Appendix A: A sample checklist to identify business area needs

Economic and attitudinal environment

Economic Environment

  1. failure to tap potential market
  2. failure to compete (merchandise, variety and price) with neighbouring communities or outlying retail areas
  3. relocation of businesses to outlying retail centres
  4. closing down of businesses
  5. increasing number of storefront vacancies
  6. vacant upper stories
  7. no new development in recent years
  8. decreasing number of pedestrians and shoppers
  9. vacant land along business streets
  10. lack of suitable sites or buildings to attract new business
  11. declining market
  12. unstable employment base

Attitude

  1. no interest from business community or building owners to upgrade premises
  2. apathy from business community with respect to area problems
  3. residents shop elsewhere for goods and services available locally
  4. no area newsletter, annual general meeting, effective committees
  5. no regular communication between businesses

This checklist includes items for consideration when identifying business area needs in planning a BIA. The matters listed are suggestions only, and are not intended to be complete or accurate for actual local use.

Municipal policy and infrastructure

Municipal policy

  1. no explicit policy to protect viability of the area as a retail centre
  2. overly restrictive land use standards
  3. overly stringent development agreement standards
  4. lack of maintenance bylaws and/or inadequate enforcement of maintenance bylaws
  5. hesitancy from local council to support business initiatives
  6. lack of technical and staff resources to pursue initiatives

Infrastructure

  1. inadequate water, storm and sewer systems to support new development
  2. inadequate street lighting
  3. business disruption by frequent repair of sidewalks and utilities

This checklist includes items for consideration when identifying municipal policy and infrastructure matters in planning a BIA. The matters listed are suggestions only, and are not intended to be complete or accurate for actual local use.

Function and physical appearance

Function

  1. poor access to the area
  2. lack of adequate directional signage
  3. poor road and sidewalk maintenance
  4. inconvenient traffic circulation within the area
  5. traffic congestion and traffic conflicts
  6. insufficient street parking
  7. inconvenient location of off-street parking areas
  8. poor access from parking spaces to stores
  9. poor pedestrian routes

 Physical appearance

  1. unattractive entry to the area
  2. dirty and littered streets, sidewalks and lanes
  3. poorly maintained facades
  4. inappropriate remodelling
  5. uninteresting store interiors
  6. unattractive, poorly designed, poorly lighted parking areas
  7. inappropriate and poorly maintained signage
  8. lack of visual focal points

This checklist includes items for consideration when identifying function and physical appearance matters in planning a BIA. The matters listed are suggestions only, and are not intended to be complete or accurate for actual local use.