Downtown Listening meeting

May 19, 2011

Vice Mayor Schumm, Commissioner Carter presiding. 

City Commissioners asked participants to provide topics to discuss related to downtown.  The topics decided upon were:

ü Retail Vacancies/Retail Incubator/Growth Management

ü Parking in Downtown

ü Retail/Bar Mix

ü Panhandling/Homelessness/Security in Downtown

ü Support of Local Merchants

ü Event Coordination with CVB, KU

ü Support for the Arts in Downtown

The following comments were received during the discussion on each topic.  Comments are summarized.

Retail Vacancies/Retail Incubator/Growth Management

Earl Reineman: Commented that he would like to see the retail synergy that was/is present maintained.  He encouraged incentives from the city that contribute to creating a positive retail environment (retail incubator). 

Kirk McClure: Commented that management of retail space needed to be reviewed and that management of new retail space be limited and existing stock be utilized first. Said that the City Commission should direct the Planning Commission to do an inventory of retail space and not absorb any more new retail space for a while.  He said the city should conserve the downtown and look toward plans for contraction, not expansion.

Mary Cox: Commented that she was supportive of ‘flash spaces’ (3-4 months of occupancy in a retail area to test new products, services). 

Susan Adams:  Commented that bringing in “useful” businesses such as grocery stores/drug stores would encourage use of other businesses in the area.  She also commented that increased walking/biking availability was needed in downtown.

Bruce Lees: Commented that he utilized the KU Small Business Development Center prior to opening his business and encouraged others to utilize training like this for new businesses to know what is needed to be successful. 

Peter Zacharias: Commented that the city should look into incubator programs like Grand Rapids, MI and seek input from other towns on how these programs have worked.  He was supportive of providing funding to start ups for a limited time.  He said that there has to be a critical mass of businesses in downtown to make it successful.  (DLI provided the following cities for possible research: Kalamazoo, MI; Ann Arbor, MI; Grand Rapids, MI; and Mobile, AL.)

Parking in Downtown

Peter Zacharias: Commented that more parking is needed in downtown.  

Another audience member commented that the city should not allow development of, or close, parking lots that are behind retail stores currently.  Stated that retail stores with back entrances are a value to the businesses and that parking should be left available to the public.

Earl Reineman: Commented that requests for dedicated parking in a garage should not be guaranteed 24/7 because it limits parking when the user is not parked in the garage.

Retail/Bar Mix

Audience member commented that there needs to be the right ratio of food service/bar vs. retail in downtown.   

Peter Zacharias: Commented that to create a dynamic retail area, there needs to be a critical mass of businesses(suggestion of at least 150).  Commented that liquor licenses should be capped in the downtown and that a lively shopping district was critical to success.

Mary Cox: Commented that the city could encourage retail by using an incubator system and look to how to successfully apply the concept in downtown. 

James Dunn:  Stated that sidewalks are compromised by sidewalk dining areas and it creates too narrow of an area for pedestrians to walk.  He stated that better enforcement of bicycle regulations in downtown should be implemented as well as increased signage for bicycle regulations.

Matt Lehrman:  – Stated that Lawrence can offer something you can’t get any where else and encouraged the use of pedestrian malls.  Stated that a study from the City of Memphis listed keys to success for a pedestrian mall.  He did say that pedestrian malls tend to not be successful in big cities but he thought Lawrence could benefit.  

Earl Reineman: Commented that it is a “slippery slope” when incentives are offered for secondary retail, less so for primary businesses.  Encouraged increasing the number of people living or working in downtown and providing incentives to companies who bring more people downtown to live or work.

Wynn Campbell:  Commented that the city should look for participation between the property owner and city to develop incubator.

Walt Houk: Commented that Lawrence should bring people from outside into Lawrence to visit and shop in downtown (via bus tours).  Wants the city to look into how to handle graffiti problem and panhandling prior to tours because visitors wouldn’t want to be in an uncomfortable environment.   Commented that lower taxes for property owners to encourage would encourage more tenants.  Also requested an increased police presence to decrease bicycle traffic.  Suggested looking into tour company Diamond Tours for opportunities.

Panhandling/Homelessness/Security in Downtown

Earl Reineman:  Offered his support to the article in the 5/19/11 Lawrence Journal World  that said that the new shelter’s design could exacerbate the problem of homelessness in downtown.  He said that a drop-in shelter has to be figured into the equation or downtown will still have problems with homelessness.  

Peter Zacharias: Commented that if we want to succeed in downtown, we have to present the same environment that our competition does.  In his opinion, this includes an environment free from soliciting and people being accosted.  Suggested the use of a ‘solicitation-free zone’ and that a solicitation permit from the city should be required that sets time, place and manner boundaries for solicitation.  He said that a civil environment was needed to encourage retail shopping.     

Wynn Campbell :  Commented that foot patrol response is helpful but needs to be on a more regular basis.

Earl Reineman:  Inquired if the proceeds from prior sales taxes for ‘public safety’ were to be used for things like foot patrols, security in downtown.  (City Manager Corliss explained usage of sales taxes and stated that there is not a dedicated force for foot patrols and that a study session is planned in the future to discuss public safety resources).

Tony Estes:   Commented that the city should require a city permit for performers.

Peter Zacharias: Stated that the future of downtown Lawrence is tourism and that the city needed to increase security and desirability of downtown for tourism to be successful.

Support of Local Merchants

Eileen Strong:  Stated that merchants/city needed to create a “Lawrence experience” instead of quick in-and-out needs.  She said that downtown Lawrence must be unique with family-owned, individually owned places that make the area a destination.  Commented that Band Day parade was a good event that generated foot traffic.

Event Coordination with CVB/KU

Vice Mayor Shumm commented that KU has made more attempts to engage in downtown events in the past few years.

Commissioner Carter asked the audience what are the pros and cons are for closing streets temporarily for events.

Craig Adams:  Commented that the city needed to consider blocking off a part of down permanently as a pedestrian mall.   

Peter Zacharias:  Commented that he had looked into a way to provide a tram way linking the University to Mass. Street to connect with KU in a meaningful way.  Stated that a direct link to KU is needed for urban pedestrian malls to be successful.  Said that events are great in downtown but wanted them on side streets, not the arterial street.  Said he would like to see greater communication and coordination with KU and bring athletic events back to Lawrence instead of going to Kansas City.

Wynn Campbell:  Commented that the layout for a pedestrian mall does not work well for Lawrence and stated that many cities are removing pedestrian malls now.  Stated that Massachusetts is the main artery for downtown and removing the main artery or parking in that area would disrupt business.  Encouraged the use of side streets versus using Massachusetts.  He said closures on Massachusetts were appropriate for short-term events, not long-term events.  mass. 

Cindy Hart:  Commented that when Bert Nash Mental Health did their post-event survey from the 2010 Bert Nash Bash, there was overwhelming response from people who enjoyed being on Massachusetts with their families.  Comments were from both local and out-of-town guests.  She said the response from businesses in the block was varied depending on the type of business it was.

Jane Pennington:  Commented that some pedestrian malls have failed but some side streets have potential (8^th, 10^th) as potential pedestrian mall areas.  Stated that pedestrian malls do create a community-type setting and gives a central square for events.

Support for the Arts in Downtown

Jane Pennington: Commented that the city should figure out what we need to do to help artists and arts organizations to thrive and sustain over a long period.  She said there is a limit to what volunteers can do and that the economic impact of supporting the arts is positive.  Discussed that Salina,KS has a city department of Arts and Humanities  and that Salina estimates the economic impact of arts is $24 million for a population of 50,000 people.  In 2003, Lawrence’s economic impact is $32 million.  Encouraged more spending and support of the arts to increase economic impact.   Stated that people who come to town for arts events spend more money than other tourists ($600) and have longer stays.  Encourage the group to figure out ways to work with the artists and arts organizations to work together and sustain what they are doing and grow (leverage the arts in Lawrence).  Commented that retirees tend to support the arts and that Lawrence can link an art-friendly scene with retirees and those with disposable incomes.

Susan Tate:  Commented that Lawrence is unique to the fact that we have an Arts Center and many arts organizations in our community.  She said that she believes that arts funding by the community is an investment that keeps the downtown vibrant and gives reasons for people to come downtown. She said she wanted to see successful partnerships between art and commerce.

Frank Jensen:  Inquired about how the use of the 1% for arts is used.  (City Manager Corliss explained usage.)

George:  Inquired if the percent for an arts could be used for an arts incubator.  (City Manager Corliss explained how the policy is set by the City Commission and how it is currently used.)

Miscellaneous Comments

Peter Zacharias: Commented that he’s seen that extending hours in downtown has had diminished in demand. 

Brian Kemp:  Said that extended hours were helpful since 30% of population commutes out of Lawrence and downtown should stay open more often.

Strong’s Antiques:  Commented that there needs to be encouragement for people in west Lawrence to shop downtown.

Bill Staples:  Commented that he wanted to underscore the need for a good mix in downtown – residents living there, working there, good pedestrian access, etc.  He said that decisions that affect one part of downtown have an impact on others and that policies need to be respectful of all parties involved.

Bruce Lacey – Encouraged all attendees to contact Legislature and propose  that all internet sales should charge sales tax; stated that internet sales is the biggest competition to brick and mortar stores.