Article
Reviving city-centre shops and businesses: the key role of the mayor
April 20, 2021
Reviving city-centre shops and businesses: the key role of the mayor
It is true that the new team inherited a relatively favourable situation (heritage, accessibility, a city with a prefecture, etc.). In its programme, we find that inspiration that is common to the cities of all political tendencies that are members of the Centres-Villes En Mouvement [City Centres on the Move] association, or have been selected by the government for the Action Coeur de Ville [City Centre Action] programme (since 2018). But the example of Chambéry is also an opportunity to remind ourselves that the mayor does have the ability to act and will be all the more effective when that action is guided by a coherent broader strategy. This has also proved to be useful when it came to responding to the challenges of the health crisis, which is likely to accelerate the transformations already underway.
In addition to the need for action on an intermunicipal level to build the right balance, we will highlight five principles which structure Chambéry’s strategy for its city centre:
Think “systemic”
Businesses cannot thrive without an attractive city centre and vice versa. The line is set. Urbanism, heritage, transport, housing, retail, crafts, culture are all levers to be activated together and in a coherent manner for the benefit of the overall attractiveness of the city centre.
Focus wealth creation in the local territory
Businesses cannot thrive without an attractive city centre and vice versa. The line is set. Urbanism, heritage, transport, housing, retail, crafts, culture are all levers to be activated together and in a coherent manner for the benefit of the overall attractiveness of the city centre.
Respond to adaptation needs
Business is changing, society is changing and it is up to the city to adapt. Hence the importance of making it easier to set up the activities of the future, of listening to the needs of younger generations, of helping businesspeople digitize their activities, and of preparing for growth in deliveries... Not to mention of managing the health crisis as closely as possible to the needs of the inhabitants and economic stakeholders.
Organize dialogue
All the points above are conceived in the general interest. But what that general interest actually is cannot be imposed from above, and must be constructed together. We must manage conflicts over the use of resources, reconcile the expectations of different generations, and target energies and investments where they are most useful. Far from being superfluous, this didactic role of elected officials as mediators is perhaps the point on which people have the highest expectations of them.
Act and implement
Technical, financial and political obstacles abound; nevertheless, they require choices and decisions to be made in order to move forward promptly, surrounded by an able team united by its strong convictions and a shared vision.
At a time when the future of retail and business is largely reliant on its ability to reinvent its local ties, the support of dynamic, well-informed local elected officials is clearly decisive. A big thank you, therefore, to those officials for the energy you are devoting to reviving business in our cities and for the courageous decisions you are taking.
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