Density, Diversity & Shared Ownership

 In Blog

Originally posted on the LowcountryLocalFirst.org blog on 3/20/2015

By Lauren Gellatly, Community Development Director at Lowcountry Local First

While attending a recent Urban Land  Institute annual Carolinas conference in Charleston, SC, I was intrigued by commercial real estate guru and  marketer Gunnar Branson’s update to the well-worn real estate mantra: “Location, Location, Location.” Branson shared his 21st century update to the slogan as “Density, Diversity, and  Shared Ownership” – this is the new paradigm of commercial real estate.

How does this apply to our mission of building community support for independent businesses to  cultivate a diverse and  equitable local economy? These trends in commercial real estate are seen first, not with big corporations or big-box stores, but with nimble mom-and -pops and  small companies – they are the innovators. The ones able to make decisions locally. The ones able take a risk and  try something new. These independent businesses shape our communities with the types of development most of us are seeking:

– The ability to live, work and  play close to together, and  get there by walking/biking/transit (Density)

– A healthy mix of office/retail/residential/greenspace, as well as age/race/income levels (Diversity)

– Opportunities to rent/share/co-own a bike, a bus seat, a Zipcar, a bed, a kitchen space or a desk (Shared Ownership)

King Street, Charleston, SC. Source: Post and  Courier

King Street, Charleston, SC. Source: Post and  Courier

Brooklyn, NY. Source: BrooklynPaper.com

Brooklyn, NY. Source: BrooklynPaper.com

We’re seeing the ‘Density, Diversity and  Shared Ownership’ model in both office and  retail businesses in the Charleston area. These economic marriages of complimentary businesses can be beneficial for co-marketing and  expand ing customer base, in addition to the cost-savings of co-locating in the same space.

Local Works, a project of Lowcountry Local First, provides a 3,000sf shared office workspace for independent businesses, entrepreneurs and  freelancers. Desks are affordable and  available month-to-month. There is a density of 35 coworkers representing over 27 different businesses; a diversity of business types – from restaurant owner to attorney to graphic designer to green roof company; and  a sharing of ownership making professional space with great amenities attainable for small business owners.

Local Works coworking space in Charleston, SC. Source: Urban Land  Institute

Shared workspace at Local Works coworking space in Charleston, SC. Source: Urban Land  Institute

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Local Works coworking space in Charleston, SC houses more than 27 different independent businesses in flexible, shared workspace.

Shared conference room at Local Works - Charleston, SC

Shared conference room at Local Works – Charleston, SC

Kitchen and  bar area at Local Works - Charleston, SC

Kitchen and  bar area at Local Works – Charleston, SC

Shared kitchen spaces are popping up around the country, and  provide beginning food and  drink businesses professional and  legally-compliant space to base their operations before investing in expensive high-end equipment and  space of their own.

Naked Kitchen in Greenville, SC provides kitchen space for rent. Source: Naked Kitchen

Naked Kitchen in Greenville, SC provides kitchen space for rent. Source: Naked Kitchen

On the storefront side, One Love Design House, located on King Street in downtown Charleston, is a full service design studio, showroom, retailer, and  production space that includes fashion designer Rachel Gordon and  jewelry designer Birdsong Designs..

One Love Design House is shared by a a dress designer, a seamstress, a jewelry designer, and  a photographer - Charleston, SC. Source: One Love Design House

One Love Design House is shared by a dress designer and  a jewelry designer – Charleston, SC. Source: One Love Design House

Toni Riffel, the coffee guy, and  Sarah O'Brien, the pastry lover, didn't know each other before they came together to share this space in Atlanta's Grant Park neighborhood.

Octane (a coffee roaster) and  Little Tart Bake Shop (a bakery) share space in Atlanta’s Grant Park neighborhood. Source: NPR.org

National Public Radio cites an example of a coffee roaster and  a baker sharing a storefront, though they highlight customer complaints of being required to make two separate transactions if they want a coffee and  a croissant. Surely there is point of sale technology available to hand le two accounts in one simple transaction? If not, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY for someone out there!

We are also seeing examples in sustainable agriculture, where beginning farmers are sharing farmland , tools, equipment, infrastructure, and  expertise. Dirt Works Incubator Farm, a project of Lowcountry Local First, provides these start-up farming operations an opportunity to share these resources for a lower-risk entry to market in the high-risk, high-cost field of agriculture.

Dirt Works Incubator Farm on Johns Island , SC allows beginning farmers to collaborate and  share tools, resources, equipment and  more.

Dirt Works Incubator Farm on Johns Island , SC allows beginning farmers to collaborate and  share tools, resources, equipment and  more.

Know of other examples of these models in Charleston or elsewhere? Tag us on your social platforms and  let us know. Are they successful? What are the challenges? Do regulatory barriers to this type of use exist in your community?

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