DANA POINT, CA—As ICSC Las Vegas approaches, the coastal city of Dana Point in Southern California is excited to share its success story. GlobeSt.com recently had the opportunity to chat with Kelly Reenders, assistant city manager of the City of Dana Point, who emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnership between the public and private sector in achieving successful retail development.
Reenders believes that retail success is all about responding to the needs and concerns of the local community. For this reason, retail in Dana Point is extremely hyper-local, with a focus on what works best for the residents of the area.
In the downtown Lantern District, the most successful redevelopment has been the result of collaboration between the community, the private sector, and local business owners. The developer took the time to work with the community and understand what would be successful, and then sought out local business owners who were ready to expand. This approach ensured that the entrepreneurs had firsthand knowledge of what would work in the area.
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Reenders sees this as a testament to what retail is all about today: collaboration, communication, and a commitment to meeting the needs of the community.
As ICSC Las Vegas approaches later this month, stay tuned to GlobeSt.com for more exclusive commentary from retail experts on the latest trends and best practices in the industry.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
