Downtown Residents Association

'Urban Laboratory'

Apr 10, 2009

Friday, April 10, 2009
Five Minutes With ?— David Feehan 'Urban Laboratory'
San Antonio Business Journal - by Donna J. Tuttle

When it comes to downtowns, few follow trends as closely as David Feehan, president of the International Downtown Association (IDA). For the past 50 years, this Washington, D.C. based organization has led the charge to save the history and promote the future of urban centers around the world. Keeping downtowns unique, vibrant, and economically viable, long has been a struggle ?— given the last few decades of suburban sprawl. But a return to simplicity and green living has been turning the tide, and city governments are cranking up their pursuit of projects that make downtowns hip places to live, work and play.

Feehan works with 650 member organizations ?— of which the San Antonio Downtown Alliance is one ?— collecting data, organizing conferences, holding leadership forums and more. On April 25, the IDA will hold its spring ?“Urban Laboratory?” conference in San Antonio. Nearly 300 downtown leaders from all corners of the globe will visit and study San Antonio during Fiesta and hear from City Manager Sheryl Sculley and former Mayor Henry Cisneros.

The San Antonio Business Journal caught up with Feehan on his pre-conference visit to our city last week.

Q. Why San Antonio?

A. Our members have long heard about the River Walk, and now they get a chance to see it. We?’ve learned about the exciting River North District Master Plan and will tour that area. San Antonio is fascinating because of its strong cultural history. It?’s not unlike New Orleans, of course the influence there is French, while here in San Antonio it is Spanish. But the way the streets are laid out and the architecture is special, kind of European.

Q. Your assessment of our downtown?

A. San Antonio has enormous potential that is underutilized or unrealized. The city does a tremendous job downtown with its tourism and convention business. For the future, there are many opportunities to reach out to the businesses that are already downtown and to build a stronger office component. The city could build more retail that caters to the local and regional population... your resident tourists. Housing is a huge issue. San Antonio easily could add 1,000 units per year ?— once we?’re out of this economic rut ?— and not fulfill that demand for about four years out.

Q. Latest trend in downtowns?

A. Split-use districts are popular right now. Split-use refers to making the most of the different segments of downtown users: During the day, you have the office workers; early in the evening, you have the empty nesters and the Baby Boomers who are walking about and catching nice dinners at the restaurants; and then from 10 p.m. on you?’ve got the young 30-year-old crowd that comes downtown for drinks and dancing until 1 or 2 a.m. ?— they?’re not likely to buy an expensive meal, but they?’ll spend some entertainment money. Of course, the issue with split-use is managing the conflicting issues that occur between the active users. For example, if you have outside bands in the evening, you want to make sure the noise does not disrupt the Baby Boomers who might live downtown and be in bed by 11 p.m.

Q. Challenge facing urban centers?

A. Cities are building these wonderful outdoor spaces, but they?’re often hard-pressed to find funds to keep the areas maintained and fresh looking. It?’s very difficult to put aside the money to maintain, manage and market. But those are the three Ms that really matter.

Q. Common mistakes in downtowns?

A. Many years ago, it was all the rage to create pedestrian malls, enclosed shopping and park areas downtown, to compete with suburban malls. The idea was right, but there was a bit of over-design ?— too many planters and extras ?— and the areas became too expensive to maintain ... which caused some deterioration. Also, the areas then became isolated from the rest of downtown and foundered. The new model is to open up and reconnect these areas with the thriving downtowns and make the design clean and simple, making maintenance more manageable.