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NEDCO 'Activate the Alleyway' Grant Retrospective and Results
- 1. Activate the Alleyway Grant NEDCO has established an Activate the Alleyway Program to help strengthen the Business facades that abut alleyways. Marketing to attract customers to businesses alleyways are an essential element to attract and retain business customers in the area effected by Light Rail Construction in Mesa. This program is intended to support those efforts. The Program offers a 75% matching grant, sponsored by State Farm Insurance and Local Initiative Support Corporation, to property and business for the purpose of renovating commercial access from the Alleyways. A NEDCO committee will evaluate applications to determine eligibility and, based on a set of criteria (listed below), make grant awards to those proposed projects that are determined will have the greatest impact on enhancing the targeted area. Specific Objectives in Targeted Area • Encourage private investment in the visual improvement of facades. • Enhance the appearance of the alleyway streetscape; • Strengthen or restore the original character of historic buildings; • Provide a catalyst for others to improve their buildings, and/or signage. Program Funding The “Activate the Alleyway” Program is funded through grant dollars from State Farm Insurance and Local Initiative Support Corporation. All funding for the NEDCO management of the program will not come from the proceeds of the State Farm Insurance and Local Initiative Support Corporation grant. Grant for Alleyway façade improvement will fund 75% (seventy five percent) of the cost of the improvement up to a maximum grant amount of $5,000. The grant recipient’s private match must provide a minimum of 25% (twenty five percent) of the cost of improvement.
- 2. Timeline of Events March 30, 2013 conducted a walking tour along the alleys behind the restaurants, boutiques, and businesses of Main Street. We will be inviting a diverse group of business owners, local residents, city workers, developers, and other interested parties. We looked at how easy or how difficult it is for someone to access your business through the Locals Entrance (back door). We will also look at what needs to be done to make the parking lots, allies, and backs of buildings more visually appealing. Areas will be analyzed for both their positive and negative conditions. • Signage (business and directional) • Walkability • Lighting Conditions • On‐street and off‐street parking • Screening / Safety • Plants / Tree Canopy • Building placement • Building Restorations These tours will be hosted by NEDCO who will be documenting the walking audit and comments with notes and photos. After the walk, NEDCO will be sponsoring an after‐walk breakfast at Cucina Di Vita.
- 3. August 13th‐14th 2013 Mr. Tad Savinar and NEDCO presented the walkthrough findings to the businesses and began consultant work to develop individual façade improvements. July 20th, 2013 Coordinated with two architects from Portland Oregon familiar with walkability and the build environment. Conducted a walkthrough with NEDCO and compiled the data to create a presentation. Tad Savinar and Jesse Stemler are experts on façade improvements for walkable areas. They are consulting with Valley Metro and have contracted public art on a current Metro lighrail station. Timeline of Events “I started looking at the mall in 20‐foot increments – really little pieces. Because that’s how you experience it when you’re walking. You don’t walk 112 blocks. You walk three.” – Tad Savinar July 11th, 2013 NEDCO at their monthly merchant meeting distributed the grant information and deadline for program enrollment (12 available spots), all 12 spots were taken within a 24 hour period.
- 4. Timeline of Events September 1st, 2013 NEDCO began working with the business and contractors to acquire completive bids for work to be completed on the rear façade of businesses enrolled in the Activate the Alleyway Grant. December 15th, 2013 Grant closure and all work completed October 20th, 2013 NEDCO began working with the City of Mesa and various departments to complete encroachment/right‐of‐way and Signage applications to include: City Manager’s Office – Natalie Lewis City Planning, Director – John Wesley City Building Safety, Director – Steve Heather City Permitting, Director – Gordon Sheffield City Engineer, Director – Beth Huning City Development Services, Director – Christine Zielonka
- 5. Le Studio
- 12. Phase one: Paint
- 14. M’Troniks
- 18. Cucina di Vita
- 25. Phase one: Paint
- 33. Just Couture
- 34. Phase one: Paint
- 35. Phase two: Sign
- 37. Phase one: Sign
- 38. LuLu Bell
- 41. Premiere Events
- 42. Phase one: Stucco and PaintPhase one: Stucco and Paint
- 43. Lost Dutchman
- 44. Phase one: Paint
- 45. Phase two: Signs
- 46. OneOhOne
- 47. Phase one: paint
- 49. Tre Bella
- 51. Nile Theater
- 52. Phase one: Paint
- 53. Phase two: Sign
- 55. Phase one: Paint
- 56. Grant Impact
- 57. Grant Impact • Created and developed a process for which to navigate the city for expedited permitting. • Initiated more than $250,000 of investment and development in downtown Mesa. • Created a model that has encouraged continued business improvement investment through funds matching.