The value of the Village is home grown
By Tim Stripe
I'll be frank?I love the village area of Carlsbad.
It's where our community started. As a chamber, and as residents, our roots are deep in that part of town.
Perhaps my fondness for the village stems from the fact I grew up in a small town. Well, for being in Orange County in the late 1950's it was a small town. We had more fruit trees lining the street than cars for a long time.
Today, our village is an authentic slice of Americana. It's also very valuable to our community's economic and civic base. In my opinion we should strive hard to preserve its unique character while helping it retain economic vitality. The City Council has recently voted to spend up to $100,000 for a consultant to profile the village and its opportunities. Let's see why.
Consider the comparison of independent, local businesses vs. chain store/mall based retailers. Nothing against the chains, ok? There are certainly both in our city, but let's focus on home grown retailers for a bit. Why are they valuable?particularly in historic districts? Here are some reasons according to the consulting firm looking at the village.
More of the profits remain local.
Independent businesses are more responsive to customers' needs.
Infrastructure costs are lower.
They occupy historic buildings more often than national retailers, so, buildings get recycled.
They reflect local culture.
They provide opportunities for young people to develop and own their own businesses ("sticky towns")
Not much argument about local retailers keeping profits at home. Same story with an independent business being more responsive to customers needs in order to survive. Some chain based businesses can suffer losses at a specific site for an extended period while corporate earnings from other stores keep them alive. Eventually however, even chain based stores must contribute profits to the bottom line or be closed. Certainly few people would quibble that our antique district, or shops and restaurants on State Street, aren't reflective of local culture.
One bullet point has me particularly excited though?the opportunity for young people to develop and own their own business, thereby creating home grown value. I think that's especially important. Being able to work in Carlsbad is a pleasure for many of us. Being able to afford a house in Carlsbad is becoming more privilege than practice though. In fact, it's often a headache, and a heartache, making ends meet for a median priced home in our city.
I believe we should do all we reasonably can to encourage hometown entrepreneurs to try their ideas on Main Street. Living in an affordable loft above your storefront business is an idea that's catching on throughout community redevelopment professionals. We have the beginnings of it in the village near St. Michael's Church and Magee Park now. Those lofts over shops are on both sides of the street, just south of the Army Navy Academy on Carlsbad Boulevard. The concept has been around for generations. Those of you who have visited inner city neighborhoods on the East Coast may have seen wonderfully dynamic, architecturally diverse examples in Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia and New York.
How do these unique, independent, local businesses succeed?
• Impeccable customer service.
• Something unexpected.
• Something you can't find anywhere else
How can a city, a chamber, and a community encourage and promote local business success?
Cities can create tax incentives for investment in historic districts. Look at how the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego has thrived.
Chamber's can highlight local districts with publicity, hosted events in the area, unique promotional opportunities such as farmer's markets, street fairs and the like. I've been told the Carlsbad Street Faire in the Village is the largest street fair west of the Mississippi.
Communities can do their part by patronizing the local merchants and referring friends to unique 'finds' with special merchandise or colorful owners.
I'll anxiously await the results of the economic study on the Village Area but for me, home grown value and opportunity go hand in hand.
By Tim Stripe
I'll be frank?I love the village area of Carlsbad.
It's where our community started. As a chamber, and as residents, our roots are deep in that part of town.
Perhaps my fondness for the village stems from the fact I grew up in a small town. Well, for being in Orange County in the late 1950's it was a small town. We had more fruit trees lining the street than cars for a long time.
Today, our village is an authentic slice of Americana. It's also very valuable to our community's economic and civic base. In my opinion we should strive hard to preserve its unique character while helping it retain economic vitality. The City Council has recently voted to spend up to $100,000 for a consultant to profile the village and its opportunities. Let's see why.
Consider the comparison of independent, local businesses vs. chain store/mall based retailers. Nothing against the chains, ok? There are certainly both in our city, but let's focus on home grown retailers for a bit. Why are they valuable?particularly in historic districts? Here are some reasons according to the consulting firm looking at the village.
More of the profits remain local.
Independent businesses are more responsive to customers' needs.
Infrastructure costs are lower.
They occupy historic buildings more often than national retailers, so, buildings get recycled.
They reflect local culture.
They provide opportunities for young people to develop and own their own businesses ("sticky towns")
Not much argument about local retailers keeping profits at home. Same story with an independent business being more responsive to customers needs in order to survive. Some chain based businesses can suffer losses at a specific site for an extended period while corporate earnings from other stores keep them alive. Eventually however, even chain based stores must contribute profits to the bottom line or be closed. Certainly few people would quibble that our antique district, or shops and restaurants on State Street, aren't reflective of local culture.
One bullet point has me particularly excited though?the opportunity for young people to develop and own their own business, thereby creating home grown value. I think that's especially important. Being able to work in Carlsbad is a pleasure for many of us. Being able to afford a house in Carlsbad is becoming more privilege than practice though. In fact, it's often a headache, and a heartache, making ends meet for a median priced home in our city.
I believe we should do all we reasonably can to encourage hometown entrepreneurs to try their ideas on Main Street. Living in an affordable loft above your storefront business is an idea that's catching on throughout community redevelopment professionals. We have the beginnings of it in the village near St. Michael's Church and Magee Park now. Those lofts over shops are on both sides of the street, just south of the Army Navy Academy on Carlsbad Boulevard. The concept has been around for generations. Those of you who have visited inner city neighborhoods on the East Coast may have seen wonderfully dynamic, architecturally diverse examples in Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia and New York.
How do these unique, independent, local businesses succeed?
• Impeccable customer service.
• Something unexpected.
• Something you can't find anywhere else
How can a city, a chamber, and a community encourage and promote local business success?
Cities can create tax incentives for investment in historic districts. Look at how the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego has thrived.
Chamber's can highlight local districts with publicity, hosted events in the area, unique promotional opportunities such as farmer's markets, street fairs and the like. I've been told the Carlsbad Street Faire in the Village is the largest street fair west of the Mississippi.
Communities can do their part by patronizing the local merchants and referring friends to unique 'finds' with special merchandise or colorful owners.
I'll anxiously await the results of the economic study on the Village Area but for me, home grown value and opportunity go hand in hand.