LANDLORDS of retail businesses could help solve the ongoing concerns for the city's empty shopfronts.
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It will be one topic of discussion at a local workshop calling on a wide cross-section of the community to brainstorm solutions for the city's struggling central business district.
In the past 12 months, many small businesses have closed its doors forever or forced to relocate, away from the city centre.
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Wagga entrepreneur Dianna Somerville said the conversation needs to go beyond dormant stores to discover a long-term fix. She said the city's central business district is facing many problems that directly affect the success of local stores.
"Shop vacancies are just one part of what needs to be discussed because what we're seeing is a disconnection between building owners and properties," she said.
"There has been a decline in retail, but a rise in tech businesses and the emergence of shared, co-working environments rather than large office structures."
By looking at the bigger picture, she believes the group can identify the obstacles blocking businesses from moving forward and thriving.
"It is not just about filling empty shops - that's just one part of the puzzle. It is about ensuring a vibrant, central business district and re-imagining that space, not just shops, but parks and public infrastructure too," she said.
Fitzpatricks Real Estate director Geoff Seymour will be talking at the workshop about the need for commercial landlords to take an active role in upgrading their empty buildings.
While he could not pin down the exact reason for the vacant shops on Baylis and Fitzmaurice streets, Mr Seymour has been encouraging landlords to ensure their properties have the chance to attract future tenants.
"These owners can be doing more to update properties with heating and cooling systems, allowing more natural light into the space, providing efficient LED lighting and ensuring there is disabled access," he said.
"There are a number of factors at play from the structural change of retailing, fixed costs like electricity, business wages and rent.
"But, those updates are just some of the things owners need to be doing to find tenants."