The world of community and economic development is filled with daily problems, challenges and downright difficult situations. I get asked all the time about why we do what we do, how we make those tough decisions and what it's really like to be in the trenches, out on the street talking to community folks. So...weekly, I'll choose a topic to write about (topics are welcome), either a challenge or reward about working here in the Excelsior District in San Francisco. What it's like to work in such a culturally rich community facing a variety of challenges from vacant and lived-in storefronts to gang violence and drugs, our work touches on the many components that make up an urban neighborhood. The question is, what can we do to address such a broad breadth of issues? I'll try to answer this and other questions as we expand the field of community and economic development and demystify community, leadership building and organizing.
Topic of the week: Got Condos?
While away, I learned that the Board of Supervisors passed the proposed rezoning of the site at 4550 Mission St. Plans to demolish the building and erect 32 units of condominiums over ground floor retail space were approved. Many of you were involved in the negotiations that led to this compromise project (from ensuring the units would be accessible to families, increasing density and balancing transit oriented development with providing enough parking so as not to upset car dependent neighbors) we had tough decisions to make as to what the final project was going to look like. With that lengthy but worthwhile community process over with, it is with great anticipation that we await the project's completion. EAG is working with the landlord to attract viable tenants that will complement existing businesses to the retail spaces. Contacts are welcomed and encouraged.
In the interim, we will do our best to keep you posted on the demolition and construction timelines as well as the relocation of the businesses that currently occupy the space. Rumor has it that Living Collections (formerly Furniture 4 Less) secured a new location in Millbrae. Although sad to see them go, I'm happy that they were able to find a new space for their ever-growing business. Despite the economic downturn, Living Collections remain optimistic about their new location in the Peninsula.
Challenge: Prevent Merchant Displacement
As for the other merchants, efforts to assist them remain difficult. Part of the challenge in working with small business owners, particularly those with limited English ability and cultural experience is how much time it takes to build trust with the business operator. In general, these families want to run their business with little or no outside interference. They want to run their shops quietly and sustain their livelihoods without getting too involved in the neighborhood, politics, government or other potentially 'contentious' situations. This makes our jobs as community development experts really difficult. Our job is to assist low and moderate income businesses and connect them to resources such as facade improvement funds, technical assistance, access to loans and other tools to sustain and grow their businesses. Although we'd like to save every business from closing its doors, it boils down to who will accept the resources and assistance we have to offer. You can lead a horse to water...
I remain vexed as to how to balance strengthening the commercial corridor while not just retaining existing independent and low-moderate income businesses but strengthening them too, to ensure they benefit from improvements made along our commercial corridor. How do you help those who won't help themselves? On top of that, does the argument resonate that you have to keep a community disinvested, dirty, dangerous to prevent displacement and gentrification? I think I'll save this topic for next week's blog.
Lessons Learned
I realize that you can't save every business, nor are you going to make every community member happy or satisfied with our work, making tough decisions as you balance multiple priorities and stakeholders, but damn it if we don't at least try. I've become a community organizer, working one on one with merchants to break down those barriers to accessing assistance, running a profitable business or just staying afloat. Who benefits from a corridor filled with empty storefronts, right?
An Updated Strategy
Next month, Excelsior Action Group will review and update its annual work plan. We'll be deciding what projects to focus on, our strategies for addressing issues brought forth by the resident and merchant community and prioritizing accordingly. If you have thoughts, please join us, our leadership is comprised of folks from the community working to restore its vibrancy and economic health for everyone's enjoyment while working to build upon what's already here, a strong, culturally rich, locally serving business community. These are values we'll continue to support as we create goals for next year. Stay tuned.
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2 comments:
I don't shop along Mission or Geneva for several reasons:
1.) There's not much diversity in what's being sold - and I'm not very interested in what's available.
2.) Unfortunately, the only language I speak is English. Communication gap is a major disincentive for me.
3.) When I worked in customer service, I had to treat the customer like he was alway right - even when he wasn't. As a customer along Mission, my experience is that I'm being done a favor. Maybe it's related somehow to what you've witnessed with owners' disinterest in working with the community. For me, it's one strike you're out - especially when they don't offer anything unique (see point #1).
4.) Probably the most important: Too much blight along the corridor. I don't enjoy walking along a street that's littered with garbage, graffiti, and gang members. I feel unsafe - especially since I keep abreast of what's going on, by subscribing to the Ingleside Station Newsletter.
Many Excelsior residents have higher standards than we are given credit for. We have cars, and we drive to neighborhoods where we feel more welcomed, if not safer.
Oh, also, as much negativity that is given toward large chain stores that 'gentrify' such as Walgreen or Starbucks, their employees are always respectful toward me. Their employees obviously rely more on qualification than nepotism.
So, I would say this:
1.) Clean up the blight - and address the quality of life issues. Consider treating criminals like criminals by prosecuting them.
2.) Close down the businesses not offering services that are in demand. It's obvious which ones they are, and they're taking up space.
3.) Make room for businesses that are serious about attracting customers, by not overcharging us, and treating us the way they would like to be treated as paying customers. Also, if all they speak is a language other than English, then the only customers they should expect business from are those who speak that language.
SBSF:
We are sorry to hear that Mission St. lost your business! Unfortunately, your comments summarize a good portion of similar opinions collected back in 2003 when EAG members surveyed 200 residents as to why they do or don't use Mission St. as their first choice for local shopping.
There were a few respondents who find the neighborhood to serve their basic needs but also wanting as you stated more diversity of goods, services and options- the more discriminating shoppers like a different shopping experience, one with a variety of goods, clean, safe environment and better customer service.
I realize that not all of our resident's needs will ever be met with the businesses currently on the street nor with the more diverse business we've managed to bring to the corridor in the last 5 years. However, the corridor program boosts interest and activity to get us closer to that vision, a vibrant commercial district with locally serving goods that serve a broad community of various economic and cultural backgrounds- 99 cents stores provide affordable products for working families and they do have a place on our corridor- but so does the coffee shop that sells $4.00 cappuccino's- it's all part of a larger strategy to serve the broadest economic base possible.
Efforts to establish a Community Benefit District, where commercial property owners pool resources to pay for corridor maintenance such as graffiti, street sweeping and steamcleaning will go far in addressing the blight issue, but will also create jobs and stimulate a sluggish local economy. Our hopes are that our community building and economic development efforts will address many of the concerns you've outlined in your comments- as well as other needs identified through our community meetings and annual work plan review. As always, you're welcome to participate in EAG activities aimed to address these very issues and more like adding greening, supporting local businesses and job creation and special events to increase civic pride and participation- essential building blocks for a healthy community.
Happy holidays!
Warmly,
Cristy, EAG
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