Changing a domain for local.

[Joshen]

I have a client that currently is using a sub-domain site from our local news paper site.  The domain authority looks huge, but it is not really their own domain.

I know in the log run it best to change the domain name.

I am afraid of a significant drop in Google Places  traffic when I change to a new domain.

Has anyone dealt with type of situation?

[RobertFisher]

First, I have not dealt with a client utilizing a subdomain from a paper, etc. Second, it sounds as if the only change you are making in Places is to the domain name, is that correct? 
If your address, phone, etc are staying the same and you are only changing the domain name there are a couple of things you can do and we have done before as well. I do not see how a change in domain name would affect traffic coming from Google Places.

Assuming there is no issue with the paper, you can do a 301 redirect of the current to the new domain. (make sure you 301 from like url to like url for every url that will be utilized on the new site. So, YourSite.Newspaper.com/T-shirts to YourSite.com/T-shirts.

Now, if there is a problem with the paper and doing this and you are starting from scratch, you will have a domain that is at a DA of 1 and pages at PA of 1. You will edit your places to change the web address. This should not affect your Google Places listing. (We have done this for clients and they are still in same spot).

Would love to know how you work it out.