Planning downtowns vital role thriving community
- 1. Planning Downtown’s Vital Role in a Thriving & Sustainable Community Jim Thompson Business Improvement Specialist Main Street Iowa Iowa Dept. of Economic Development 200 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309 515/725-3054 515/725 jim.thompson2@iowa.gov
- 2. Main Street Iowa programs 1/25/2011
- 3. Cost of an Empty Storefront on Main Street (Place Economics) $250,000 lost sales $16,250 lost employee payroll $15,000 lost rents $24,750 lost business profit $1,500 lost property taxes $5,100 lost bank deposits $51,000 lost r.e. loan demand $15,000 lost bus. loan demand $12,500 lost sales tax to gov. $18,900 lost household income generated elsewhere in community $5,500 lost utilities $3,500 lost advertising 1/25/2011
- 4. Keys To Success Apply the time-proven Comprehensive 4 proven 4-Point Approach® to Increase the Value of Downtown absolute key to success! Social - promotion Physical - design Political - organization Economic - economic restructuring
- 5. Keys To Success Operate Under the Eight Guiding Principles: building blocks for a good strategy! INCREMENTAL COMPREHENSIVE QUALITY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CHANGING ATTITUDES FOCUS ON EXISTING ASSETS SELF HELP IMPLEMENTATION ORIENTED
- 6. Stages of Development Preparatory Start-up Growth Management
- 7. Biggest Concern MANY COMMUNITIES NEVER GET BEYOND “PREPARATORY”, OR NEVER LEAVE “START UP”! It’s easier to talk about the problems and complain than to do something about them!
- 8. Major Concerns Big Fix – Quick Fix Syndrome “Project Focuse not “Process Focused” cused” Not Learning How to Fish Belief that it is “THEIR” problem, not “OUR” problem
- 9. Think Outside the Box Create a “Unified” Vision for Downtown what do we want to be like when we grow up? Be the instigator - push the envelope What if? How could? Why not? Why can’t? How do? If not us, who? If not now, when?
- 10. Embracing Commun unity Transformation Discovery: the risks are all ECONOMIC related! community initiated development projects - public & private partnerships grocery & hardware stores theaters white elephant buildings entire blocks of buildings museums opera houses hotels depots
- 11. Embracing Commun unity Transformation risks are all ECONOMIC business assistance programs rent buy-downs existing business visitations intensive, long-term business consulting/assistance term workshops marketing into previously untapped areas cooperative regional tv/radio/magazine media buys /radio/magazine billboards trademarked slogans/branding internet
- 12. Embracing Commun munity Transformation risks are all ECONOMIC niche development – knowing your market! arts, entertainment & recreation destination upper end specialty & gifts home improvement dot.com downtown (silicorn.net) dining & nightlife financial centers international marketplace destination districts traditional downtown
- 13. Embracing Commu munity Transformation risks are all ECONOMIC upper floor housing and commercial development conversion of vacant buildings into market and income based housing • old hotels, schools • warehouses • libraries • post offices renovation of second story spaces into market rate apartments second floor commercial - retail and offices sympathetic in-fill development fill
- 14. Embracing Commu munity Transformation Other risky economic strategies: building ownership and development targeted business recruitment development of special events as economic development capitalizing on uniqueness - art deco district; green downtown;
- 15. Downtown Resource Center PURPOSE: to capitalize on the experiences of the IDED’s highly successful Main Street program by providing more assistance more often to more communities through fee fee-based services: training referrals technical information technical assistance.
- 16. Training Opportunities ICN Workshops Webinars Regional Workshops Annual Iowa Downtown Summit 2011 National Main Streets Conference Community Presentations
- 17. Information Exchange Examples - incentive grant programs, ordinances, design guidelines Lending Library - videos, books, how workbooks how-to Consultant Exchange - housing, retail, marketing, landscape architects, historic preservation, structural engineers, architects, organizational development, etc. Phone & e-mail consultation mail
- 18. Technical Assistance Downtown Assessment Visits 2 - 3 days on-site - meetings, interviews, tours 2 consultants - downtown professionals Community Town Hall meeting to share findings & recommendations ing Written observations & tangible recommendations Issue Specific Technical Assistance Visits Downtown Visioning Upper Floor Housing
- 19. Technical Assistance - DRC Downtown Assessment Visits Introductions with coordinating committee Tours (Driving & Walking) Interviews Public Meeting (written observations & tangible recommendations) Questions & Answers Media
- 20. Technical Assistance - MSI Market Analysis Services Secondary Data Collection Primary Data Collection Supply (Business) Demand (Consumer) Focus Groups Intercept Surveys Online Surveys
- 21. Technical Assistance - MSI Determine the desired target sample "Magic Number" = 384 (Target = 400)
- 22. TOUGH QUESTIONS 1. How does downtown revitalization fit into the overall community development plan? 2. Why is downtown important to the community? 3. Who should support revitalization efforts and why? 4. How does it fit with other development groups? 5. How can we find the necessary resources – people and money - for one more cause? 6. How will it benefit me or my business?
- 23. EIGHT DEADLY SINS . . . . . Leading to the Dullification of Downtown (direct from the state of Michigan) Sure Fire Strategies to Assist in Killing off Downtown! Remove your historically significant buildings Remove (de-map) any existing street map) Remove existing on street parking Remove any existing street level retail (spaces) Clear land of historically significant buildings for surface parking Build an elevated walkway Build an underground walkway Invite a proposal from a suburban developer
- 24. Iowa Downtown Resource Center Iowa Dept. of Economic Development 1/25/2011
- 25. Contact Information Jim Thompson Business Improvement Specialist Bus Main Street Iowa 200 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309 515/725-3054 jim.thompson2@iowa.gov