Last month, we wrote about the importance
of using PR and Communications to build buzz around important commercial
corridor work – with the Commercial Corridor Challenge as a prime example. LOA
has been working closely with the New York office of the Local Initiatives
Support Corporation (LISC) on the Commercial Corridor Challenge, a program funded by Citi Community Development that
provides financial and technical support to some of New York City’s most
underserved and rapidly changing communities.
As part of our work, we helped put together a set of
guidelines that not only informs Corridor Challenge participants about relevant
New York City code and regulation requirements related to storefront
improvements but also suggests best practices for these improvements. With architectural
expertise from Dadras Architects, the guidelines also features renderings of
potential storefronts on Bay Street in Staten Island, Southern Boulevard in the
Bronx, and Fulton Street in Brooklyn.
The guidelines covers a range of storefront improvements
including signage, lighting, awnings, façade and paint and color. It offers visuals of
best practices in each section so that users of the guidelines are able to
easily understand and implement the improvements.
Here are some highlights of the guidelines:
- Avoid the use of security gates to increase store transparency. If necessary, open-mesh security gates on the interior can still provide visual access for security (preferred by law enforcement) and will not be subject to alteration by graffiti.
- Maximize the visibility of your signs without compromising transparency of storefronts. This might include illuminating signs with separate light fixtures and ensuring signage does not block doors or windows.
- Avoid waterfall-style awnings. Retractable canvas awnings are highly recommended because they get less dirty and last longer than fixed awnings.
- Use interior and exterior lighting to illuminate your storefront and street. Adequate lighting is a proven crime deterrent.
- Fix broken windows and avoid paper signage. Broken or boarded windows negatively impact the overall commercial corridor and paper signage obscures the business activity from potential customers on the street.
- Use color and painting to enhance storefront appearance. Remember to coordinate colors to fit the context of the neighborhood.
By increasing the transparency, lighting, and physical
attractiveness of businesses, the Commercial Corridor Challenge program hopes
to provide long-lasting benefits to participating corridors by boosting foot
traffic and improving sense of safety in these areas. For more useful tips
around storefront improvements, download the guidelines here!
We hope this resource will also prove helpful in rethinking
and redesigning your storefront.
