CHAPTER #

COMMERCIAL CENTERS

Commercial Centers (also called Downtown, Central Business Districts, and

Urban Villages) contain a concentration of business, civic and cultural activities, creating

conditions that facilitate interaction and exchange. This increases overall Accessibility.

Vibrant commercial centers have the following attributes:

 Density and Clustering. Commercial centers should be medium- to high-density,

with multi -story buildings. Densities of 50 employees or more per gross acre are

desirable. As much as possible the ground floor of buildings should have activities

and services that involve frequent public interaction (such as retail, professional

services, civic offices, etc.), with office or residential activities above, which creates

an attractive street environment while accommodating dense employment.

 Diversity. Centers contain a diverse mix of office and retail space, banks and law

offices, public institutions (such as city hall, courthouses, and other government

offices), entertainment and arts activities, and other suitable industries. Increasingly,

commercial centers also have residential buildings, either within or nearby.

 Local and Regional Importance. Commercial Centers should contain a significant

portion of total regional employment and business activity.

 Walkability. Most Commercial Centers are less than 250 acres in size so all

destinations are within about 10-minute walk, with good sidewalks and pathways,

pedestrian shortcuts, attractive Streetscapes, pedestrian scale and orientation,

relatively narrow streets (4 lanes or less is desirable),relatively slow vehicle traffic

(30 miles-per-hour or less is desirable), Universal Design, and a high degree of

pedestrian Security. Some have Pedways, which are indoor walking networks that

connect buildings and transportation terminals.

 Transportation Diversity. The area should be accessible by walking, cycling, taxi,

automobile, and public transit.

parking, Commercial Centers require that parking be managed for efficiency

(Manfille and Shoup 2004). It is oft en appropriate to use structured or underground

parking, and to limit the total amount of parking in a commercial center.

 Transit Oriented Development. This refers to districts designed with features that

facilitate transit accessibility, with maximum developing within convenient walking

distance of Attractive Transit Stations.

There are many types of Commercial Centers, ranging from Downtowns (also

called Central Business Districts or CBDs), which are the primary Commercial Center

serving a region, to Secondary Business Districts and Village Centers. A large Central

Business District can contain thousands of businesses with tens of thousands of

employees, while a local village center may be considered successful if it has a dozen

businesses with two or three hundred employees. Some have a particular base or

specialty, such as a cluster of medical facilities, a wholesale district, a tourist district, or

an adjacent university campus, but such centers include a diverse range of businesses

providing support services.

Strong Commercial Centers are an important component of Smart Growth and

New Urbanism. Many central business districts and nearby neighborhoods are

experiencing new residential development in the form of high- and medium-density

condominiums and apartments, townhouses, and small-lot single-family homes. Urban

living is particularly popular among young adults and retirees. Market surveys indicate

that about a third of home buyers would prefer to live in mixed-use new urbanist

community if available (Hirschhorn, 2001). Some central business districts are still losing

business and population, but there are numerous indications that, with proper support,

downtown can be successful and provide numerous economic, social and environmental

benefits. Transportation planning decisions have significant impacts on the success of

Commercial Centers.
 Walking, Public Transit and Parking Management are particularly important, and

Commute Trip Reduction programs tend to be particularly effective. Public Bike Systems

increase the convenience of cycling in downtown areas.

People who work, shop and live in a Commercial Center can satisfy many of their

daily needs without using an automobile. For example, employees who work in the area

will find a diverse range of cafes and restaurants for refreshments and meals, shops that

sell daily items (such as groceries, books and stationary goods) and more specialized

items (such as gift s, clothing and hardware). Similarly, a vibrant

Commercial Center contains medical and dental services, gyms for exercise,

daycare facilities, and other types of services. It is therefore beneficial to locate

affordable housing near Commercial Districts, so non-drivers have convenient access to

such services, called Location Efficient Development. Commercial Centers are an

alternative to more Automobile Dependent commercial land use patterns, such as

suburban strips (activities are scattered along major arterials, which requires a car trip

between each destination), and private malls or campuses (which have a high degree of

internal walkability, but are generally surrounded by large parking facilities, are widely

dispersed, and contain a limited range of activities, and so tend to require numerous

automobile trips).

The number of spaces required for a commercial center can vary depending on

several factors, including the size of the center, the types of businesses within it, and local

regulations. Parking requirements are typically based on the size or gross floor area

(GFA) of the commercial center.

Local zoning regulations often specify the minimum number of parking spaces

required based on the GFA or the intended use of the commercial space. For example,

retail stores generally require more parking spaces compared to offices or restaurants, as

they attract more customers.

Other factors that can influence parking requirements include the number of

employees, anticipated customer traffic, and the availability of nearby public

transportation options. In some cases, commercial centers may be allowed to share

off-site parking lots or valet services.

SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL CENTER

1. Anchor Shops

2. Retail Srores

3. Resturants

4. Food Court

5. Administrative Offices

6. Supermarket

7. Cinemas/ Recreational Facilities

8. Employees Area

9. Internal Squre

10. Parking Area

STANDARDS FOR COMMERCIAL CENTER

COLUMN SPACING

Significant dimension is along the mall as this involves the widths, i.e. , frontages, of

stores. Often used spaces are 20, 25 and 30 ft., with the last the most flexible .

STORE DEPTHS

Buildings are usually 120 to 140 ft deep, sometimes more to accommodate larger stores.

If there are basements or mezzanines, the depth dimension usually can be reduced 20 to

25 percent

CLEAR HEIGHTS

These vary from 10 to 14 ft. or more, with 12 Ft. a good average . Above this clear

height, there must be adequate space for air conditioning ducts, recessed lights, structural

e system, etc.

PARKING AND TRAFFIC

A ratio of between 5 and 6 car spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. of leasable store area is
 mandatory. In the matter of parking layout, car stalls can be set at angles (say, 70‘ to the

lanes, which then requires one-way traffic; or stalls can be at 90' to the lanes, permitting

two-way traffic.

EFFECT OF DEPTH ON STORES

EFFECT OF HEDGES

DIFFERENT LEVELS OF A MALL

SHOP SIZES & LAYOUTS

 12 to 15 ft wide by 50 to 60 ft long in large cities ; and 15 to 18 ft. wide by 60 to 80

ft long in smaller cities .

 These dimensions apply particularly to shops in 100 percent retail districts .

 Basements 8 to 9 ft high, in the clear, permit economical stock storage .

mezzanines at least 7 ft6 inch above floor level will accommodate most fixture

heights.

 Height from mezzanine floor to ceiling may be as low as 6 ft6 in . if used for service

space only ; 7 ft is the preferred minimum for public use .