Please allow me to direct you to the local paper which published a Guest Column from Ra-Tah Johnson who described the work of the company he’s a partner of, Tandem Music Group, an independent management, music publishing and entertainment company.
Seeing the neighborhood’s potential, our company — Tandem, which shares a name with our music collaborative —purchased real estate in downtown Chester with the goal of making it a walkable, livable area. We brought in retailers who would be not just tenants, but partners. We ask each company that comes in: How are you going to GIVE BACK to this neighborhood? It’s easy for any sneaker store to come to a neighborhood like Chester and sell Jordans, Yeezys, Timberlands, etc. But when we decide to work with anyone, we need to make sure that each partner is just as committed to the community as we are.
Ra-Tah Johnson
Stefan: Ratah and his group have really helped! My first investment in the Chester CBD was in 1999 when a city council person, Peter Seltzer, called me about Fidelity Bank applying for a demolition permit for the 50,000 sq. ft. Crozer Building at 419 Avenue of the States. That was November, 1998. Mayor Pileggi gave Seltzer two weeks to find a buyer to save the building. I agreed to buy it and it took six months to get a contract and settle. The building was 100% vacant and needed new HVAC, electric, elevator electrics, controls, and major to complete floor -by-floor renovations. It took me twelve years to breakeven as a floor-by floor restoration proceeded. Now it is about 80% tenanted. I think Ratah and his group face similar costs. Our CBD was developed before autos became the major the major form of transportation and has many obsolescences. Recent city actions have made the economic renewal (and survival) most difficult. First is the city parking contractor which installed meters and sensors with the contractor roving the CBD parking spaces and issuing tickets starting at $35.00 per violation. Other impediments exist. The city receiver has never contacted me about possible economic and physical encouragements can be made.
There is not enough research accomplished by these “experts” and too many appear to have little personal/direct economic revitalization experience. I can PM you some articles I wrote. Pete