Available online here
Transcription
Available online here
“A Part of the Commercial Retail Puzzle” Abet: a small part? Bill Gray, Executive Director Riley Area Development Corporation Fostering Commercial Urban Strategies “Jumpstarting Economic Development in Core Neighborhoods” “Local Community Development Corporations (CDC’s) pay an enormous role in the redevelopment of areas that have a history of economic divestment.” What is FOCUS? A collaboration of: The Indianapolis Coalition of Neighborhood Development (ICND) The Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce City of Indianapolis FOCUS has four primary goals: Increase active commercial development and investment in core urban neighborhoods. Develop new ways to market urban neighborhoods. Develop neighborhood-based expertise and capacity. Work to alleviate Public Policy barriers. What is FOCUS doing: Groundbreaking Market Studies aimed at identifying opportunities and barriers to retail development in tow pilot neighborhoods. North: Near North, Mapleton – Fall Creek, Crown Hill and Citizens neighborhoods. South: Concord, Southeast Neighborhood Development (SEND), and West Indianapolis neighborhoods. Supporting other retail initiatives of member CDC’s Concord Community Development Corporation: Emrich Furniture Building, serves as a headquarters of many not-for-profit organizations. Southeast Neighborhood Development (SEND): Historic Fountain Block that houses a library, community meeting place and senior housing. Fountain Square Theatre Building Riley Area Development Corporation (RADC): Davlan/Hoosier Retail Flats Massachusetts Avenue Development Plan Riley Area Development Corporation The mission of Riley Area Development Corporation is to create partnerships to develop, support, and enhance a diverse urban community fabric through… The facilitation and development of affordable housing for the permanent inclusion of lower income residents in the Riley neighborhoods. The promotion of increased density and mixed-use development to create a richly diverse and comfortable urban environment. The creation of well planned, connected open space in order to provide an aesthetically pleasing urban experience. The promotion and development of businesses for the provision of essential services. Massachusetts Avenue Sidewalk Renaissance One of the first projects of RADC. This project was designed to attract new businesses and customers to the Massachusetts Avenue retail and arts district. Over $1 million was invested in infrastructure improvement including: 50 new landscaping beds and historic character street lamps. This dramatically changed the street character of the areas “main street”. Mass. Attractions Project The objective to assemble a collection of public sculptures created by contemporary Indiana artists and install them at key locations on or near Massachusetts Avenue to solidify in the minds of residents that area is the “arts district” for Indianapolis. Sculptures to date include: Viewfinder, 1996, Eric Nordgulen. Visual and Mental Paradoxes, 1999, Jerald Jacquard (College/Mass.) The Davlan The Avenue Condo’s and Hoosier Retail Flats Partnership • City of Indianapolis -- HUD Grant • Riley Area Development Corporation • Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. Coordinating Committee Parking Committee Marketing Committee Recruitment Committee Small Business Development Committee Streetscape and Arts Programming Financial Gathering and Redevelopment Planning Small Business Development Committee Objective Develop small business support programs that meet the needs of existing and new businesses. Accomplishments • Conducted business needs survey of Mass Ave businesses • Developed 4 business support programs Goals of Small Business Development Support Programs • Give businesses access to information • Improve business planning and operations • Give incentives for businesses and property owners to invest Facade and Business Support Grant Program • Pool of $100,000 • Two pronged approach to support businesses operators and property owners Partnership • City of Indianapolis -- HUD Grant • Riley Area Development Corporation • Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. Grants’ Impact • 24 recipients • $100,000 pool generates $328,000 of total investment • Newly opened and long-time businesses • Recruitment of new businesses 725 Mass Ave 870 - 888 Mass Ave Facade Grants Impact • Impact 19 street level businesses occupying 115,000 square feet • Renovation of 4 buildings with 25,000 square feet of vacant street level space and a vacant 12 unit apartment building Facade Grants Impact • Assist recruitment or opening of 26,000 square feet of restaurant space • Creation of 4,400 square feet of new retail space Business Support Grant Goals • Attract more customers and increase sales • Improve business operations and management • Grow and become more profitable and successful Prestige Catering Silver in the City Boca Loca Beads Indianapolis City Market Business Support Grants Impact • Impact 44 businesses occupying 140,000 square feet of street level space • Benefit 6 women or minority owned businesses and 2 artists • Support 2 brand new businesses Streetscape and Arts Programming Committee Goal To stimulate the creation of a sustainable, diverse, unique, and nationally recognized cultural and artistic experience. This will be achieved by working in close collaboration with neighborhood stakeholders and the arts community to focus on visual and performing arts. Streetscape development will reinforce the Arts District by providing a vibrant and pedestrian friendly environment. Accomplishments • Sponsored Holiday Window decorating contest • Confirmed Mass Ave as a Monon Trail destination, held public meeting • Landscaping Enhancements • Spring planting made possible by a $3,000 grant from KIB – 50 volunteers – 304 perennials – 1,800 summer flowers Before After Future Plans: • Temporary Arts Plan • Place 9 additional trash receptacles • Develop Master Plan to include landscaping, benches, bike racks, trash receptacles, art, banners, lighting, bus shelters and possible funding sources Marketing Committee Objective Attract more traffic to Mass Ave more often to spend money. Encourage Mass Ave customers to enjoy all businesses on Mass Ave. Accomplishments • Assessed current and available marketing tools • Developed a communication plan and list of available tools Accomplishments • Conducted an imaging session and forwarded input to Hirons & Co. to begin to develop a graphic image • Marketed Mardi Gras Mambo and Artful Tread Mardi Gras Mambo Marketing • Advertisement in Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Recorder • Special fax sent to 2,500 Downtown workers • Featured on IDI website Future Plans • Partner on advertisements in the Fall Downtown Guide • Market Mass Av Events