The City of Charlotte retained our firm to formulate a revitalization plan for the Wilkinson Boulevard Corridor. A vital link between the airport and downtown, this urban artery has been plagued by departing businesses and visual blight. The goal was to develop an action plan to uplift the area and take advantage of its many strengths as a business location.
The City of Decatur engaged a consulting team comprised of R. L. Brown & Associates and The Brookwood Group to prepare a 10-year strategic plan for the city. We were asked to contribute our real estate expertise to this process. A primary challenge was how to balance the city’s desire to maintain its small-town character with mounting development pressures and the need to broaden its tax base.
City of Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson created a special task force to prepare a revitalization plan for a 23-block area of downtown, known as Fairlie-Poplar. We were hired and launched a three phase study consisting of: 1) area familiarization; 2) conceptualization and testing; and 3) plan and implementation. The goal was to formulate a strategy to reverse Fairlie-Poplar’s downward spiral and to create a foundation for positive change. Subsequently, we were retained by the Fairlie-Poplar Task Force to coordinate the implementation program.
The City of Alpharetta, in concert with a developer, was planning an ambitious mixed-use project in its downtown that featured office and retail space, as well as a new city hall. City officials decided that an objective assessment of the office and retail markets was needed in light of deteriorating economic conditions. An independent assessment of the development program was also requested.
The City of East St. Louis hired a team led H.J. Russell & Company, an Atlanta developer, to analyze potential development opportunities in its central business district. We contributed our market expertise to the effort. Our charge was to formulate a strategy for downtown to reverse the downward spiral that has existed for decades, focusing on realistic development opportunities that could provide a basis for long-term renewal.
The City of Marietta retained us to evaluate their town square’s retail potential and to develop a strategy to enhance its restaurant and store offerings. Our research included extensive interviews with merchants, a survey of restaurant operators, an examination of demand sources, and a detailed retail inventory.
