The Metz (Schneiders site redevelopment)

[tomh009]

They have the zoning they need for the property. But I don't see how Courtland (assuming this is the proposal) would work well as the only road given how deep the property is.

I didn't interpret "main street" to mean only street. I think a development of this size obviously needs internal streets. My interpretation of the question is, why is the "main" street, with all the commercial, always buried inside the development. Putting all the commercial along Courtland would likely make it far more visible, and therefore likely far more successful. Being "on the way" is incredibly valuable for a small business. Given I assume successful retail is more profitable, I doubt developers sabotage their retail intentionally.

Is it really buried? The buildings they are repurposing for commercial are in a compact block at the corner of the property, bounded by Kent, Courtland, Borden and OFW. It's certainly as visible as any random strip mall would be.

Now, if they had torn down those buildings, too, they could indeed have put all the commercial facing Courtland. But, to me, now they would be (visually) turning their backs on the people living in the Metz. And we would have lost the few remaining buildings. Would having all Courtland-facing commercial be worth that?