Laserfiche WebLink
Small Business Community and Downtown DRAFT <br />......... . ... ... _ _._.__. . . .. . ........ . . .......... ..... -- <br />DATA <br />Low rents and high vacancies in <br />downtown and So. Main <br />_...._..- .,..._..... -. _.._.._.... _._.- ................ <br />Larger parcel sizes in So. Main more <br />conducive to redevelopment, but many <br />absentee landlords <br />Upper floors in many downtown <br />buildings require significant investment <br />to attract users <br />_---_--..-, - <br />.............. <br />.. _........,. <br />City business license data too <br />convoluted to provide good insight <br />INFORMATION SOURCES TAPPED <br />Downtown Inc <br />Santa Ana Business Council <br />Main Place Mall <br />Chamber of Commerce <br />................. <br />..... _...... _. <br />OPEN San Antonio <br />Community members <br />WHAT IS WORKING <br />Chamber walks . <br />°- --- ------- <br />Localentrepreneurship <br />- _Business_coaching -at- Main - Place-- - -------------- <br />Coordination between SABC and <br />Downtown Inc liaisons <br />City downtown liaison <br />HEARD, INFERRED, & OBSERVED <br />Business license tax too expensive for <br />small businesses <br />— _. - ...,- -- ------ ------- -- --- I ------- I ............... ._.. <br />Prior small business grant program was hit <br />and miss <br />.. .. ......_._ ............... _...,...................... <br />Downtown business ecosystem far more <br />fragile than it appears <br />Continued challenges to align the <br />Business Improvement District operating <br />agreements with SABC and Downtown <br />Inc. <br />General discord among different special <br />interest groups <br />Continued conflicts between business <br />groups and City Hall, particularly related to <br />large events <br />Too much focus on downtown vs. other <br />commercial areas of town <br />Homelessness issues deeply impacting <br />businesses and desirability, especially in <br />downtown <br />... <br />--- --.. _----------- ..... ......................- -- -..... _.... <br />Upper floors in many historic buildings <br />need substantive investment to appeal to <br />new business or residential tenants <br />Parking options downtown don't <br />encourage people to stay <br />- - ............ - ° --- ----- - - -- <br />Poor street lighting in some commercial <br />areas gives a bad impression to visitors at <br />night <br />....................... <br />Train station area is underutilized <br />Deep- running fear of gentrification / bias <br />favoring outside businesses <br />--- - ------ - --- --------,._..,...,. <br />Small firms seeking capital will locate in <br />Irvine - better reputation among investors <br />CITY STRATEGIES <br />New operating agreement between City and downtown BID groups. SABC /DTlnc must put forth <br />collaborative proposals for expenditures, events, etc. City will follow lead <br />_. . <br />Incent local hires and locally -owned businesses through reduced, business. license fees. or other. benefits <br />Create low -cost pop up incubator opportunities in vacant spaces for So. Main to generate interest in <br />filling storefronts or redeveloping sites. When seeking vendors, offer consideration for residents (e.g. <br />points.in.a. point- driven.ranking. scale,)..- ....,__ .., <br />Collaborate with the Chambers,, BID. to create business coaching . /training.opportunities..., .. . <br />Activate train station area through increased events, reconsidered tenant mix, and ultimately increased <br />.,connectivitx with central downtown ......... <br />. ........................ _............................ ..- .._.- °--......._............ <br />Improve streetlights to make commercial_ areas more invitin_gin. the evening._.,._..- .,_..._._.,. <br />........ _....... <br />Revise business license process for better information gathering to increase business outreach and <br />support MIS <br />