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In January, a group of Frederick officials and local retailers, residents and economic development professionals took a trip to the historic Old Town area of Alexandria, Va.

They were not there to see the historic sights on Prince Street, but were on a fact-finding mission.

Old Town Alexandria requires that the first floors of all buildings in its commercial districts be reserved for retail, not residential or office uses. Alexandria has also allowed a number of chain restaurants and retail outlets to set up shop in Old Town.

The Frederick group traveled there to assess the impact these regulatory decisions have had on the town, in hopes of gaining insight on what similar decisions would have for downtown Frederick.

At a public meeting earlier this month, the Department of Economic Development introduced the findings of this and several other initiatives – online surveys, on-the-street-interviews and focus groups – aimed at determining the best way for Frederick to move forward with decisions regarding downtown retail.

The findings came in the form of the Downtown Frederick Retail Mix report, and culminated in a series of recommendations. If acted upon, the recommendations would lead to major changes downtown, including inviting more chain stores or restaurants — possibly even a McDonald's or other fast-food chain — to set up shop in the Historic District.

The report also recommends that the city should establish a committee to look at downtown retail issues and discuss the specifics of how best to manage this crucial sector of the city's economy over the long-term.

Independent versus chain

A key aspect of the report, presented at a city workshop Oct. 15, recommended a move toward a mix of downtown retail outlets comprised of 80 percent local, independent businesses and 20 percent chains and franchises. The current mix, according to Department of Economic Development business development specialist Heather Gramm, is 99 to 1.

Downtown, as defined in the report, includes the "traditional downtown": Market Street, Patrick Street, Shab Row and Everedy Square and Carroll Creek Park.

When asked in interviews and surveys what types of retail is needed downtown, Residents most often said, in decreasing order: a grocery store, bookstore, permanent farmers' market, women's apparel outlets and fine-dining options.

As far as chains go, respondents said they felt chain grocery stores and clothing stores would be appropriate, but generally balked at the idea of bringing fast-food chain restaurants downtown.

However, Aldermen Donna Kuzemchak (D) and David P. Koontz (D) both expressed interest in attracting fast-food options to the downtown, along with other types of chains. Kuzemchak said she didn't "think it would hurt anything to have a McDonald's downtown," though she acknowledged that many people are against such a proposal.

"I think if people are willing to look at a 20 percent mix, I think we should look at recruiting places like [Banana Republic]," Koontz said. "I also think that, as part of that 20 percent, we could look at having a Roy Rogers or an Arby's downtown … because it's hard to feed a family of four."

The main arguments for bringing more chains or franchises downtown, according to the department's presentation and aldermen, are convenience, the added foot traffic they would bring, and the fact that they can be added to the town in a tasteful way.

Many residents and officials say Starbucks Coffee on North Market Street has been a positive addition downtown, according to the report.

"I would like to see more of a mix that would help our in-place residents by providing the day-to-day things they need," said Commissioner Marcia A. Hall (D), who lives downtown.

Hall personally had felt the need for a downtown grocery store the night before the workshop, when she realized she was out of cat food at 9 p.m.

Gramm said the first issue from the report that is likely to be tackled is using first-floor spaces as retail.

Currently, the city allows offices, bakeries, residential and other uses along the main commercial corridors downtown, along with retail. The report put heavy emphasis on looking at this issue, as it affects many retailers who make up one-third of downtown Frederick's 600 businesses.

"When you start breaking up blocks with non-retail uses on the ground floor, it breaks up your pedestrian flow, and if you have several in a row, the pedestrian feels like, ‘maybe I'm leaving the retail district,'" Gramm said. "The concern is that if we continue to have the conversion from retail to office or residential on that ground floor, it will affect the long-term health of downtown. This is a preventative measure."

The report said that several measures should be taken to gauge need and support for such regulation. The proposed committee would have to decide which downtown retail issues to tackle first, according to Gramm.

The aldermen and mayor will decide whether to create the committee and what the committee will be charged with doing at upcoming meetings. They did not indicate when these decisions will be made.

"I think now we're looking at, ‘where do we go from here?', and I think we'll leave that to the committee," Gramm said.