EAST WARREN BUSINESS CORRIDOR:

A COVID-19 RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK

PROJECT OBJECTIVES1. Create inventory of current businesses, specifically identifying

closures due to COVID-19 and working to understand needs and challenges for reopening

2. Establish resiliency framework for attracting, retaining, and strengthening businesses

3. Explore creative use of land and placemaking for business corridor development

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW• WHAT IS THE CORRIDOR LIKE NOW?

• Business inventory and survey

• Built environment survey

• Neighborhood support

• CREATING A RESILIENT CORRIDOR

• Business training

• Physical attributes

• Neighborhood resiliency

• QUESTIONS

E. WARREN NEIGHBORHOODS

E. WARREN STUDY AREA

COVID-19 IS IMPEDING OCCUPANCY GOALS

• EWDC goal is 100% business occupancy

• In 2017

• 36.5% of businesses occupied

• 9% temporarily closed

BUSINESS INVENTORYJUNE 2020

• In June 2020

• 34% open

Goals

• Assess how businesses are adapting

to COVID-I9

• Find out what tools business owners have

for resiliency

• Get feedback to inform recommendations

BUSINESS SURVEY

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE TO SAFELY ACCOMMODATE CUSTOMERS?

BUSINESSESS NEED HELP FIGURING OUT DELIVERY METHODS

DO YOU DELIVER?

HOW CAN CUSTOMERS PAY (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY?)

PAYMENT METHODS BEHIND THE TIMES

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS DO YOU USE? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WEBSITE HELP IS NEEDED

OF THE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES LISTED, WHICH ONES WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR BUSINESS?

TRAINING IS DESIRED

Overview

• Collected data based on building façade

conditions and sidewalks

• Conducted two synoptic surveys

• Conditions informed design and

landscape recommendations, especially

related to social distancing and safety

BUILT ENVIRONMENT SURVEY

• Currently most facades are in good/fair

condition, but need for updates or

replacement

• Pre-1970s buildings are at property line,

while newer buildings are set back from

the sidewalk

• Mostly one- or two-story commercial

• Mostly brick, some wood

FAÇADE CONDITIONS

SIDEWALK CONDITIONS• Sidewalks tend to be narrower east of

Yorkshire Road than to the west

• Sidewalk accessories pose as potential

obstacles for those practicing social

distancing

• Streetscape consists of bike lanes and

signage (updated by the City of Detroit

in last 10 years)

• Sidewalk ramps also replaced by the

city through their Sidewalk Program

• Damaged ramps between Outer Drive

need immediate replacement

STREETSCAPE FEATURES

Overview

• Measured the community's purchasing power

• Evaluated potential actions to increase retail

demand and improve commercial vacancy

Purchasing Power based on:

• Current and forecasted population density

• Median household income

• Typical retail sales per square foot

• Consumer spending habits

RETAIL DEMAND STUDY

PURCHASING POWER1. CURRENT 2020 CONDITIONS• Neighborhood can currently support 57% of retail

2. 2030 WITHOUT INTERVENTIONS• Business-as-usual approach

• Neighborhood would support 53% of retail

3. 2030 WITH INTERVENTIONS• Neighborhood could support 66% of retail

Overview1. Provide training opportunities for East Warren

businesses

2. Establish framework for attracting and retaining

businesses

3. Implement landscape and physical design

changes to create a vibrant corridor

4. Make East Warren a thriving commercial district

by supporting all forms of mobility

GOALS & RECOMMENDATIONS

• Transition to e-commerce

• Marketing and branding

• Social media

• Traditional platforms

• Financial literacy

GOAL 1: TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

TRANSITION TO E-COMMERCE

• Website creation

• Identify payment processing partner

MARKETING & BRANDING

• Social Media

• Monthly Newsletters

FINANCIAL LITERACY

• Increase corridor activity and foot traffic

• Establish small business incubator

• Explore corridor branding campaign

GOAL 2: BUSINESS ATTRACTION

CORRIDOR ACTIVITY & FOOT TRAFFIC

• Mixed-Use Development

• Pop-Up Shops

The formerly vacant building and future rendering of the Obama Building in Old Redford

Night Markets at Beacon Park

SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR

Grand River WorkSpace

Founder of MILO Detroit in TechTown Detroit co-working space

BRANDING CAMPAIGN• Black Business Corridor

• Creative Arts Corridor

“If you want the best jam, you need to make it

yourself” – Helen Broughton, Friends of the Alger

Alger Theater Roof Top Three new minority owned businesses open on the Avenue of Fashion in 2019; Good Times, Skin Bar VII, Krispy Addicts

• Improve the look of the corridor

• Reimagine alleys, sidewalks, and parking areas

• Make the street more active, dense, and diverse

• Collaborate with neighborhood organizations

GOAL 3: IMPLEMENT LANDSCAPE AND PHYSICAL DESIGN CHANGES TO CREATE A VIBRANT CORRIDOR

Improve the look of the

corridor

Reimagine alleys, sidewalks, and parking areas

Make the street more active, dense, and diverse

• Improve walkability

• Improve parking along the corridor

• Make East Warren a destination for cyclists

• Improve safety and usefulness of public transit

GOAL 4: MAKE EAST WARREN A THRIVING COMMERCIAL DISTRICT BY SUPPORTING ALL FORMS OF MOBILITY

Thank You!Questions?