Market Analysis 2009 for Downtown Cambridge, Maryland

postcard of Cambridge, Maryland.

In case you're wondering (I doubt it) about the kind of work that I do, what I think I would rather call a "Commercial District Revitalization Framework Plan"--they call it a "Market Analysis"--for the City of Cambridge, Maryland is online on the Cambridge Main Street website.

I was the lead analyst for the study, which was produced under contract to Economic Development Visions, a DC-Boston-Miami commercial district revitalization and retail entrepreneurship development planning firm.

I often joke that the recommendations I make elsewhere are a form of gap analysis of how things are done in DC. This report is but one example of a more complete approach to what I think of as a broader and integrated form of destination development.

From the report:

Regardless of customer origin, whether the prospect/customer is an office worker based Downtown or a nearby resident, from elsewhere in the city or region, or staying for one or more days on an overnight visit, everyone seeks high quality experiences. Regardless of where customers originate, we are all destination managers, and we need to be focused on maximizing the success of their visits. To structure and organize destination development planning for a community, we recommend using tourism development and management principles and practices, combined with the Main Street Approach to commercial district revitalization, and other best practices economic revitalization approaches.