Restrictions on "formula" (chain) retail

"Wal-Mart" film draws the attention of guests at the Golden West Cafe in Hampden -- one of thousands of private screenings held around the country. (Sun photo by Lloyd Fox) Nov 13, 2005. How many traditional commercial districts in DC have sponsored a screening of the Walmart Movie? I don't think any...

Pedestrians are reflected in a store window in Hampden's shopping district. New businesses are opening up, but neighborhood stand-bys are closing because of the pressure of rising property values that escalate rents. (Sun phot by Kenneth K. Lam) Aug 1, 2005.

Paul Johnson alerted me to a story in yesterday's Baltimore Sun, "Hampden strives to preserve its style," about how Hampden Village in Baltimore is pushing for restrictions on chain businesses. In planning circles, such businesses are called "formula" businesses, and many communities, not DC, have zoning restrictions. In DC, in the mid-1980s, restrictions were passed on fast food restaurants, but the restriction is the requirement of a Board of Zoning Adjustment hearing and review, and such businesses are not precluded from opening. The Hampden activists are calling for similar requirements, a mandatory review, rather than an outright ban.

From the Sun article:

That a Quiznos branch might be opening is news that would circulate without a ripple in most Baltimore neighborhoods. But Hampden is not most neighborhoods. So when rumors spread that the sandwich shop might be coming, they served to embolden a local campaign determined to prevent franchises of sprawling chains from entering their turf.

Quiznos is, in fact, not coming to Hampden's commercial center, according to the developer who owns the property in question.And that is good news to folks such as Ray. But still, they're eyeing the future of a strip that could easily morph into something else, they fear.This would not be an outright ban of future Starbucks and Barnes & Nobles and Chili's restaurants. The proposal would require the City Council to approve chain franchises that move into the commercial heart of Hampden, a four-block span on 36th Street, commonly referred to as The Avenue.

John Barr, 71, honorary mayor of Hampden, takes a stroll along "The Avenue."(Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam) Aug 1, 2005.

In any case, providing an extra level of review is a good thing. In Cincinnati, Walgreens was just prevented from tearing down the St. George's Church and replacing it with one of their typical suburban-oriented stores. So it pays to be vigilant. And it's a lot easier to be vigilant when you have zoning provisions and regulations in advance of a developer or chain store coming around and doing something that you can't do anything about. (See "Church won't be razed for Walgreens," from Preservation Online.)

Snatched from the grubby hands of Walgreens.

Reuters photo.

See this story from the Main Street News, "Protecting Locally Owned Retail: Planning Tools for Curbing Chains and Nurturing Homegrown Businesses," by Stacy Mitchell of the New Rules/Hometown Advantage Project, for more ideas.

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