around the block
DESCRIPTION
Annual Report EditionTRANSCRIPT
Continuing the growth of downtown one block at a timeVolume 7 • Number 5
Residential MarketSince CCP’s inception:• The rental residential market has increased 31%, while the market average is 22%• ResidentialpopulationonMainSt.hasincreasedbyover250people• 98%occupancyrate• 168rentalapartments/42ownedcondos
Retail RecruitmentCCPtooktheinitiativetobringadditionalretailtodowntownColumbiaandhiredAmyStonetoimplementtheRetailRecruitmentprogramcreatedbyERA/DowntownWorksofWashington,D.C.AmyidentifiesprospectiveretailerswhomeetthemerchandisemixgoalsfortheBID,whohaveagoodbusinessplan,andwhowillhelptoattractotherqualitybusinessestothearea.Sheisafacilitatorfromtheinitialcontactuntilthebusinessisupandrunning.CCPsupportsallaspectsoftherecruitmentplanfromprospectingandcultivationtostateoftheartmarketingmaterials.
Since the inception of CCP, several retailers now call downtown home. Some include: WISH, Seven Doors Salon, Frame of Mind, Columbia News Stand, Dunkin Donuts, Higher Grounds, Starbucks, Uptown on Main and more.
ANNU
AL
Meridian:$72 millionFirst Citizens: $61 million
BaptistHospital:$56 millionSheraton: $25 million
MarriottRenovation:$10 millionBarringerRenovation:$9 million1520MainCondos:$6 million
1441Main:$4 millionSheratonMeetingSpace: $3.2 million
KeenanFountain:$450,000
Private$247 million
MainStreetPhaseI:$6 millionPurchaseandRenovationsofWashingtonSq.Bldg.: $5 millionMainStreetPhaseII:$4 million
WaterLineImprovements:$1 million
Public$16 million
Investment inthe BID
UniqueHistoricBoutiqueSheratonHotel,with135roomsavailableand4restaurants/barsarenowopen.Aninvestmentof$3.2million is planned fortheSheratonmeetingspace.
The Columbia Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the state. Attendance for the museum is over 125,000 people per year. The CMA also generates more than $9 million in economic activity due to direct, indirect and induced impacts of the museum.
The Renaissance Foundation is restoring and transforming the historic Bethel into a Cultural Arts Center. The Cultural Arts Center will include a 500 to 600-seat performing arts venue and museum.
With more than 1.8 million visitors each year, as well as a collection of more than 1.1 million books, the Richland County Public Library is one of the busiest public libraries in the Southeast.
The Nickelodeon is relocating to Main Street’s 1600 block via an approximately $4 million renovation of the Fox Theater, a classic 1930’s Art Deco structure. This will be a key anchor for the desired night scene on Main Street and provides an additional amenity for the educated and upscale downtown residents/visitors.
cbD class a occuPancy
2003: 86.2% 2008: 90.03%
Office Market
Streetscaping
FacadeImprovements
HolderPropertiesinvested$72millioninMeridian,the337,228sq.ft.high-riseand
FirstCitizensinvested$61millioninits164,830sqft.building.Main&Gervaistowercurrentlyunderconstructionand100%leased,willbeover
200,000sqft.ofofficeandretailataninvestmentof
$56million.
Cultural Anchors
(US dollars)
$247Million
Private
$16Million
Public
CCP meets with prospective tenants, brokers and property owners toencouragedealsfordowntownprivateinvestments.Theypromotedowntownconsistently to “warmup” themarketand increase desire for downtownbusinesslocationdecisions.
CCPhasrequestedassistancefromtheCityofColumbiatofundafaçadeimprovementgrantprogramforstreetlevelstorefrontsonMainStreet.Emphasiswillbeplacedoninstallingfacadesappropriatetothearchitecturalstyle,age,andcharacterofindividualbuildings,demolitionorremovalofoutdatedorinappropriatematerialsorsigns,paintingandrepairs,newcanopiesandawnings,removalofsecuritygatesandgrilles,andarchitecturallighting.
P a s t
Phase i
P r e s e n t
Phase ii
f u t u r e
Phase iii
Present
DowntownColumbia
Value Creation
Marketing
Business Revenue
34%increase
2007$844,973,384
2003$630,215,297
2003-2007
Property Value
23%Increase
Property Value
2003-2007
18%Increase
Businessrevenuesandpropertyvaluesareincreasingatrecordlevels.A comparision between Downtown Columbia and Downtown Greenville:
New$56million dollar addition (37,000squareft)andrenovation (81,000squareft)toPalmettoBaptistHospital. Themajorityoftheimprovementsfocusonsurgical,obstetricalandneonatalservices.
DowntownGreenville
Business Revenue
28%increase
2007$1,311,188,268
2003$1,024,014,547
cbD class a occuPancy
2003: 86.2% 2008: 90.03%
Office Market
Streetscaping
HolderPropertiesinvested$72millioninMeridian,the337,228sq.ft.high-riseand
FirstCitizensinvested$61millioninits164,830sqft.building.Main&Gervaistowercurrentlyunderconstructionand100%leased,willbeover
200,000sqft.ofofficeandretailataninvestmentof
$56million.
The BID community and corporate citizens are continuously creating new venues and landmarks which draw new audiences to the BID.
Excavating Egypt was a major exhibit at the Columbia Museum of Art that ran earlier this year. Over 33,000 people attended the event from 45 different states and over 16 different countries.
The Urban Tour was a mix of cultural events, food, entertainment, historical tours, and highlighted what it’s like to live, work and play downtown. The event was a hit as crowds were estimated at 1500 people. The event will be repeated next spring.
The Main Street Marketplace features prepared foods, produce, plants, handmade arts & crafts and occurs each Friday in the Spring and Fall. A holiday market is also held the first Friday in December. Thousands attend the market each season.
Downtown Activity
CCP’s paper newsletter is distributed quarterly, while an electronic version is distributed monthly. The newsletters reach thousands of people. CCP’s website
provides updated, quick and easy access to a wealth of information about downtown including events, partial listing of available downtown properties, the downtown retail plan, newsworthy information on downtown and more. These marketing tools are used to convey constant communication to our community.
• Renewed water and sewer services• Adjustments to the storm drainage system to
accommodate the new layout• New landscaping and irrigation system along
the sidewalk and planter areas and also enlarging existing planters around the oak trees
• New curb and gutter added and changes made to parking arrangements (angled and handicapped)
• Constructing a new communication ductbank system
• Addition of a new traffic signalization system• Addition of brick sidewalks
CCPhasrequestedassistancefromtheCityofColumbiatofundafaçadeimprovementgrantprogramforstreetlevelstorefrontsonMainStreet.Emphasiswillbeplacedoninstallingfacadesappropriatetothearchitecturalstyle,age,andcharacterofindividualbuildings,demolitionorremovalofoutdatedorinappropriatematerialsorsigns,paintingandrepairs,newcanopiesandawnings,removalofsecuritygatesandgrilles,andarchitecturallighting.
f u t u r e
Phase iii
Future
is created and produced by
If you would like to be added to CCP’s email list, please email
If you would like to be added to CCP’s mailing list, please email
Managing the Downtown Business Improvement District -
Enhancing Property Value & The Quality of Life for All
1201 Main Street, Suite 150Columbia, SC 29201
803.233.0620Fax 803.233.0621
www.citycentercolumbia.sc
Clean & SafeOur Vision
City Center Partnership’s clean and safe ambas-sadors have made a significant impact on the downtown area. Thousands of weeds and trash have been removed from the streets along with over thousands of motorist and pedestrian assists. In addition, over 20,000 business and property contacts have been made by the team. The ambassadors also use a variety of vehicles to help keep downtown a clean and safe place to live, work and play.
Weenvisionapedestrian-oriented,street-frontretaildistrictintheheartofdowntownColumbia.Withcreativelyintegratedretail,restaurants,residential,officeandculturalentertainment,thiscouldbethemostsignificantdevel-opmentindowntownColumbiaandtheultimatevenuetoshop,relax,havefun,launchaconceptorputafreshspinonacurrentone.It’sanevolvingopen-airurbanneighborhoodexperienceyoujustcan’tgetanywhereelse.
CCP is embracing the future with optimism and creativity to achieve short-term and long-term goals. These are the new Initiatives for CCP:• Strengthen agency relationships with: The City of
Columbia, Richland County, Columbia Devel-opment Corporation to name a few.
• Create vibrant retail environment. • New focus on maintaining and expanding
downtown employment base.• Consider expansion of clean and safe team
services beyond the BID. CCP most recently expanded their clean services to the Vista.
• Continue to advocate for new businesses to locate here and keep the atmosphere attractive for them
• Increase night activity.• Increase residential inventory and continue to
advocate and market for residential developers while also recruiting businesses that will offer amenities for residents.
• Incentives needed from City – through city efforts like streetscaping, façade grants and forgivable loans we will jumpstart the population here and create a critical mass that will then feed itself.
• Connectivity with surrounding areas.