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Article: Many suburban downtowns survive on uniqueness; Vacancies low, charm high from east to west.(NEWS)
- Article from:
- Crain's Cleveland Business
- Article date:
- October 26, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: STAN BULLARD
From Chagrin Falls to Oberlin, older downtown districts are weathering this severe economic downturn just like prior ones.
They are surviving. Surprisingly, in some cases, they arguably are flourishing.
Cases in point: Chagrin Falls, the picture postcard of an American hometown in Geauga County, and the resurgent downtown Willoughby in Lake County, where a 20-year revitalization drive brings to mind the word "charming. Both have strikingly little vacancy, less than is typical in suburban shopping centers and malls as the region's retail vacancy rate surpasses 10%.
A visitor walking the triangle of downtown Chagrin ...