underway to revive its downtown corridor, has had an influx of furnishing stores open in recent months.
''Our downtown district is an older district. It's one that is in the process of transition,'' said Tony Crapp, director of the Community Redevelopment Agency. ``We're just trying to implement programs to assist our business people.''
Homestead Main Street, a historic downtown, also has had a tough time attracting businesses in general, but Bell said the times only have exacerbated the already dire situation because the businesses there are suffering, too.
She's hoping by organizing weekly events such as the Krome Avenue Cruise In and Music in the Park people will make the trek downtown. She also hopes to create a more pedestrian-friendly downtown by pushing to get trucks off Krome Avenue and a more inviting atmosphere by lining the streets with shady oaks.
''You have to create an area that makes people want to come,'' she said. ``I think everything is going to take work, and it's going to take time.''
© 2009 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
By YUDY PINEIRO MiamiHerald.com
Even before the economy started to stumble, main streets in municipalities across Miami-Dade County struggled to spur business and attract folks.
Tough times have merely piled onto the dilemma, slowing but not strangling the efforts of several cities to revitalize their main streets.
''There's not much you can do to make people go downtown,'' said Homestead Mayor Lynda Bell. ``I think the economy is tough, but I don't think our downtown is challenged by the economy. I think it's challenged, period.''
Downtowns come in all forms -- from strip malls that stretch just a few blocks to full-fledged central business districts with residential components.
Most municipalities define downtown as the nexus of the community. For most, it's usually the point where government meets business. The city halls of Homestead, North Miami, Miami Lakes, Doral and Coral Gables are located in or near their downtown area.
Officials say the way to pump life into a downtown is to create a buzz.
Take Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, who recently initiated an effort called Bike Miami that closes some streets to encourage bicyclists, skaters and pedestrians to visit the heart of the city.
Miami Lakes also tried to infuse more life into its struggling main street by hosting music nights and weekend arts and crafts fairs, but while people come out for the events, they don't shop there. So businesses keep coming and going.
''A lot of people just do their shopping in the malls these days,'' said Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi. ``They don't go to the corner shops anymore.''
One city that has managed to create a destination downtown: Coral Gables, where the restaurants and shops are always abuzz with people and Friday's gallery walks draw dozens.
Ashley Norman, spokeswoman for downtown Coral Gables' business improvement district, said it hasn't struggled like other commercial districts. Five businesses have opened downtown since January and at least seven more plan to open soon, she said.
One of the reasons it hasn't been affected as much, Norman said, is because it already had an established brand.
''Also because we have a business improvement district in place. That's the foundation,'' she said. ``Not everybody has the structured resources in place to devote to bringing new businesses and helping businesses in place prosper.''
The success of any downtown is more than just in the branding; it's also in the packaging, according to Nathan Kogan, the planning and zoning director for Doral.
''Our downtown areas here have to have residential because the retail areas will not survive if you don't have that residential component,'' he said. ``Downtowns that have a big residential component are successful, just look at New York.''
Though the 5-year-old city of Doral is only in the beginning stages of forming a downtown, Kogan said he has put an emphasis on mixed-use projects that feature business, retail and residential to ensure the area's growth and vitality.
Two such projects -- Downtown Doral and Park Square -- are currently underway.
The development phase may have slowed somewhat, but not by much because the projects are planned for the long-haul anyway, Kogan said.
''We're not so concerned that these won't get built,'' he said. ``Perhaps with the downturn economy, things may not develop as quickly, but that definitely doesn't put them under.''
Cities in the process of revitalizing already established, yet floundering main streets have felt the economy's punch though. They've even seen quite a few businesses go under.
''Starbucks, ours was one of the first to close. That and Dogma. We lost both of those -- and those are both kind of victims of the economic downturn,'' said Pam Solomon, a spokeswoman for North Miami.
At the same time, North Miami, which has efforts underway to revive its downtown corridor, has had an influx of furnishing stores open in recent months.
''Our downtown district is an older district. It's one that is in the process of transition,'' said Tony Crapp, director of the Community Redevelopment Agency. ``We're just trying to implement programs to assist our business people.''
Homestead Main Street, a historic downtown, also has had a tough time attracting businesses in general, but Bell said the times only have exacerbated the already dire situation because the businesses there are suffering, too.
She's hoping by organizing weekly events such as the Krome Avenue Cruise In and Music in the Park people will make the trek downtown. She also hopes to create a more pedestrian-friendly downtown by pushing to get trucks off Krome Avenue and a more inviting atmosphere by lining the streets with shady oaks.
''You have to create an area that makes people want to come,'' she said. ``I think everything is going to take work, and it's going to take time.''
© 2009 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
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