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163 Appendix C Retail Functions Study A survey of businesses in contiguously urbanized areas in which twentyfive or more structures, excluding agricultural, storage, and warehousing buildings, are located within one-tenth (0.1) of a mile of the nearest building was conducted during the summer and fall of 1997. Cooperstown, Fly Creek, and Hartwick are natural centers for economic activity. A fourth area, consisting of an agglomeration of three contiguously developed urbanized settings—Hartwick Seminary, Hyde Park, and Index—are here classified as the East Hartwick corridor due to their location along New York Route 28 in the town of Hartwick. As the survey was limited to businesses in urbanized settings, it does not represent every business; it does, however, represent a substantial majority of retail and food service establishments in the area. The survey was further limited to those establishments specializing in retail and food service, as it is in these sectors of the economy that the most social interaction takes place. Antique dealers are particularly difficult to classify as some are professionally operated retail establishments and others are operated from the proprietor’s barn on weekends or by appointment only; as such, these businesses were excluded. The remaining businesses were classified into six categories: 1) general; 2) general-swing; 3) general-fuel; 4) specialty, non-baseball; 5) specialty, baseball; and 6) food service. Businesses classified as “general” sell goods that are of use to the general population on a regular basis. This definition is inclusive of grocery, pharmaceutical supply, and other such general merchandise. Such businesses often sell items related to tourism, but the primary purpose of such stores is the sale of general merchandise. In those cases where a significant portion of the store is given over to the sale of tourism related goods, it is designated as “general-swing.” General merchandise businesses normally rely on tourism to sustain revenues; for example, a grocery store often sells food and supplies for picnicking, camping, and other similar activities, but the primary purpose of the 164 In Gotham’s Shadow store is the provision of groceries. In contrast, a “general-swing” business sells general merchandise as well as a significant number of souvenirs and other tourism related merchandise. General stores that supply automotive fuel are designated “general-fuel.” This category does not include businesses that sell fuel as the primary source of revenue. Specialty stores sell goods that are intended for aesthetic or symbolic use, such as works of art or souvenirs. Boutiques that sell clothes in addition to a number of other specialty items were classified as specialty stores, although the store selling only clothes is classified “general.” Businesses that do not have as a primary orientation baseball related merchandise were classified “specialty, non-baseball.” A “specialty, baseball” designation is applied to those stores that do have a primary orientation toward baseball related items. Food service establishments include businesses whose primary purpose is the preparation and service of food for consumption. Businesses were also coded by type of owner. There are four categories : chain; full year resident; part year resident; and nonresident. A full year resident is defined as a person who resides locally eight or more months of a given year. A part year resident is defined as a person who resides locally less than eight months a given year. A nonresident is a person who does not reside in the local area. Residency is considered to be local if the person resides in Otsego County. A chain is defined as a legal entity that operates two or more businesses in differing markets. ...

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