Press Release

Landlords Must Enter the Twenty-first Century if Small Downtowns are to Thrive

(Boonton, NJ, September 15, 2009) — Are unprofessional landlords driving potential tenants away from the hearts of small cities? That's the question posed in the commentary in the September 15 issue of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter.

The article cites four major obstacles to businesses seeking to locate in downtown areas. These include:

• No readily accessible inventory of available space
• Incomplete information on the spaces available
• Unrealistic expectations on the part of landlords
• Difficult lease negotiations.

The commentary concludes with the sobering words, "For the sake of the downtown area, landlords must embrace the idea that building owners and tenants are partners, not adversaries. That each is seeking to thrive and prosper in the same building. And that by working together, everyone in the downtown area will do better. The full text of the September 15 commentary, "Landlords must enter the twenty-first century if small downtowns are to thrive," is available online at the Downtown Research & Development Center website at http://www.DowntownDevelopment.com/perspectives.php.

About Downtown Idea Exchange

Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter is published by the Downtown Research & Development Center. For more than 50 years, the Downtown Research & Development Center has provided a forum for exchanging news, information and ideas on how to rebuild the hearts of our cities.

Website: http://www.DowntownDevelopment.com