Bellringer
Appendix

The evidence.

Every outcome cited across the monogram, in one place. Filter by theme, or search for the case you need. Use them, cite them, argue with them.

Outcomes recorded
34
Countries
Five
Design benchmarks
Eight

What happened, where, and by how much.

Drawn from the sources named in each chapter. Where a figure is an estimate or a reported claim, it is described as such.

Theme
CaseWhereFigureWhat happened
Fort Street precinctAuckland, NZ+50%Retail sales increase following a series of street conversions, alongside a significant increase in pedestrian visitation.
Michigan StreetSouth Bend, Indiana+20%Retail sales increase after the street was reopened to slow-moving traffic.
Manhattan Complete StreetsNew York, USA+20–140%Retail sales increases across converted shared zones including the Meatpacking District and SoHo, with increased pedestrian activity.
York AvenueLos Angeles, USA+32%Sales tax receipts on the section with a new bike lane, against +12.8% on the section without it.
Tree-scaped retail streetsGeneral, ref. Dan Burden+20%Higher trading income for businesses on streets with mature street trees. (22 Benefits of Urban Street Trees)
Burwood ChinatownSydney, NSW75+Permanent food tenancies in a redeveloped arcade, plus weekend markets in the adjoining loading dock. Retail rents several times industry benchmarks.
Converse pop-up, Coal Drops YardLondon, UK$50 kSales generated in a three-day pop-up, alongside 40,000 new social media followers.
Converse pop-up, Coal Drops YardLondon, UK227 mSocial media impressions from the same three-day activation.
Jefferson StreetBurlington, Iowa80 → 20%Ground floor vacancy rate after the pedestrianised street was reopened to shared traffic.
Acland StreetSt Kilda, VIC27%Vacancy rate by 2023, the highest of any Melbourne retail strip in twenty years, seven years after closure to car traffic.
City WalkCanberra, ACT1960sClosed to cars; now suffering significant vacancy and reduced visitation.
Hunter Street MallNewcastle, NSWReopenedOriginally pedestrian-only; reopened to vehicles to restore retail appeal.
Bryant ParkNew York, USA$11 mAnnual programming budget supporting film nights, yoga and food festivals year-round.
Grace Building, Bryant ParkNew York, USA+$5 psfRent the owners reported they could command within five years of the park's revitalisation, generating an extra $20 m in net income.
Grace Building, Bryant ParkNew York, USA$300 m+Asset value created by that income uplift at the cap rate of the time.
Bryant Park surroundsNew York, USA$3 bnAdditional property value generated around the park.
Bryant Park, city taxesNew York, USA$30 m paAdditional annual taxes to the City of New York.
Klyde Warren ParkDallas, USA$2.5 bnEstimated economic impact since opening in 2012, through increased property values and tax revenues. Built over a freeway dividing the downtown.
Klyde Warren ParkDallas, USA+65%Increase in some surrounding property values within a few years of the park opening.
Klyde Warren ParkDallas, USA10 m paAnnual visitation.
The High LineNew York, USA5 m paAnnual visitation against an initial forecast of 400,000.
The High LineNew York, USA+20%Residential property price growth over and above the broader New York market.
Pavilion RoadLondon, UK10 mVisitors in 2022 to a converted access alley, now a shared-street lane of independent artisan retailers.
Pavilion RoadLondon, UK100+People employed on the street.
The CanopyLane Cove, NSW5,000 sqmPublic space opened 2019 with playground, water play, performance stage and village green. Regular programming has been critical to its success.
Human thermal preferenceGeneral21–27°CThe temperature band at which visitation and dwell time rise, and with them retail sales and achievable rent.
Dense canopy street treesGeneralup to 10°CHeat reduction on hot summer days from appropriate species with large dense canopies.
Deciduous shade canopyGeneralup to 7°CReduction in perceived temperature at the shopfront, with solar access retained in winter.
Mature street treesTexas, USAup to 40%Reduction in crashes; mature street trees also reduce traffic speeds.
Street tree shade on asphaltCalifornia, USA40–60%Additional life added to asphalt pavements by urban street tree shade. (University of California at Davis)
Portland business studyPortland, USA78Businesses studied; non-drivers, including cyclists, spend similar amounts or more on average than car drivers.
Bloor StreetToronto, Canada10%Share of patrons who drove to the shopping area, from surveys of 61 merchants and 538 patrons. Pedestrians and cyclists spent more per month.
Downtown DavisDavis, California$250 v $180Monthly spend, cyclists versus drivers, across nearly 1,900 shopping trips analysed by UC Davis.
Retail floor space per capitaAU · US · FR · DE1.06Square metres per person in Australia, against 2.15 in the US, 0.40 in France and 0.20 in Germany, the competitive backdrop for any Australian high street.

The numbers to design to.

The dimensional tests applied throughout the monogram. Use them as a first pass, not a substitute for reading the street.

MeasureApplies toBenchmarkWhy
Width-to-height ratioRetail streets> 1:1Buildings equal to or taller than the street width create enclosure without overwhelming the pedestrian.
Footpath widthRetail streets3.5–4.5 mWide enough for movement, dining and seating; narrow enough to still feel active.
Shopfront rhythmRetail streets3.5–7 mMaintains a sense of rhythm, discovery and engagement as people walk past.
Street-level activation intervalHigh streets4–8 mEngaging shopfronts at this spacing sustain visual interest along the frontage.
Shopfront glazingShopfronts< 60%Above this, frontages read corporate and samey. The best examples sit near 50%.
Shared street vehicle speedShared streets10–20 km/hSlow enough to create a pedestrian-priority environment while retaining passive surveillance.
Food and beverage clusterPrecincts5–8 venuesThe critical mass at which a group of venues becomes a social destination rather than a collection of tenancies.
Small tenancy floor areaFine-grain retail20–200 sqmThe range at Pavilion Road and Greville Street; small tenancies reduce fit-out and rental cost, lower vacancy risk and lift rent per square metre.
On using these figures

Figures are as published in the 2025 print edition of the monogram and are reproduced here unchanged. Several are reported claims from owners or operators rather than independently audited results, and are described that way in the table. Currency is as originally cited. Every location must be assessed for its local context.

Disclaimer

This publication is intended for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not constitute professional advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of content at the time of publication, Bellringer takes no responsibility for any loss arising from reliance on this material. Users should seek independent advice before making planning or investment decisions.

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