Right Now Downtown

FALL HARVEST BRINGS FEAST

The days are getting chilly, but you still have time to stock up on fruits and veggies and other great stuff, right downtown. Come on down to Pearl Market and see plenty in full bloom and harvest ready.

The 2011 season wraps up at the end of the month, so plan now to shop every Tuesday and Friday while farmers and merchants are still in Pearl and Lynn Alleys. If you tell us what you’ve enjoyed the most this year or what you would like to see in Pearl Market next season, you’ll be entered to win 30.00 in Pearl Market tokens (they spend just like cash!).

Having a hard time narrowing it down? Take a peek here to see some of your choices. And enter a comment below by Friday, October 7 for a chance to win.

Jim Rose, Outreach Specialist for Capital Crossroads & Discovery Special Improvement Districts, was honored on Monday by the Community Shelter Board with their Hero Award. The Hero Award is presented to those who have made significant contributions through their work toward ending homelessness.

“We are honoring Jim because he has gone above and beyond his job expectations to help the Community Shelter Board with outreach and determining the issues with street homelessness as it pertains to the Central Point of Access,” said Michelle Heritage, Executive Director of the Community Shelter Board.

In his role as Outreach Specialist, Jim works in the downtown area to help connect individuals in need to those services required to move them into long-term permanent housing. Depending on the individual’s situation, Jim helps them connect with emergency shelters, medical providers, mental health services, employment programs, housing agencies, and emergency services, and offers help with identification documentation and more.

“I am like a walking Yellow Pages,” explains Jim. “Capital Crossroads & Discovery SIDs do not provide direct housing, I do not employ people, I am not a healthcare provider, but I get homeless individuals in touch with the right people and agencies that do, and advocate on their behalf.”

“I would not be able to help as many people as I have without the support of a lot of outside agencies.”

Jim knows that the downtown community is generous and wants to help with the problem of homelessness. If you would like to help to solve the problem of homelessness, Jim encourages you to do the following:

Do not give money to panhandlers. Many panhandlers are not homeless and are already connected to one resource or another. Often the money you give goes to “extracurricular” items that are not covered by those resources.

If you would like to give money, consider finding an agency to support with money or time. Jim recommends checking out The Street Card, a resource produced by the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, an all-encompassing document listing agencies, drop-in centers, medical providers and more. It can be found at columbushomeless.org.

“If you give a dollar to a panhandler on the street, he could use it to buy a cup of coffee,” noted Jim. “That same dollar given to Faith Mission could almost feed someone an entire meal.”

Capital Crossroads & Discovery Special Improvement Districts are proud of Jim’s many successes in helping individuals in need, and congratulate him on his Hero Award.

GRAB A BALL – HAVE A BALL

Summer is fading fast, but we have an idea how to keep the summer time fun going even as the nights grow longer and temperatures fall.

Dodge, dip, dive into Downtown Dodgeball. Yep, grab the balls before the guy across the center line does and pummel your way to fun. Did you know that the National Amateur Dodgeball Association has a swanky tournament and the grand prize is $10,000? Downtown Dodgeball might be the perfect training ground.

Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District and the Downtown YMCA sponsor Downtown Dodgeball, an eight-week league, which begins Thursday, November 3. Hurry and download the registration and send it in to save your spot.

Whether you have a team of underdogs or vie to call yourself The Champion of Champions, shoot into action with Downtown Dodgeball.

A team must have a minimum of six people, but bring a posse and dodge past the competition. Team Registration is $250, and there will be two eight-week sessions, each including a championship. Deadline to register for the first session is Friday, October 28. For more information or to download the registration form, waiver and rules, click here.

CRUSH CABIN FEVER WITH DOWNTOWN DODGEBALL

Are you spending these cold, blustery days longingly looking out the window wishing May would arrive as the winter blues try to worm their way into your life?  Well, give your bad mood a rest because we have just the thing to blast through winter. 

Downtown Dodgeball is sponsored by Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District and the Downtown YMCA.  Registration is now open and games begin on Thursday, February 10.  A team must have a minimum of six people, but heck, go ahead and register a posse and let the games begin.  The team entry fee is $235 and the deadline for entry is Thursday, February 3.

Crush Cabin Fever with Downtown Dodgeball and forget leaving the office after dark, hanging out at home in front of the boob tube for weeks on end, munching on chips and candy, while you swill gallons of sugary soda as your sweats get tighter and tighter.

Whether you have a team of underdogs or you are mighty warriors, come on out and join in the fun for the six-week-league; it will get your blood pumping and help you blast through winter with a breeze.

Click here for more information and to download the registration and release forms.  Questions?  Contact Lisa Cline, Program Director, Downtown YMCA at lcline@ymcacolumbus.org or 614.224.1137, extension 274, or you can contact Melissa Fast at Capital Crossroads SID at mlfast@sidservices.com or 614.645.5281.

On your mark, get set, GO.

On November 10, Capital Crossroads SID held its annual meeting to report on the work the SID has conducted through the year and to recognize the contributions made to the fabric of downtown by individuals and businesses.  This year’s meeting was held at the Westin Great Southern, thanks to in-kind donation from the hotel.  Additional sponsors included Ohio Support Services and Ohio Custodial Management, which provides the SID with the Clean and Safe Ambassador team.  Spinelli’s Deli tempted attendees with freshly baked cookies in celebration of the grand opening of their new location at 50 North High Street.  Musical entertainment was provided by students from The Wellington School. 

In addition to thanking the SID property owners, Jeffrey Wolf, Chairman of the CCSID Board of Trustees, recognized the voluntary contributions by four exempt owners whose contributions represent 18 percent of the SID’s operating revenue: the City of Columbus, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, Franklin County and the Greater Columbus Convention Center.  Wolfe reminded attendees that reauthorization of the SID is in process.  Marc Conte, Research Director, is meeting with property owners; owners representing 60 percent of the property in the SID must sign the petition to reauthorize in order to continue operations beyond 2011.  The reauthorization efforts should be completed in January. 

Executive Director Cleve Ricksecker then discussed SID financials, outlining the balance of administrative and overhead costs with programming expenses.  This year, CCSID staff was able to supplement budgeted monies with $132,000 in grants from a variety of federal, state and local sources, as well as through generous sponsorships such as those from WCBE FM and the Hyatt on Capitol Square for Pearl Market and Downtown LIVE. 

“We are very conscious of the assessments you provide, and everyone on staff works hard to deliver the best possible value,” explained Ricksecker.  “We try to spend as little on administration as possible so that your money goes into programming on the streets.”  

Clean and Safe Services 

Ricksecker then reported on the SID’s clean and safe services, noting that Downtown Columbus is the cleanest downtown in the U.S.  CCSID ambassadors work daily to remove litter, wash sidewalks, control graffiti, remove weeds, and wash newspaper racks, High Street bus shelters and other fixtures.  Seasonal services are also performed such as leaf removal, snow and ice removal and planting and maintenance of flowers during the summer months. 

In addition to maintaining a clean environment, CCSID strives to keep downtown one of the safest precincts in Columbus.  Though crime is up throughout the city during these tough economic times, the increase within the SID has been kept to a minimum. 

“Downtown is safe because of an effective program, combining communication, strict enforcement, compassion and coordination,” said Ricksecker.  “Safety does not happen by accident.” 

Communication is vital between CCSID safety ambassadors, the Columbus Division of Police, security forces within buildings and people on the street.  Lisa Defendiefer, Downtown Safety Coordinator, was commended for completing a comprehensive security network, which included linking security operations with one another, the SID and the Division of Police through regular meetings, a secure Web site and a radio network.  And Outreach Coordinator Alyson Poirier was recognized for her work providing outreach and advocacy services to people in need of help.

Marketing and Promotions 

In addition to the very important safety and cleaning services, CCSID also is charged with marketing and promoting downtown.  Ricksecker noted that the SID markets to key audiences including downtown employees, downtown and in-town residents and young professionals.  The message revolves around the idea that downtown is the place to be, is at the center of culture, arts and entertainment, and is a charming, urban location.  The message is shared through the DowntownColumbus.com Web site; companion newsletters such as Right Now Downtown and Downtown News Network; special events such as Pearl Market, the Capitol Square Kickball League and Downtown LIVE; sponsorships of events such as Independents; Day, Bike-to-Work Week and City Hop; and programming such as a the recycling program.

CCSID also works to make coming downtown a positive experience for residents, workers and visitors.  The SID offers visitor services like the mobile iCart kiosk, welcome baskets for new tenants and property owners, and a hospitality network during special events such as the Arnold Sports and Fitness Expo and the 2010 Gay Softball World Series.

 The Future of Retail

While Ricksecker noted that overall Downtown Columbus is doing well, the area most in need of improvement is retail.  While the demand for retail services is strong, there is insufficient retail supply, particularly after the demise of City Center. 

With support from the City of Columbus, CCSID hired Kacey Brankamp as a Retail Recruiter, to help draw independent operators from throughout Central Ohio to downtown.  Interest in downtown continues to grow as does the demand for retail downtown.  And CCSID will continue to help suppliers find the right space downtown to meet the demand. 

“We lost those retail chains,” added Ricksecker, “and they are not coming back.  But independent retailers will be the source of retail in the coming years.  And thanks to the efforts of entrepreneurial folks like Mark Ballard and Tom Finney of Sugardaddy’s, Don Steele of Plantain Café and Brett Ruland of Spoonful, the future of retail is looking brighter.”

Pearl Market fans might have been saddened when the summer Pearl Market came to a close on October 29, wrapping up another successful summer.  But the following week the Winter Pearl Market opened in a new location at 33 N. Third Street.  Now in the second year of a two-year grant from the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program, the Winter Pearl Market will continue to offer fresh seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, bread, baked goods and unique handcrafted items.  The Winter Market will operate Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. through February 25.

Once again this year, the Capital Crossroads Market staff has put together a Marketplace where customers can shop a variety of goods from vendors such as Sweet Thing Gourmet, IKC Designs, The Olive Orchard and more.  The Marketplace  offers visitors a unique shopping experience for the holidays.  Shoppers can also continue to use their credit cards or Ohio Directions Card to make purchases, a service which was test run at last winter’s Market and utilized so successfully at the summer Market this year.

“We are excited about running a Winter Pearl Market again this year,” explained Adam Schroeder, Market Manager.  “We have a great mix of new and returning vendors and have brought in some live entertainment to add to the experience.”

Kacey Brankamp, Retail Recruiter for Capital Crossroads, is excited about the Market too.  It is her job to recruit retailers to the downtown area and the Pearl Market, both the summer and winter versions, is an outstanding tool.  The Pearl Markets serve as retail incubators for entrepreneurs interested in testing the waters downtown.  Someone with a great idea or an established business in another part of town can do a trial run downtown in a low-risk environment. 

The booth fees are minimal and include the “storefront,” so the vendor can focus solely on his/her product, customer interaction and visual display.  Being part of the Market also means their business is part of an established commercial area with its own marketing and existing customer base.

“The Pearl Market is a wonderful retail incubator for downtown,” said Brankamp.  “Incubator is the perfect word to describe the environment because vendors are clustered together which offers them support, feedback and a customer base that is naturally inclined to support new and unique products.”

In her efforts to bring new retailers downtown, Brankamp has been able to point to the success of previous Pearl Market vendors who have gone on to open permanent retail locations in the area.  These vendors who used the Markets to test and grow their businesses include Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties, Si Senor Sandwiches and More and Take Ten Body Therapy. 

“To test the idea of expanding our retail presence with a Sugardaddy’s downtown store, we leveraged Pearl Market and Capital Crossroads to understand better the downtown customer and the potential fit of Sugardaddy’s in the downtown market, while actually selling our products to new customers,” explained Mark Ballard, co-founder and co-CEO of Sugardaddy’s.  “Moreover, once we made the decision to open a store downtown, we then were able to use the Market to advertise when and where we were opening.  Pearl Market proved to be a tremendous low-cost, low-risk solution to conduct market research, increase sales and advertise our business’ products.”

The Market also offered a landing ground for New Orleans Pralines when their location was closed with the demolition of City Center.  Chandra Noble has maintained her business and customer base through offerings in the Market.

While the closure of City Center altered the face of retail downtown, with the help of ventures like Pearl Market and the commitment of Capital Crossroads SID full-time retail recruitment program, downtown’s future will see more small and locally owned businesses, the very type that Pearl Market can help foster and support.

FRESH IDEAS

Brainstorming ideas and seeing new places is a great way to open minds to all the possibilities that surround us.  What works?  What needs improvement?  Where do we go from here?

Last week a group from Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District hit the road to check out some business improvement districts in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin.  Columbus is a great place, but we have plenty of room for improvement and we wanted to see what these cities had to offer – maybe even steal an idea or two.

It was reaffirming to see some of the cool things our cheese-head friends do that we also embrace in our very own downtown, and we also came back with tons of fresh perspectives.  Take a look and tell us what you would like to see as Columbus moves forward, and what you can do to make sure C-bus stays on the right track.

Enjoy our cheese-head influenced video and then post your thoughts!

Sharing Ideas in Wisconsin from Downtown Columbus on Vimeo.

The 2010 Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan was adopted by Columbus City Council on July 19, after many months of public input, planning, discussion, dreaming and synthesizing.  This Plan is not a to-do list; rather it is meant to guide investment and development in downtown for the next 10 years.  It takes off where the 2002 Strategic Business Plan for Downtown Columbus ended, building on the long-term framework and looking to identify catalysts for growth.

The planning process, which included public meetings, an online survey and discussion with downtown stakeholders, identified a list of 10 Principles to define the community’s goals and vision, 12 Ideas emerging from those Principles, and 8 Strategies to implement the Ideas.  To view the complete Plan, including the Principles, Ideas and Strategies, click here.

What does this mean for Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District (CCSID)?  First off, Cleve Ricksecker, Executive Director of CCSID, was involved in the planning meetings and participated in a downtown stakeholder interview.  All efforts to improve the downtown are important to the SID, and Ricksecker approached the planning process with that point of view in mind.

“The SID had already worked with MSI to develop our Public Realm Enhancement Plan - a wish list for the SID, if you will.  I was able to offer input from a SID-perspective through the strategic planning process,” explained Ricksecker.

Andrew Overbeck of MSI added, “We know Cleve real well and he was part of these meetings.  The SID’s plan was done beforehand, so that informed our planning sessions with regard to what enhancements they were looking for downtown.  It will be great to integrate these plans.”

As the City seeks to implement the Strategic Plan over the long term, public/private partnerships will play a vital role.  And over the years, CCSID has acted as a catalyst for such parternships, from the revitalization of Gay Street in 2007 to the wayfinding sign system that was installed in 2008.

Overbeck identified Ideas four through nine of the Plan, which deal with the High Street Core, as falling specifically within the SID boundaries and as places where the City, the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) and others will look to partner with CCSID.  These ideas include:

• Redefining Broad Street as the civic spine of the City;
• Restoring High Street as downtown’s commercial corridor;
• Developing a Downtown Transit Center to replace the High Street Transit Mall;
• Building a 3-c Multi-Modal Station;
• Developing a Downtown Field House.

“We have looked at each part of the Plan and identified where partnerships currently exist and where they can be developed.  Right now these are just ideas, but it’s important to get everyone at the table to let some of these ideas take hold,” added Overbeck.

Ricksecker agrees.  “We look forward to partnering with the City, CDDC and others to bring these ideas to fruition.  Through the SID’s efforts, some advance work has already been done, particularly with regard to bike facilities and restoring the High Street retail corridor.”

Overbeck noted that if one looked at photos of Columbus from 1995, one would see an abandoned prison, an abandoned school and an undeveloped gash through the city where 670 cut through.   Fifteen years later, those same areas are vibrant sectors – the Arena District, COSI and the High Street cap over 670.  The vision of our city leaders in the 1990s has taken root in our city’s fabric.

“It’s an inspiring thing.  We can do an awful lot in Columbus.  None of these things is out of reach,” concluded Overbeck.

The next fifteen years should be something to behold.

Capital Crossroads kicked off its summer programming with the return of the ever-popular Pearl Market to the Pearl and Lynn Street alleys on May 18.  Sponsored by WCBE 90.5 and managed by Capital Crossroads, the Market runs on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through October.  This season of Pearl Market is bursting at the seams, with more farmers (27) participating than ever before and more than 40 merchants.

The farmers’ fantastic offerings, including asparagus, greens, herbs, peas, green beans, radishes, strawberries, plants, flowers and, later in the season, sweet corn, tomatoes, squash and apples, remain a big draw.

“People realize the importance of purchasing food that is locally grown,” explained Adam Schroeder, Pearl Market Manager.  “Shoppers get to know farmers who grow their food, they get to support area merchants and they really learn the benefits of buying local.”

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission recently released the region’s first Central Ohio Local Food Assessment and Plan, which highlights the importance of having fresh, local, healthy food available to all neighborhoods in Central Ohio.  Executive Director of MORPC, Chester R. Jourdan, Jr., addressed the crowds on opening day of the Market, emphasizing that Pearl Market’s offerings fit right into this “locavore” movement.

Joining some returning vendor favorites, such as Great Harvest Bread Co., 3 Babes & a Baker, Sweet Thing Gourmet and Nellie’s Samosas, are some vendors making their Pearl Market debut, including Let Us Eat Cupcakes, J Squared Organics, Devour Cookie Co. and Afrikan Designs.

In addition, daily live entertainment and a public eating space will encourage visitors to pick up lunch from one of the food vendors or bring a packed lunch and enjoy the hustle and bustle.

There are some changes afoot.  Due to overwhelming requests from the farmers and merchants, the Market will now spill out of the alleys and expand on to both Broad Street and Gay Street.  The spill-over will include both farmers and merchants, with farmers setting up shop on the Gay Street end of the alley for the first time.

“This will give the Market more presence on those high-traffic thoroughfares,” added Schroeder.  “Especially on Gay Street, where folks are beating a path to new lunch spots like Plantain Cafe’, J. Gumbo’s and Sugardaddy’s.”

In addition, after a test run during the Winter Pearl Market, the summer Market now accepts credit cards and the Ohio Direction Card.  Customers just need to visit the Market tent located at the intersection of Lynn and Pearl to pick up red credit card or green Ohio Direction Card tokens.  All vendors that are accepting the tokens will display a special sticker on their vendor sign denoting which tokens they accept.  This change will allow those who may not be cash-carriers to make some must-have purchases.

As the summer progresses, fans of the Market should keep an eye out for special events.  The Ohio Department of Agriculture will bring their Ohio Proud Mobile Food Kitchen to the Market, where area chefs will shop the Market, do a live cooking demonstration and let visitors sample their dish.  Mark your calendars for June 29, August 31, September 28 and October 26.  Other special events include Strawberry Day on June 8, Sweet Corn Day on July 13, Kids’ Day on July 27, Tomato Day on August 10, Squash Day on September 14 and Apple Day on October 12.  The Market will be closed on Friday, July 2 in observance of Independence Day.

For a sneak peek at the beautiful sights of Pearl Market, take a look at our Opening Day Photo Album.

BIKING GAINS MOMENTUM

Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Statehouse on Monday, May 17, 2010, to celebrate Bike To Work Day sponsored by Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District.

Bikers converged at OSU Gateway along with Mayor “Bikin’ Mike” Coleman, ODOT Director Jolene Molitoris, members of Columbus City Council, the Columbus Foundation and Consider Biking for the Third Annual Bike To Work Launch and Cycling CEO Challenge.  Dozens of area CEOs assembled teams to ride to the Statehouse to champion alternative transportation.

Riders from the Columbus Chamber even donned Pearl Market veggie costumes to show their support of bicycle commuting.

Lisa Courtice from The Columbus Foundation presented Consider Biking with a check for $295,000 to pursue the “2 by 2010″ initiative, which is a program that encourages every central Ohioan to use a bike or other form of alternative transportation to get to work or school at least two days per month by the City’s bicentennial in 2012.

Doug Morgan, attorney at Hahn Loeser and Parks, presented a check for $15,000 on behalf of the firm and challenged the corporate community to pull together to match The Columbus Foundation gift.

To see more photos of the event, click below.

Bike To Work 2010