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North Park Main Street
Annual Report
2006-2007
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A letter from the
President
Fiscal year 2006-2007 was a remarkable time for North
Park Main Street, witnessing visible changes and receiving amazing support
from the community. With the hiring of Executive Director Elizabeth
Studebaker, we have been able to move forward on a variety of new projects,
as well as revisit old ones. Most notably, we have successfully reinstated
the North Park Farmers Market with a new manager and location. We have also
executed yet another memorable Festival of the Arts, received exceptional
participation and praise for our "North Park is..." Banner Program, and
partnered with the North Park Community Association on four different
neighborhood cleanups.
North Park Main Street is working to create a pedestrian-friendly commercial
district. We are currently coordinating with the City of San Diego on plans
for infrastructure improvements, including new sidewalks, trash cans, trees,
and directional signage. In addition, we have secured funding to install
tree grates, and accessible curb ramps which will increase ADA
accessibility, and provide cleaner, safer sidewalks. In order to keep our
members educated and in compliance with local, state, and federal
regulations, we have included new information about ADA compliance on our
website, www.northparkmainstreet.com. Our merchant mixer on August 6th
focused specifically on this type of information, and the office will
continue to post announcements on informational workshops.
In the spirit of keeping the community informed and involved, North Park
Main Street has been proactive in hosting community educational walking
tours and strategy meetings to discuss ways to decrease crime rates,
graffiti, and transient issues. We have worked closely with the Police
Department and the City Attorney’s office to analyze and address these
problems. Gradual progress is being made. One noteworthy example is the
cleaning up of the former Drowsy Maggies building, which until then had been
an illegal homeless encampment. Collaboration between North Park Main
Street, the San Diego Police Department, and local businesses and residents
continues. I am confident that noticeable improvements will be seen in the
near future.
Many of you may be aware that North Park Main Street has experienced
significant changes in our funding sources. Today, primary sources of
funding are no longer available through the Redevelopment Agency. North Park
Main Street has been working to develop a new funding structure, in order to
continue its important work. Research has shown that expanding our district
boundaries will help to alleviate some of the financial pressure, while
allowing us the opportunity to extend our services over a greater area.
Efforts are currently underway to complete this process.
This fiscal year saw the beginning of important projects that will take
place over the next few years. The behind the scenes activity has been
dynamic and innovative, from creating a park space to complement the North
Park Theater, to planning the means by which art will be selected to adorn
the parking garage. We have also seen the business community continue to
evolve. Fashion boutiques Mesh, Kate Ross, Material, and Mimi & Red have
hosted wonderful cross-promotional fashion show events, and the amount and
diversity of restaurants and entertainment has grown with additions like El
Comal, Bar Pink Elephant, Urban Solace, and the soon-to-open Eveoke Dance
Studio. This is an exciting time for North Park, and North Park Main Street
has never been more proud to help contribute to the neighborhood’s
revitalization.
Patrick Edwards, President
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July
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Approved the Budget for Fiscal Year 2006-2007.
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Nominated John Zarling to sit on the North Park
Redevelopment Project Area Committee (PAC) as North Park Main Street’s
representative.
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Walked the district with Farmer’s Market Manager David
Larson to discuss securing a new market location.
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Approved a Salt and Pepper seeded aggregate for
sidewalk improvements.
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The Festival of the Arts Committee held a potluck
retreat to celebrate and review the 2006 Festival.
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Inquired with the City regarding $50,000 in Community
Block Development Grant (CDBG) funds that were awarded to North Park Main
Street for the Mobility Plan.
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Hired new Executive Assistant Melinda Pederson.
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The Business Improvement District (BID) Fees Committee
met to select a new fees structure for the North Park BID.
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Formed an Art on the Parking Garage Subcommittee,
composed of members from various North Park organizations.
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The Sidewalk Subcommittee met and reviewed the plans
for the sidewalk project on University Avenue.
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The Promotion Committee discussed the new banner
project for Downtown North Park with banners designed by Jimmy Long.
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Collected promotional materials from businesses in the
neighborhood for welcome bags to provide to the first phase of residents
in the La Boheme condominiums.
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The Festival Committee began meeting to plan the 2007
Festival of the Arts.
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August
- Published the August edition of the North Park Way.
- Sent out a survey to gauge business needs/concerns regarding parking
and the new parking garage.
- Jennifer Crawford resigned as Executive Director of North Park Main
Street.
Jude Thomas returned to North Park Main Street as the interim Executive
Director.
- Volunteers from the Greater North Park Community Planning Committee (GNPCPC)
and the NPCA were appointed to participate in the Parking Garage Art
Subcommittee.
- The first phase of residents moved into the La Boheme condominiums.
Worked with George Franck (NPCA History Committee) to plan a walking tour
of historic buildings in North Park.
- Hired McFarlane Promotions to work on marketing and sponsorship for
the 11th Annual North Park Festival of the Arts.
- Wrote a letter supporting the San Diego Indie Music Festival.
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September
- Worked to solidify funding for calendar year 2007.
- Conducted the annual election of the North Park Main Street Board of
Directors.
- Celebrated the 5th Anniversary of Ray at Night.
- The Design Committee nominated Christopher Dye and Mike Petrogeorge to
sit on the North Park Parking Management Working Group, which addresses
parking issues on a neighborhood-wide level.
- The Economic Restructuring Committee continued to review the Window
Display Project.
- Wrote a letter supporting the Toyland Parade.
- Wrote a letter supporting the Orchids & Onions annual awards ceremony,
to be held at the North Park Theater.
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October
- Held the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors.
- Seated the newly elected Board of Directors.
- Elected Officers for 2006-2007.
- Partnered with the NPCA to host the North Park Holiday Party and
selected the Lions Club as the location.
- Met with Toni Atkins to discuss the future and funding of North Park
Main Street.
- Formed a Selection Committee to hire a new Executive Director.
- Began advertising for the Executive Director position.
- Agreed to partner with the NPCA in order to fill the eligibility
requirements for the charitable funds needed to move the pedestrian
promenade project forward.
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November
- Continued accepting applications for the Executive Director position.
- Provided input to a New School of Architecture student regarding his
design project for the parking lot behind the North Park Theatre.
- Reviewed the latest draft of the Streetscape Design Manual, begun in
2005 by Mishauno Woggon and continued by Erik Plato.
- Orchids & Onions held their annual awards ceremony at the North Park
Theater.
- Developed a 2007 work plan for the Economic Restructuring Committee.
- Submitted a Letter of Intent to apply for the Creative Communities San
Diego grant for the 2008 Festival of the Arts.
- Analyzed crime and transient issues in the neighborhood.
- Walgreen's opened on University Avenue & 32nd Street.
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December
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Judged the Seasonal Lighting and Decoration Contest. 2006
Winners were Heaven Sent Desserts for Best Window Display, and Shooterz
for Best Exterior Display.
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Held the North Park Holiday Party at the North Park Lions
Club in partnership with the NPCA.
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Recognized North Park Main Street’s Volunteer of the Year
Jimmy Long, Board Member of the Year Lou Palestini, and 2006 Friend of
North Park Main Street Scott Kessler.
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Announced the completion of the Streetscape Design Manual.
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Approved a design for new tree grates.
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Completed interviewing candidates for Executive Director.
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Created new and updated business packets.
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Funded holiday wreaths on the lampposts throughout
downtown North Park.
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Contributed to the Holiday Freeway Bridge Lighting Program
over Interstate 805.
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January
- Hired Elizabeth Studebaker as Executive Director.
- Arranged the removal of the Toyland Parade Banners.
- Conducted sponsorship campaign for North Park Banners.
- The Design Committee resolved to support street amenities in North
Park.
- Began planning a community spring clean-up event.
- Elizabeth Studebaker attended the California Main Street Association (CAMSA)
Executive Network Meeting in Folsom.
- Elizabeth Studebaker accepted the nomination to serve on the CAMSA
Board of Directors.
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February
- Published the Winter 2007 Issue of the North Park Way.
- Voted in the North Park Redevelopment Project Area Committee
elections.
- Attended the California Main Street Annual Conference in Davis,
California.
- Wrote a letter supporting the NPCA summer concerts.
- Appointed Ralph Baez (CVS Pharmacy), Rick Bernardo and Cylanthia
Hudson (Union Bank of California), and Leon Natker (Lyric Opera San Diego)
to the Board of Directors.
- Applied for Community Enhancement funds from the City of San Diego for
the 2008 Festival of the Arts.
- Applied for Community Enhancement funds from the County of San Diego
for the 2008 Festival of the Arts.
- Applied for CDBG funds for use on the Tree Grate Design Streetscape
Improvement Project at University Avenue and 28th Street.
- Began planning a merchant mixer for local businesses.
- Completed the initial phase of the Banner Program, ending with 37
local businesses involved in sponsoring locations, and all 44 locations
reserved.
- Met with CVS Pharmacy to discuss re-opening the Farmers Market on
their south-west parking lot.
- Successfully held a community spring cleanup event.
- Installed 44 business banners, successfully completing the "North Park
is..." Banner Program.
- Awarded $11,005 from the Creative Communities San Diego proposal for
the 2007 event.
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March
- Sent out ballots to BID members to nominate the BID Business of the
Year.
- Submitted a proposal for $5,000 of funding with the County Supervisor
Ron Roberts’ District Office.
- Completed closing reports on Creative Communities San Diego (CCSD)
Grant for the 2006 Festival of the Arts.
- Met with SDPD, and the City Attorneys office to discuss neighborhood
crime, transient issues, and preventative measures.
- Began meeting with Public Solutions to discuss the possibility of
expanding and/or creating a new assessment district to increase funding
for the organization.
- Worked with the Redevelopment Agency on a new marketing campaign for
the parking garages.
- Elizabeth Studebaker attended the National Main Street Conference in
Seattle, WA.
- Assisted the Indie Music Fest with promotion of their event.
- Council District 3 expanded the sidewalk improvement project on
University Avenue and Utah Street; funding to increase the number of tree
wells and install curb ramps are included in the plans.
- The owner of 3020 University Avenue (formerly the Ramona Theater)
informed NPMS that he will upgrade the building’s facade this year.
- Businesses and community groups were encouraged to write letters to
CVS Pharmacy in support of NPMS’s request to hold the Farmers Market on
their south-west lot.
- Coordinated supplies for the North Park community graffiti paint out
efforts of the Young Democrats.
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April
- Recognized The Mission as the 2007 Business of the Year in the North
Park Business Improvement District, as determined by a vote of North Park
businesses.
- Participated in a community walk through with the police department,
discussing crime prevention and transient issues.
- Opposed the City of San Diego's Independent Budget Analyst (IBA)
proposal to charge the BID system $190,000 in fees, which would be
approximately $11,000 for each BID.
- Successfully held an Earth Day community cleanup event as part of
"Creek to Bay," a regional cleanup event.
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May
- Published the summer edition of the North Park Way.
- Nominated Jordana Beebe to sit on the Redevelopment PAC as North Park
Main Street’s representative.
- Hosted the 11th Annual North Park Festival of the Arts. This year’s
event featured four stages of entertainment, as well as the Sophia Isadora
Academy of Circus Arts, Peace Flags by Kids, the Art Miles Mural Project,
and a Coffee & Tea Lounge.
- Signed a contract with CVS allowing NPMS to use the south-west lot for
the Farmers Market.
- Continued planning a summer merchant mixer.
- Distributed parking garage promotional materials.
- Continued meeting with Public solutions to discuss BID expansion
and/or a new assessment district.
- Began selling "North Park: a San Diego Urban Village" on behalf of the
NPCA History Committee.
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June
- Approved the program budget for fiscal year 2008-2007.
- Walked the district with BID Council Arborist Alan Calderwood to
discuss areas in need of trees and tree maintenance.
- Wrote a letter supporting the Maintenance Assessment District’s (MAD)
new Assessment Engineer’s Report (AER).
- Received approval from the North Park Redevelopment PAC to continue
our contract with the Redevelopment Agency to assist with revitalization
activities in North Park.
- Collaborated with designer Chris Short and Farmers Market Manager
David Larson to complete a new Farmers Market logo and poster design.
- Continued working with George Franck on the Historic Walking tour.
- Continued planning a summer merchant mixer.
- Supported the Business Improvement District and Business Improvement
District Council budgets at a San Diego City Council meeting.
- Began planning a summer community cleanup event.
- The Mission was awarded BID Business of the Year out of 18 other
candidates city-wide.
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2006-2007 Board of Directors
Patrick
Edwards,
President
Antique Refinishers
John
Stewart McGaughy,
Vice-President
Associate Member
Kate
Ross,
Secretary
Kate Ross Clothing
Lou
Palestini,
Treasurer
San Diego National Bank
Ralph
Baez
CVS Pharmacy
Jordana
Beebe
Associate Member
Allisun
Hollies
Associate Member
Cylanthia Hudson
Union Bank of California
Leon
Natker
Lyric Opera San Diego
Stephen & Mary Birch North Park Theater
Dr.
Gregory Scott
Bacchus House
Hal
Thomas
Thomas Realtors
Committee Chairs
John
Stewart McGaughy and Sasha Hopstock
Design
Andy
Hamilton
Economic Restructuring
Jordana
Beebe
Promotion
Daniel
Bess
Festival of the Arts
Staff
Elizabeth Studebaker,
Executive Director
Melinda Pederson,
Executive Assistant |
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