FRAMEWORK FOR BUILDING A SOCIABLE CITY

PLAN AROUND FOUR LIFE STAGES TO HELP SHAPE YOUR SOCIABLE CITY

Lifestyles and social interaction can often be correlated with age and life stage. While this represents a broad generalization, it can help raise awareness of the common stages of the age demographics of your city or district, and how well your dining and entertainment options match the different market demands.

SINGLES

Individuals in their late teens and early twenties or older adults in transition. Venues provide more open space and opportunity for random encounters.

MINGLES

Couples, social groups with a common interest, often with more money to spend seeking spaces for conversation, dining or formal entertainment.

FAMILIES

Children often reduces the frequency of going out late. Families seek daytime events, earlier options with child friendly menus and activities.

JINGLES

Business travelers, vacationers, conventioneers or empty nesters with more money to spend on better quality food, service and entertainment.

WHEN A MIXED-USE DISTRICT BECOMES A "HOSPITALITY ZONE"

A hospitality zone or social district is an area of mixed or multiple uses distinguished by a cluster of dining and entertainment businesses, such as restaurants, pubs, taverns, cafes and nightclubs. A hospitality zone has an active street life and may serve as a center for community festivals and events.

THE CONVERGENCE OF PLACES to socialize is described as a "hospitality zone" to categorize each sub-section of a single district or an area that may overlap legal boundaries in multiple districts. Further, hospitality zones have varying intensities and impacts based upon their hours of operation, daytime and nighttime uses and patronage.

THESE FACTORS often contribute to the development of a “Split-Use Economy” within a hospitality zone, where the day, evening and late-night economies differ in clientele and offerings.

AS THE ECONOMY and demographics of a city evolves, so do districts. Recent success of business improvement district (BID) to revitalize retail districts to match these trends highlights a larger, more strategic view of district development.

ADJUSTING CITY SERVICES such as police, waste management, parking, security, and public transportation can facilitate or stabilize the changes in each stage. Providing assistance to new businesses earlier in the process can prevent the loss of start-up capital due to delays.

THREE STAGES OF HOSPITALITY ZONE ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

The EMERGING STAGE hosts unique venues in districts that attract risk takers, those who feel safe in potentially unsafe areas and who seek new, exciting and unique places to socialize. There is a growth in more stable businesses opening, residential development, retail stores, offices, and professional and service businesses.
The MATURE STAGE marks the rise of real estate values, driving out some of the local independent businesses, which are replaced by regional or national chains.
If the evolution of the district is not managed properly, competition grows, public safety and quality of life deteriorates, or if growth of residential near a nightlife district, the district enters the CHALLENGED STAGE.