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A letter from the President

Fiscal year 2004-2005 was year of change, progress, and achievement for North Park Main Street, and the community of North Park.  First and foremost North Park Main Street bids farewell to both Jay Turner, who served as Executive Director from 1996-2005, and Richard (Rick) Kurylo, who was our Assistant Director since 1997.  Jay is entering retirement, and Rick is moving on in his career and now works for the Business Improvement District Council assisting all the business districts citywide.  We truly wish them the best.

With their departure we welcome two new faces to North Park Main Street: Jeannie Paddison Tidy and Robert Powell.  These new additions to the community bring dedication and fresh ideas.  Please make sure you greet our new staff members and welcome them to North Park.

This fiscal year also saw the realization of projects that have been talked about for years.  The North Park Theatre, which sat vacant for nearly two decades is reopening in October and will be one of the premiere performing arts venues in the county.  The North Park Theatre Parking Garage also began construction and will provide parking for the entire business district as well as patrons of the theater.

In addition to the North Park Theatre La Boheme Condominiums began its construction and will provide over 200 residential units, lofts, and retail space.  North Park is being transformed to a community where people truly live, work, and play.

In this dynamic environment the atmosphere for business is better then ever.  New businesses are coming to Downtown North Park and bringing new energy.  Established businesses have found this environment ripe for expansion as well.

In the past year North Park Main Street has worked to forge a business district that is a destination for arts and entertainment, and a place to shop, and a place to find the services you need.  North Park is all those things and more, and will continue to be well into the future.

Patrick Edwards

President 

July

· Awarded $8,155 from the Commission for Arts & Culture for the 2004 Spring Festival.

· Developed a notification system (along with Western Pacific Housing and the North Park Community Association) for construction progress of La Boheme.

· Hosted economic development delegations from Japan and Poland.

· Posted final map of the University Avenue Mobility Plan in the North Park Main Street office.

· Attended a North Park Theatre Plaza design meeting.

· Received National Main Street Accreditation from the National Main Street Center.

· Co-sponsored a historical walking tour of Downtown North Park.

· Hosted a business assistance summit for various business assistance agencies and programs throughout the county.

· Published the Summer 2004 issue of The North Park Way.

· Assisted two building owners locate tenants for their available spaces.

· Held the annual Spring Festival retreat to begin planning for the 2005 Spring Festival.

August

· Awarded $2,000 from the County of San Diego for the 2005 Spring Festival.

· Recommended to the City of San Diego the installation of 53 bicycle racks throughout Downtown North Park.

· Approved the placement of a prototype EnviroBin in Downtown North Park.

· Addressed the security issue for the North Park Theatre during its restoration.

· Selected as an example of how to develop a fully functional program in Kennedy Smith’s publication: Main Street 101. 

· Discussed expanding the North Park Historic Building Inventory.

· Featured in the American Planning Association article “San Diego State University Graduate Program in City Planning: Positioning Future Planners for the Professional Arena.”

· Began tracking all the services offered by various business assistance agencies in the county.

September

· Supported the application for a Beer and Wine license by Apertivo.

· Began coordination of a “Can on the Counter Campaign” to raise money for the North Park Theatre.

· Met with Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins to discuss Council District 3’s new representative to North Park.

· Led Stephen Hill, the new Council District 3 representative to North Park, on a walking tour of Downtown North Park.

· Led Kennedy Smith, former Director of the National Main Street Center, on a walking tour of North Park.

· Attended the national Rail-Volution Conference.

· Conducted the annual election of the North Park Main Street Board of Directors.

· Began meeting monthly to plan the eighth annual North Park Spring Festival scheduled for May 15, 2005.

· Published the Fall 2004 Issue of The North Park Way.

· Began developing a brochure on “How to Start a Business in North Park.” 

October

· Held the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors.

· Seated the newly elected Board of Directors.

· Elected Officers for 2003-2004.

· Invited by the Ray Street merchants to participate in expanding the arts and culture concept to a greater area.

· Selected Sumner & Dene to host the North Park Main Street Holiday Party.

· Discussed the future of traffic calming on University Avenue  In a joint meeting between North Park Main Street, the North Park Maintenance Assessment District, Council District 3, and City staff.

· Opposed an ordinance that would ban all alcohol licenses in the North Park Redevelopment Project Area.

· Anaylzed new locations for the North Park Thursday Night Market.

· Added information of about Ray at Night to the North Park Main Street website.

· Met with western Pacific Housing to discuss several issues regarding the La Boheme project.

November

· Endorsed and supported the BID Council recommendation for limitation of big box stores

· Approved a list of 44 buildings for the Historic Building Inventory of the North Park Business District.

· Requested the preservation of the king palm trees behind the North Park Theatre.

· Elected Ben Garduño of 4 Design Gallery on Ray Street to the Board of Directors.

· Continued to coordinate efforts between different business assistance agencies and develop a “How to Start a Business in North Park” brochure. 

December

· Presented to the Planning Commission on the subject of the proposed Big Box Ordinance.

· Held a mid-year election to fill three vacancies on the Board of Directors.  Katie Rasmussen of the Windsmith, Allisun Hollies (an Associate Member), and Gustaf Rooth of Planet Rooth Studios were all elected to the Board of Directors.

· Assisted Pat Barr-McLeod, Executive Director of Homestead Main Street, with information on revitalization through the arts.

· Appointed Carol Winn of Acoustic Expressions to be North Park
Main Street’s representative on the
North Park Maintenance Assessment District. 

· Urged the Deputy Mayor and the Redevelopment Agency to find a solution to parking issues related to La Boheme’s construction.

· Attended a meeting to explore expansion of Ray at Night beyond Ray Street.

· Featured in a major article in San Diego Magazine focusing on the revitalization of North Park.

· Fully supported the development of a plaza space on 29th Street as a community center that includes pedestrian amenities.

· Coordinated a successful Holiday Party at Sumner & Dene.

· Held the Seasonal Lighting and Decoration Contest.  Winners were Jackie O’s Flower Shop for Best Window Display and Shooterz for Best Exterior Display.

· Participated in the North Park Lions Holiday Parade.  North Park Main Street’s theme was the historic streetcar.

· Funded holiday wreaths on the lampposts throughout downtown North Park.

· Contributed to the Holiday Freeway Bridge Lighting Program over Interstate 805.

January

· Published the Winter 2005 Issue of The North Park Way.

· Attended the groundbreaking of the La Boheme Condominiums.

· Hosted a workshop on tax-saving opportunities for small business owners.

· Continued to raise money for the North Park Theatre with the “Can on the Counter Campaign.”

· Installed a prototype EnviroBin at the corner of 30^th Street and University Avenue. 

February

· Voted in the North Park Redevelopment Project Area Committee elections.

· Elected John Stewart McGaughy co-chair of the Design Committee.

· Addressed 65 Mission Hills Realtors to inform them of the major improvements in North Park.

· Continued to work with the City’s Mixed-Use Advisory Board in developing a Sound Ordinance that addresses noise complaints in the downtown areas.

· Acknowledged by Councilmember Toni Atkins in the State of the District Address.

· Elected John Stewart McGaughy to the North Park Main Street Board of Directors.

· Attended the California Main Street Annual Conference in Davis, California.

· Presented a session on the formation and function of the Design Committee at the California Main Street Conference in Davis, California.

· Met with several different developers regarding the parcels located at Iowa Street and University Avenue.

· Applied for Community Enhancement funds from the City of San Diego for the 2005 Spring Festival.

· Applied for Community Enhancement funds from the County of San Diego for the 2005 Spring Festival. 

March

· Began Advertising for the Executive Director Position.

· Began Advertising for the Assistant Director Position.

· Continued developing a “How to Start a Business in North Park” brochure.

· Developed a simplified design-review process for North Park Main Street.

· Elected Rosa Lopez-Gonzalez Secretary of North Park Main Street.

· Relocated the Thursday Night Market to its new location at Granada and University Avenue. 

April

· Recognized the UrbanBody Gym as the business of the year in the North Park Business Improvement District as determined by a vote of North Park businesses.

· Celebrated the fourth anniversary of the weekly North Park Thursday Night Market.

· Attended the Grand Opening of the La Boheme sales office in Downtown North Park.

· Elected Bill Keesling as the new chair of the Promotion Committee, and Norberto Sandoval as Vice Chair.

· Addressed Probation Department issues with the County of San Diego and Council District 3.

· Began review of the applications for the Assistant Director position.

· Published the Spring 2005 Issue of The North Park Way. 

May

· Hosted the Ninth Annual North Park Spring Festival.  This yearly event featured five stages of entertainment, including a Dance Stage, World Music Stage, Youth Stage, and Music in the Park (a stage organized by the music shops in North Park).  The North Park Spring Festival attracted over 40,000 people from all over the County.

· Supported the creation of a public park behind the North Park Theatre. 

· Met with several business affected by the construction of the La Boheme Condominiums.

· Allocated $30,000 in CDBG funds for planning of the North Park Pilot Village.

· Attended and coordinated a walking tour of University Avenue from Pershing Avenue to Arnold Avenue.

· Conducted interviews for the position of Assistant Director of North Park Main Street. 

June

· Received approval from the North Park Redevelopment Project Area Committee (PAC) to continue our contract with the Redevelopment Agency to assist with revitalization activities in North Park.

· Applied for a $2 million grant for the implementation of the University Avenue Mobility Plan.

· Supported the Business Improvement District and Business Improvement District Council budgets at a San Diego City Council
meeting.

· Continued to raise funds for the North Park Theatre with the “Can on the Counter Campaign.”

· Hired Robert Powell as the new Assistant Director for North Park Main Street.

· Presented testimony and the City’s Land Use and Housing Committee regarding the Big Box Ordinance.

· Published the “Starting a Business in North Park” brochure.

· Began work on a Streetscape Design Manual for Downtown North Park.

· Supported the Palisades Gardens proposal.

· Approved the program budget for fiscal year 2005-2006.

Weekly or Monthly

· Assisted businesses in finding available spaces in the North Park commercial district.

· Assisted property owners in finding appropriate businesses for their available spaces.

· Assisted business owners and property owners as needed with permitting problems and issues.

· Organized the weekly Thursday Night Market where one can buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, flowers, and food, as well as arts & crafts.

· Conducted the “First Thursday Giveaway” at the farmers market, in which fruits and vegetables, flowers, gift certificates, merchandise, and other items are given away at 6:00  p.m. in a free drawing on the first Thursday of every month.

· Supported merchants by helping promote “Ray At Night,” a monthly art walk and open house on Ray Street and surrounding blocks.

· Continued our Memorandum of Understanding with the Stein Education Center to reduce graffiti and litter from the 30th & University intersection and between Grim
and 31st Street.

· Continued working on the North Park Street Gallery, in which artists paint utility boxes along University Avenue, 30th Street, North Park Way, and Lincoln Avenue. 

Jude Thomas, Office Assistant