Steve Spillette
CDS Community Development Strategies

Does your community have a historic downtown that seems to be neglected? Despite the local history, interesting architecture, and walkable streets, many businesses locate elsewhere. On the surface, it can sometimes feel like a hopeless situation. But many small communities are discovering what works in big cities can work in their little towns, too.

A Little History
The heritage and charm of historic downtowns weren’t enough to sustain economic activity in many small places as economic conditions and consumer preferences changed over time. For many communities, this trend accelerated during the 1960s. Many local businesses were driven under by national chains. Occupants moved out. Rents declined. Eventually, building owners lost the revenue and/or the interest in keeping their properties up to date and in good condition. Sadly, many otherwise attractive buildings fell into disrepair and vacancy.

J. Kirby Snideman
CDS Community Development Strategies

Proponents of pedestrian friendly design often advocate for retail parking lots to be placed in the rear; behind retail buildings and away from roadways. Moving parking lots to the rear concentrates people and places along the street, creating an environment that is arguably more accessible, interesting, and safe for walkers and bicyclists. While this seems advantageous, retail developers are often opposed to this layout. This article examines a few reasons why. Understanding the concerns of retail developers will help community leaders and members find the best solutions for their community.

Last Thursday, Walmart ended its Walmart Express concept, shuttering all 102 such stores. Walmart announced earlier in January that they planned to close several underperforming stores across all of their formats, but it was the entirety of Walmart Express that made up the bulk of the planned closures. Despite that fact, the Walmart Express format meets a relatively quiet end, as discussion of Walmart store closures as an economic indicator largely drowned out discussion of the Express format itself. It is a format that deserves some further examination.

CDS Community Development Strategies

Link to the video. PDF of the Presentation.

​CDS President Steve Spillette recently spoke to a group of graduate students in the Bauer Graduate Real Estate program at the University of Houston. Mr. Spillette has several years of experience in retail market analysis and multiple degrees related to real estate and planning--including an MBA from Texas A&M University. In addition, he has performed a variety of market studies and financial pro-forma analyses for both private and public clients related to single family and multifamily residential, office, industrial, hotel, meeting facilities, and golf, as well as significant public sector studies related to major investments and strategic initiatives.

In this presentation he details the process and method required to perform a credible retail market analysis. This type of analysis is often performed for commercial developers who want to gauge how successful their planned development will be.

Click on the image below to watch the video on the CDS Youtube channel.

Link to article.  PDF of article.

It's often said that in Houston, and Texas, we love our cars. While that's probably true, it also seems that we are obsessed about parking. Perhaps some Houstonians feel that free, easy parking adjacent to every building that we're trying to access is an inherently essential feature of Houston's quality of life. The mandatory on-site parking requirements, one of the city's most intrusive land-use regulations, would seem to reflect this viewpoint. And parking controversies tend to generate vocal and emotional responses from the electorate.

As we enter the mayoral election season, I wouldn't be surprised if our candidates hear from citizens that our city isn't providing enough parking, so our officials need to "fix it" - in other words, do what it takes to get us closer to the ideal of easy-and-free parking anywhere we want to go, while no one else can park on our own street except me and my neighbors.

However, I wonder if the politicians and bureaucrats who hear this perspective from the citizenry realize the prices paid for all the vast supply of parking that is implied to be necessary. While I could highlight many ways that the omnipresence of parking as a land use can negatively affect us, such as excessive and polluted storm runoff and urban heat islands, I want to focus on two main impacts: the reduced appeal and effectiveness of walking and the terrific financial burden our obsession with parking places on both the private and public sector.

See link for full article.

Link to article.  PDF of article.

A six-acre gap in Westheimer real estate has been locked up by a developer with plans to replicate the high-end feel of some other properties nearby...

Kent Dussair, president of CDS Market Research, said he's not surprised this area is getting this kind of attention, and dubbed it the "new Uptown."

"The Uptown area is Houston's most established retail market, so any new retail added here will be complementary instead of directly competitive," Dussair said.

Trademark is not alone in its plans to develop a mixed retail and residential site. Right next door, Cypress Real Estate Advisors plan to develop 29 acres between Westheimer and San Felipe inside the West Loop.

"The land values are strong here, and the Uptown Galleria area is just rapidly urbanizing," Dussair said. "You look for areas of that nature for mixed-use projects."

​See the link for the full article.