search and Planning for the Central Avenue Commercial Corr
Jun 27, 2015
The Northeast Community Development Corporation
- Great Cities -
Research and Planning for the Central Avenue Commercial Corridor
Why We Are Here?
How We Are Researching:
Year One Focus:
Education and Outreach
Feasibility Studies
Collaboration
• University United
• West Broadway Business & Area Coalition
• Lake Street Council
• Sparc on Rice Street
Year One Milestones
1. Database
2. Website
3. Survey
Great Cities Database
• Updated and completed
• Increased scope
• Took into account new tenants and vacancies
Great Cities Website
• Outreach mechanism for the Great Cities project
• Connect the project group members and businesses involved
• Tool to share research findings
Great Cities Survey
• Outreach survey (300)
• Feedback gained from participants and stakeholders
• Made the initial connections to affected parties
• Translated into Spanish, hard and online copy
• Pinpointed areas of need
BID Survey Responses
50% Property Owners (lower than expected)
65% Business Owners (or both)
50% familiar with CASSD
35% familiar with BIDs
Survey Responses: PrioritiesInitial responses are noting a range of priorities from:
Winter ServicesGraffiti Removal
Filling Vacant Storefronts
4. Control Over Budgets5. Marketing
6. Increased Parking7. Landscaping8. Tree Lights
9. Banners10. Snowflake Installation
Survey Responses: Other Suggestions
• Parking on Friday afternoons is bad
• Clean up existing business store fronts and sidewalks
• Window signage, cluttered windows, dirty storefronts
• Safety/perception of safety
• Better storefronts and name brand restaurants
What are Special Service Districts?
They provide business and property owners the ability to tax themselves and pay for an increased number of municipal services or services at a level higher than the base line of
services provided by the City of Minneapolis
What is CASSD?Central Ave Special Service District (CASSD)
The advisory board that is currently in place
Located on Central between 19th Avenue & 26th Avenue
Formed in 1999
Pays for services above and beyond the basic services provided by the City of Minneapolis
CASSDCentral Avenue Special Service District
• Winter Services: snow removal• Twinkle Tree Light Installation, Repair, and Removal
(November-April)• Snowflake and Garland Installation, Repair, and Removal
• Landscaping: trees, signage, banners, and planters• Banners: new street banners
• Additional considerations: flower pots, bike racks, alternatives to metal tree grates, increased trash removal
What are Business Improvement Districts?
A partnership in which property and business owners elect to make a collective contribution to the maintenance,
development and promotion of their commercial district.
What is the Difference?
BID
•Able to determine the contractor
•May hire third party service providers
SSD
•Available services are defined by ordinance
•No funding for marketing / special events
What is the Future of Central Avenue?
What are the possible benefits that could result from a Business
Improvement District?Arrangement?
1. Broader scope of services
2. Supplemental services and programs
3. Ability to respond quickly to changing needs of the business community
4. Potential to increase property values
5. Improve sales and decrease commercial vacancy rates
6. A district that is better able to compete with nearby retail and business centers
Great Cities Project - 2012
Year 2 Milestones for the Collaborative:
• Implementation
• Research
• Continued Education and Outreach
Dialogue
Ongoing communications
Meet with property owners and businesses
Send informational packets
Work with Chamber of Commerce & Local Orgson the Central Avenue Plan
Education, Policy and Outreach
Monthly CASSD meetings
Quarterly Neighborhood meetings
Attend City Council meetings
Refine educational materials with updated information, distribute e-versions
Other Districting Priorities
Research Parking along Central Avenue
Research P.I.D.s
Consult Central Avenue Plan
Arts District priorities and funding mechanisms
Communications
Continue to update Great Cities sites and Microsites
Monthly updates to businesses via site
Continue translation
Research to answer questions and concerns
Thank You!
Let’s talk!