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Home My WebLink About2012-2013 Downtown Lansing Inc Annual Report00INE 0L NO_E NN_ n r �4 f .. 16 �'� ♦ obw SIm - a Photo Credit: City Pulse DOWNTOWN LANSING INC. TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the Mayor& Director.............1 About Downtown Lansing Inc........................2 Organization Team.........................................3 Business Development Team........................4 Promotions Team.......................................5, 6 Design Team..................................................7 Public Spaces Team......................................8 Financials......................................................9 DLI Leadership.......................................10, 11 This was a dynamic year for downtown Lansing. Community interest and involvement increased significantly as downtown Lansing was named a Michigan Main Street and as several major projects came to the forefront. In particular, the cranes in the air for the $36 million historic mixed -use rehabilitation of the iconic Knapp's building, the opening of the new $11 million Davenport University campus, and ground -breaking of the Marketplace residential development along our ever -transforming riverfront, all took shape during 2013. Continued momentum also resulted in more people and organizations wanting to plan projects and bring new activities and events to the city center. Today, downtown Lansing is home to a new breed and generation of younger, highly professional and progressive investors, and developers that are staking their claim in the future of downtown Lansing. This visionary and entrepreneurial cadre, so desperately sought yet rarely found in communities across the United States is, in fact, among the downtown's most prized assets. The collective efforts and investments of these visionaries have been instrumental to the downtown's historic resurgence and are marking a new, exciting and prosperous era in downtown Lansing's evolution. Looking ahead, 2014 is going to be another exciting year for our downtown district with the opening of the highly anticipated Knapp's building, The Runway (fashion incubator), and the addition of 102 new housing units, which will increase the housing units downtown by 26%. Downtown Lansing continues to evolve because of our strong public -private partnerships and our willingness to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders. Special thanks to the DLI Board of Directors and staff, committee members, volunteers, business owners, property owners, public and private sector partners, and residents who continue to work together to build on the momentum gained during the past several years and continue to drive positive changes that are making downtown Lansing a thriving economic force. Virg Bernero Mindy Biladeau Mayor, City of Lansing Executive Director, DLI Ws"--f, rq 1 About Us: Downtown Lansing Inc. (DLI) is a quasi -governmental agency of the City of Lansing, which is run by an independent Board of Directors. DLI is responsible for the coordination of our local Main Street program and for the management of the Lansing Principal Shopping District (PSD). Downtown Lansing is one of only eighteen communities in the state of Michigan to be part of the Michigan Main Street Program. The intention of this program includes revitalizing the downtown, promoting businesses, increasing economic development, and encouraging growth in our business districts. What is Main Street? The Main Street Four -Point Approach® is a unique preservation -based economic development tool that enables Downtown Lansing Inc. to effectively revitalize our downtown and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets, including historic, cultural, and architectural resources, as well as local enterprises and community pride. It is a comprehensive strategy that addresses the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional commercial districts. This Four -Point Approach involves the formation and implementation of four committees -Organization, Design, Promotions, Economic Restructuring - each with distinct responsibilities. About Downtown Lansing: Michigan's capital city is the centerpiece of Mid -Michigan and is the fifth largest city in the state, welcoming over 1.5 million visitors a year. Lansing's downtown is the home of state and local government, a collection of entertainment hot spots and urban lofts, one -of -a -kind shopping and dining experiences that are all within walking distance of the State Capitol, three higher education facilities, Cooley Law School Stadium, the River Trail, City Market, museums, and galleries. About the Lansing Principal Shopping District: The Lansing PSD was created by local ordinance in 1996 to promote businesses in downtown Lansing through advocacy, cooperative marketing, special events, urban beautification, and activley recruiting and retaining businesses within the district. The Lansing Principal Shopping District includes the capital city's Central Business District and Old Town Lansing which contains approximately 1,000 businesses in its 64-block area. The district is generally defined as the area bounded by 1-496 on the South, Capitol Avenue on the West, Larch Street on the East, and Old Town Lansing on the North. Where weOf keep all of Lansing's fun..� II This committee handles the nuts and bolts, behind -the -scenes action that is vital to the program's success -fundraising, public relations, board nominations and volunteer management. rm' *'�' DOWNTOWN LANSING INC. :u ■■■■■ . . ■■■■■ wr a MEN No No •, Stay in Touch A Look at Downtown - —•r Lansing Inc. Projects for i 2014 Lansing First Friday s - The Downtown Lansing Inc (DLI) Board of Directors. its January 3 volunteers and start are dedicated to mahng Lansing a place where people want to be. by encouraging its businesses. neighborhoods, and stakeholders to build a f� dynamic culture known for its vibrancy, sustainable growth. business friendly environment Nre aim to take a t _smart. common sense approach to building a vibrant Lansing through historic preservation, communit. selt- Thousands Reached With Social Media Presence: DLI saw significant growth in the number of followers and fans on Twitter ((ddowntownlansing) and Facebook (Downtown Lansing). Twitter increased by 2,047 for a total of 6,248 followers at year end and Facebook fans increased by 873 for a total of 3,898 fans at year end. As a result, approximately 347,204 people viewed DLI Facebook posts in 2013. Downtown Lansing Becomes a Michigan Main Street: In January, over 80 downtown stakeholders, city officials and volunteers produced and participated in a one hour presentation to the Michigan Main Street Center's selection panel on why downtown Lansing should be selected as the next Michigan Main Street. In February it was official, downtown Lansing became a designated Michigan Main Street making the City of Lansing the only municipality in the State to have two designated Michigan Main Streets: Old Town Lansing and Downtown Lansing. Downtown Lansing 101 - Student Welcome Back Event: Members of the Organization and Promotions Teams joined together to plan & execute the first student welcome back event this September. Thirty-six businesses participated and over 200 college students from MSU, LCC, Davenport, CMU, and UofM attended the event, participated in the raffle and Instagram photo scavenger hunt. Over $20,000 in earned media and over $54,000 in earned social media was generated from this event. 3 This committee works to support local businesses through education and marketing assistance. It strives, through market analysis to retain and recruit businesses in the district that support the economic fabric of downtown Lansing. l MM'-- -117 if -JOIN o L `M I Ii1�i ■ �� , Downtown Social Hour: Monthly gathering for everyone in the neighborhood on the first Wednesday of each month from 5-7 pm. Downtown Social Hour rotates to a different downtown restaurant/bar each month offering a signature drink special, small plate feature, complimentary appetizers, $2 drafts and $3 house wines along with friendly conversation. Downtown Business Huddle: Monthly networking forum for downtown business owners and associates to get updates on what's happening in our downtown district. The Downtown Business Huddle is held the first Tuesday of each month from 8-9 a.m. at Midtown Brewing Company. Annual Business Survey: The business survey was updated this year and hand delivered to 144 first floor commercial businesses within District A of the PSD with a 31 % response rate. Survey responses help DLI understand the challenges of doing business within our district as well as develop programs and services to help our businesses succeed. 7 New Businesses Opened: The Business Development Team welcomed seven new businesses to our downtown district: Capitol City Scoop, MLive Lansing, Public Sector Consultants, Tetra Tech, The Institution Fitness Studio, Tom + Chee, and What Up Dawg Express. 4 This committee works to market downtown's unique qualities by building a positive image for the district and create a fun, vibrant environment through special events, image building campaigns and promotions. •` a ... —�� _o i ♦ A 1, •� z 01 , I " _.x * "I FrostFest13: Hundreds of college students & young professionals beat the winter blues at FrostFest13 in February. Festival -goers enjoyed live music featuring Civil Twilight, Flint Eastwood and Lights & Caves. Ice Games, a Cold Butt Euchre Tournament, and Michigan micro -brews rounded out event activities. 4th Annual Taste of Downtown: Taste of Downtown continues to grow with 2013 being the best year yet, drawing over 1,000 attendees to Washington Square to enjoy a summer afternoon of food sampling from 16 restaurants, wine tasting from over 120 wines from around the world and live music on an outdoor stage. Holiday Commercial Co/Op Campaign: The Promotions Team partnered with WLNS Channel 6 (CBS), ABC 53, and ten businesses for the 2013 campaign that ran from November 29 -December 31. During the holiday season 440 commercials aired reaching 71% of Mid - Michigan. This campaign sold out in 3 days. 5 6th Annual Trick -or -Treat on the Square: Over 10,000 families were able to celebrate Halloween with plenty offamily fun on Washington Square this October. Activities included Trick -or -Treating, hay rides, a hay maze, fire dancers, stilt walkers, a Timbit Eating contest, face painting, and balloon twisting along with interactive activities courtesy of Impression 5, the YMCA Downtown Wellness Center, Lansing Parks & Recreation, Potter Park Zoo, and Fenner Nature Center. Decker's Coffee Company/Cup of Dessert won the Spooky Window Contest. 29th Silver Bells in the City: Despite the morning rain and colder temperatures, 70-80,000 people kicked off the holiday season at Silver Bells in the City this November. Festivities included the Silver Bells Fun Run, Radio Disney Road Crew, the Silver Bells Village, the 17th Electric Light Parade, lighting of the State Christmas tree, a spectacular fireworks show over the Capitol dome and IM5 live in concert with special guest Macy Kate. Breakfast with Santa Sells Out: 'Twas the morning after Silver Bells in the City.... over 600 people attended the 5th annual Breakfast with Santa at Troppo, making this a sold out event for the second year in a row. Families from across the region enjoyed a hot pancake breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children were able to write letters to Santa, make arts and crafts and decorate cookies. 0 From streetscapes to historic renovations, this committee works to create a welcoming atmosphere & enhance the look and feel of downtown Lansing for residents and visitors. 11 Sign Grant Awards: What Up Dawg Express and Tom + Chee were recipients of a Sign Grant through a partnership between DLI and the Lansing Economic Development Corporation. The Sign Grant Program is an effort to encourage the use of high quality, creative and interesting pedestrian -oriented signs to enhance the character of downtown. Street Vendor Permits: In addition to brick -and -mortar businesses, street vendors contribute to the urban landscape and help create a pedestrian -oriented environment. Three permits were awarded for the 2013 season, mid -March through mid -November, to Grand Grillin, Clint's Hot Dog Cart, and What Up Dawg. Business Extension Permits: With wide sidewalks along Washington Square and dozens of restaurants, pubs & cafes in the district, outdoor dining is highly encouraged and adds to the pedestrian -friendly atmosphere of downtown. In 2013, 28 permits were awarded to businesses for seasonal sidewalk cafes. 7 This committee works on promoting urban beautification within the downtown area and increasing community involvement within the area by improving the appearance of public green spaces and problem areas, organizing clean up days and planting projects, decorating downtown for the holiday season and making sure the downtown area is free from trash and debris. r_F lk e l 1�111�1� - i :v / Best Season for Adopt -A -Spot Program: Over 200 volunteers from area businesses, organizations and the community participate in this program to assist with the maintenance of over 55 rain gardens and over 100 planted gardens in our district from May -November. During the season 8,865 gallons of trash were removed from the gardens, 545 volunteer hours were logged from 70 groups, and 175 sites were adopted (85% of total spots available). 6th Annual Capital City Clean Sweep: This May, 84 volunteers from downtown businesses and organizations covered a 60 block area picking up 2,700 gallons of trash, litter and debris from curbs, sidewalks, and flower beds. Downtown Planting Day: In conjunction with planting day at the Capitol, over 3,300 annuals were planted in public spaces by volunteers along Washington Square, at City Hall, and in the raised planters on Michigan Ave. between Capitol and Grand Ave. this spring. 8 Downtown Lansing Inc. continues to allocate funds and priorities specifically for each team (Design, Promotions, Business Development, Organization and Public Spaces) for projects, events and programming throughout the year. DLI continues to increase revenues through sponsorships, special events and grants. Total revenues for FY2013 were $643,236 and total expenditures were $650,642, a difference of $7,406 which was covered by our fund balance. Ak FY13 Revenue FY13 Expenditures (July 1, 2012- June 30, 2013) (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013) 1% 6% 3% 4% 3% GPeddlers License ®Organization ■Business Development 28% aSpecial PSD Assessments a o OPromotions/Special Events OGrants ODesign/Beautdication 63% ■Maintenance/Snow Removal OSponsorships/Committees 2% ■Personnel z io ■City General Fund ■Office Management/Communications 36% \ram 9 The Downtown Lansing Inc. Board of Directors is a volunteer group with vested interests in building a vibrant downtown culture by working with its stakeholders. The DLI Board represents business interests within the district in dealings with City officials and policy -makers, educates stakeholders, sets goals, approves the annual budget and establishes program policy expectations based on current downtown revitalization needs. Board of Directors Terry Carella., President Thomas M. Cooley Law School Phil Clacko, Vice President J.P. Morgan Chase Karl Dorshimer, Treasurer Lansing Economic Area Partnership Nicole Proulx, Secretary Fraser Trebilcock Davis & Dunlap, P.0 Jason Keusch Troppo Pamela Werling Downtown Resident Tameko Richard Juice Nation Staff Mindy Biladeau, Executive Director Cathleen Edgerly, Communications & Marketing Manager Jenn Wood, Revitalization Coordinator Troy Anderson, Adopt -A -Spot Coordinator (Seasonal) Keara Hanlon, Summer/Fall Intern WN Silver Bells in the City Coordinating Committee Bob Bierwagen: State of Michigan-DTMB Roger Boettcher: Leavenworth Photographic Mark Buzzita: CADL-Downtown Lansing Carrie Colligan: Spotlight Media Marketing Steven Doty: State of Michigan-DTMB Renee Freeman: City of Lansing, Office of Mayor Bernero Mike Hamel: Emergency Management, Lansing Fire Dept. Heather Hymes: Lansing City Market Pam Latka: CATA Calvin Jones: Lansing Board of Water & Light Rich LaMay: City of Lansing, Public Service Jenna Meyer: Meridian Entertainment Carol Munroe: City of Lansing, Parks & Recreation Michelle Phitlipich: Playmakers Kristine Richmond: Motion Marketing & Media Marty Riel: City of Lansing Property Management Rodney Ross: State of Michigan-DTMB Stephen Serkaian: Lansing Board of Water and Light Darin Southworth: Lansing Police Department Sheltie Starkey: Lansing Board of Water and Light Jennifer Taylor: Meridian Entertainment Matt White: Capitol Facilities Laurel Winkel: Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority 10 Downtown Lansing Main Street Program Organization Team Tom Stewart, Chair: Commonwealth Enterprises Kathy Johnson: Capital Area District Library Becky Kanaby: MLive Lansing Lori Lanspeary: Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau Stewart Powell: Linn & Owen Jewelers Pamela Werling: Komen Mid -Michigan, Downtown Resident Business Development Team Ken Szymusiak, Chair: Lansing Area Economic Partnership Dennis Dorogi: MSUFCU Ellen Kent: Lake Trust Credit Union Laurie Lonsdorf: Michigan Small Business Development Center Shannon Lounsberry: Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Diane Sanborn: Coldwell-Banker Hubbell Briarwood Tom Truscott: Lansing Resident, Historic Commission Mike Walsh: Rum Runners/HopCat Promotions Team Dana Kromer, Chair: FOX47 Liz Austin: WKAR-MSU Terry Carella: Thomas M. Cooley Law School Heather Hymes: Lansing City Market Kelly King: YMCA Downtown Wellness Center Danielle Lenz: Edge Partnerships Chad Munce: MLive Lansing Jan Pfeiffer: Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau Karen Wilson: LEPFA Design Team Bob Rose, Chair: City of Lansing Department of Public Service Cathy Babock: Lansing Art Gallery Ken Jones: Studio Intrigue Architects Bryan Lijewski: Michigan State Historic Preservation Office Valerie Marvin: Historical Society of Greater Lansing Dave Schneider: Rum Runners/Michigan Events Marchelle Smith: Lansing Area Economic Partnership Joe Wright: Landscape Architecture Services Public Spaces Team Kellee Christensen, Chair: Lansing Board of Water & Light Moe Baumgras: Lake State Landscaping & Snow Removal Scott House: City of Lansing Operations & Maintenance Eric Ozanich: Lake Trust Credit Union Matt White: Capitol Facilities Authority Volunteers:1,028 Volunteer Hours: 5,842 Volunteer Value: $20.63 x 5,842 hours = $120,520! (Average volunteer hour value in Michigan is $20.63 Source: http://www.independentsector.org/volunteer_time) 4� 11 7-1 -f Qqe i yy 1 f � DOWNTOWN LANSING INC. 1 ington Square, Ste. 101 P 517-487-3322 Lansing, MI 48933 F 517-487-5889 1nfo(ddown town [ansing.org PN www.downtownlansing.org M. Bw ro, Mayor