1. Downtown Vista… Cool Place, Warm Welcome
Main Street 25 Years in the Making
“Be the Change You Want to See”
2. About Vista
and Downtown
•Located Between Oceanside, Carlsbad,
San Marcos and Escondido
•Vista 18.6 Square Miles
•Population
Estimate 96,000
•Central Vista Business
Improvement District
(BID Fees assessed)
•Approximately 220
active businesses in the
downtown BID zones
3. Vista
Downtown
•Less ½ mile walk-able Main Street
•Mass transit Sprinter Rail stops on Main Street
•Mix of hometown and commercial restaurants
•Tasting rooms and drink establishments
•Unique hometown shopping places
•Upscale (upgrading) Brand Cinepolis Theater
•Dessert, Ice Cream, Candy, Pizza Places
•Crunch Gym, Health Store, Hardware Store
4. Why are Main Street
Programs Important?
•As a unique preservation-based economic development
tool, the Main Street Four Point Approach® is the
foundation for local initiatives to revitalize their districts
by leveraging local assets—from cultural or architectural
heritage to local enterprises and community pride.
•The four points of the Main Street approach work
together to build a sustainable and complete community
revitalization effort.
•The following four points of Organization, Promotions,
Design and Economic Restructuring has helped Vista
economically behind the scenes!
5. Organization
•Networking
Collaborating with other Main Street directors and staff from North
County and others with ideas for growing our Downtowns. We work
with our Chamber of Commerce, City and merchants. NCAN…
•Education
California Main Street Alliance conference allows us to not only learn
but to promote Downtowns that will enlighten the entire city. Next
year’s conference will be hosted in Oceanside.
•Consensus for New Neighbors
Continuing to have positive conversations with downtown merchants
and supporting new neighbors at other events by volunteering with
Roddy from The Flying Pig and Keith from Partake Gastro Pub.
6. Promotions
•Health & Safety Day
•St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival
• Taste of Vista
• Vista Rod Run
• Alley Art Festival
(Partner Vista Art Foundation)
•Winterfest & Christmas Parade
(Partner Chamber)
•BBQ, Strawberry, Brews, Alley Art
7. Design
•Received $30,000 Grant
Grants obtained, funds private projects like lighting for our alleys,
murals, technology, American flags and equipment that can be shared
with other organizations.
•Façade Improvement
We work with the City and merchants like long time Village Café on
improving the exterior of their restaurant building. We currently have
4 projects for this fiscal year.
•Alley Art Festival
We support other Non-Profits like the Vista Art Foundation to help
produce the Alley Art Festival to bring art not just to our town but to
be a catalyst for art in all of North County.
8. Economic
Restructuring
•Recruitment
We assist with businesses inquiries to fill empty locations and bring
positive influence about our downtown.
•Reaching Out
We support the City’s efforts with new neighbors like the Flying Pig
and Belching Beaver by offering the owners positive downtown
support before and after they move in.
•Communications
We work with merchant concerns with the City Streetscape road
improvements. We help provide communication to misunderstandings
about projects. The City does a great a job finding businesses &
developers but sometimes they look to Main Street for local support.
