Portage Ave Commercial Corridor Action Plan 1999

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At the Martin's node there exists a nice mix of convenience businesses from groceries and hardware to auto services. This mix provides a pleasant, convenient alternative to the WalMart/Meijer's node where consumers must traverse a large parking lot and wait in long lines. The Action Plan that follows includes both appearance and market improvement designed to supportthe accessibility and pedestrian orientation of the Martins node. The second commercial node is a modest concentration of retail space composed of the Van Buren Market and the NNN Center. If a modern category were to be chosen for this node, it could be argued that the fashion center is an option to the more obvious convenience center. That choice would involve identifying a theme, perhaps the ethnic foods mentioned at one corridor meeting, and recruiting businesses that fit that element. Regardless of the category, the key challenge at this node is recruitment as outlined in the Action Plan. The map on the following page marks these nodes as well as the other West Side nodes. It uses circles to identify easy pedestrian access and boundary lines to show the adjacent neighborhoods that create an identity for each node. Trade Area In analyzing the development potential of Portage Avenue nodes it is important to understand the spending potential of the adjacent populations, its primary trade area. This map illustrates how the constraints of various physical features contain the primary market for Portage Avenue businesses. It is also important to identify the composition of the total trade area, St Joseph County and other residents of Michiana who can be attracted by unique offerings. The chart that follows identifies key information about the primary and total markets of Portage Avenue. Portage Avenue Corridor Revitalization Plan October 1999 Page 9