Lawrence
City Commissioners
City
Hall
P.
O. Box 708
Lawrence,
KS 66044
Re:
2006 2nd Quarter DLI Report
Dear
Commissioners:
Over the past quarter, DLI has been
working in a cooperative manner with the different principles involved with the
waterline replacement project. This has
included directing an integrated marketing campaign that the City of Lawrence
has decided provide with matching funds.
We have developed a print, television, internet, and direct mail
campaign focusing on images of community members expressing their attraction to
Downtown Lawrence. We are working with
the different media partners to provide opportunities for businesses to
participate in this program and are confident that these efforts will produce
an effective and innovative marketing program while demonstrating the benefits
of working together. We have also
started designing a new Downtown Lawrence Guide and Map that will feature a map
of the area, Downtown facts, business listings, and parking and “T”
information. We plan on using this new
guide as the centerpiece of a new direct mail campaign, along with having it
available at many other sites. Finally,
we are also excited to say that we have begun discussions with the KU Small Business
Development Center and will be forming a new DLI committee to address business
expansion and retention issues for the Downtown area. We will use this new committee to assist
existing business and provide guidance for new prospects.
DLI will continue to strive to make
Downtown Lawrence a vibrant and viable part of our wonderful community. Our new director has settled into his
position and is eagerly beginning to work on all of the tasks listed
below.
Addressing
our specific goals:
1. Promote Downtown to help ensure a strong sales tax revenue
base.
We
have developed an integrated marketing campaign specifically for the waterline
replacement project that we feel will serve as a stepping stone to a new wave
of cooperative advertising. We will use
this campaign to promote Downtown Lawrence in and outside the city limits. Initial response to this has been
encouraging, due in no small part to the matching funds that are
available. We hope to show the value of
working together in these matters. The
publication of a new Downtown Lawrence Map and Guide will also promote the area
as a shopping destination. A total of
twenty thousand of these will be printed in the first printing, with ten
thousand being used in a direct mail campaign that is underway. The others will be distributed through
various avenues and we plan on an updated printing every 6 to 8 months.
2. Promote the Downtown Lawrence Historic District.
We will continue the “History of your Building”
project. The new DL Map and Guide will
contain historic information and will be available to those interested in these
matters. We will also meet with the
Historic Preservation Department (when their schedule permits) and come up with
methods to expand on our presentation of historic information.
3.
Educate Downtown property owners and
businesses on how historic designation of Downtown Lawrence impacts them.
No additional inquiries from property owners were received
during this quarter.
4. Act
as a liaison between Downtown property owners and perspective tenants.
The new retention and expansion committee will be tasked
with this. We will work with owners and
brokers to help entice new businesses and assist those prospects with tools,
information, and expertise.
5. Encourage small independent businesses to locate Downtown.
This will be addressed along with number 4 above. DLI did meet with a prospective new business
in June and provided them with business and retail information, utility and
regulation contacts, and a listing of DLI members.
6
Implement and
coordinate beautification efforts.
We will continue to do whatever we can to assist with the
City’s new beautification plan. We will
ask staff from the City Parks and Recreation Department to attend DLI
Beautification committee meetings. We
are also preparing a plan for the 2006 Christmas Lighting project and will
present that to the proper City departments.
7. Act as a “clearinghouse” for the City.
DLI will continue to serve in this capacity in regards to
the waterline replacement project. We
have assisted this quarter by delivering notices for the City, sending
communication to DLI businesses, and remaining in close contact with City staff
on the project. We will also continue to
keep ourselves informed on issues that are vital to the operation of Downtown,
including serving on the CCC, attending City Commission meetings and study
sessions, and providing input and assistance when asked or needed. We have met with staff from Parks and
Recreation, Neighborhood Resources, and the City Manager’s office.
8. Promote the use of the Parking Garage at 9th and
New Hampshire.
We will continue this through our advertising and
website. We will also continue to
encourage business owners to have their employees use this facility.
9. Promote the use of the Lawrence Transit System.
Please see item 8 above.
We also appreciate free rider days on Sidewalk Sale.
Sincerely,
Robert
Oderkirk
President
Board
of Directors
Downtown
Lawrence, Inc.
cc: David Corliss