The impact of entertainment on building successful commercial districts

Yesterday I attended an absolutely fabulous visioning session for Brookland and the Brookland CDC, which was facilitated by Michela Perrone (introduced to the Brookland CDC through LISC). She is amazing. The DC Main Streets program should hire her in a second! It was one of the best "Main Street" programs I've ever attended in the city, and it was organized with no participation from DC Main Streets...

Anyway, in the presentation about the accomplishments of the Brookland CDC, board president Lavinia (Vinnie) Wohlfarth made an important point about the loss of the Newton Theater as an active cinema on the commercial corridor. She said that when the theater was open, more of the nearby retail establishments stayed open later, because they had customers to sell to.



This is obvious, we see it in places like Cleveland Park, around the Uptown Theater. But simultaneously, it's also a very subtle point.

Again, this is another example of what Jane Jacobs calls "mixed primary uses" and how commercial districts are supported by a wide variety of customer segments active at different times of the day and night.

Streets are made safer through positive activities and the patronage such activities enjoy. Lack of activity creates vacuums which are too often seized upon with relish by the forces of disorder.

Old Newton Theater, Brookland.