As the first step in this market study, we visited the business district last week (May 20-21). Here are a few updates and some things to expect along the way. If you'd like to tell us something -- anything -- please click here.
During our visit, we:
- Walked the district, back and forth many times. (We wanted to get a good sense of the buildings and businesses.)
- Drove all over. (We wanted to see competing business districts and shopping centers.)
- Met with business owners, property owners, and neighborhood residents, and some City staff and officials, too.
- Spoke at a Ravinia Neighbors Association meeting in Jensen Park. At dusk. (It was sort of like a ranger talk.)
- We ate some delicious meals at Ravinia eateries.
- We took lots of pictures. You can view them here.
Over the next few months, we'll be providing occasional updates in this space, so come back and visit. Here are some of the things be working on over the summer:
- Surveys of Ravinia shoppers and residents (including commuters);
- Researching consumer buying power and spending patterns;
- Conducting focus groups with key consumer segments;
- Identifying economically sustainable "market strategies" (more on this in future posts);
- Presenting our initial findings -- which will also be summarized on this blog (tentatively scheduled for the week of July 20th);
- Establishing a district identity and market position;
- Developing a retail strategy and tenanting plan;
- Projecting the economic impact of new business and property development;
- Presenting the market study findings to the public (tentatively scheduled for late September); and
- Facilitating an implementation plan -- or, a "Playbook" -- with City and Ravinia leaders.
This blog is an opportunity for us to keep in touch with you, and also an opportunity for you to keep in touch with us. There will be lots of other opportunities for input. We'll keep you posted.
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