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DRA’S IMPACT on Downtown Raleigh’s Quality of Life and Economic Success 2013 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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DRA’SIMPACT onDowntown
Raleigh’sQuality of
Lifeand
Economic Success
2013 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
THEDOWNTOWN RALEIGHALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT TWO THOUSAND ANDTHIRTEEN YouRHere.com
THEDOWNTOWN RALEIGHALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT TWO THOUSAND ANDTHIRTEEN YouRHere.com
BOARD CHAIR LETTER
A FRIENDLY + SAFE DOWNTOWN
AN ATTRACTIVE DOWNTOWN
A PROSPEROUS DOWNTOWN
A CONNECTED DOWNTOWN
A MEMORABLE DOWNTOWN
A COLLABORATIVE DOWNTOWN
A TRANSPARENT DOWNTOWN
BOARD + STAFF
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DRA is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission is to continue the revitalization of Raleigh’s downtown by enhancing its quality of life and contributing to its economic success. On a day-to-day basis, DRA provides five core services designed to support its primary stakeholders (property owners, government officials, business owners):
1. Safety, Hospitality + Clean Ambassadors
2. Strategic Branding + Community Communications
3. Special Events Production + City Plaza Programming
4. Retail Attraction + Merchant Promotions
5. Strategic Partnerships + Stakeholder Engagement
MISSION STATEMENT
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This Annual Report illustrates the impact the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) made in enhancing the quality of life and economic success of Raleigh’s downtown in 2013. DRA stakeholders include not only property owners, government officials, and business owners, but also DRA members, downtown residents, and downtown employees. Below are some of our achievements that have produced positive results for our stakeholders.
• If you’re a downtown resident or employee, then you benefited from the parking garage and street patrols conducted by our red-uniformed security ambassadors. Please take the time to introduce yourself and thank them for their unwavering dedication to make downtown a safe and welcoming place.
• If you’re a storefront merchant in downtown, then you experienced an increase in your customer traffic thanks to our marketing staff. DRA merchant programs attracted thousands to downtown through our excellent promotions: First Friday Art Gallery Walk, Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, Shop Downtown Raleigh, the Raleigh MIX, and our newest promotion, the Shop Downtown Raleigh Gift Card!
• If you’re a downtown employee or visitor, you may have been one of 100,000 visitors at our Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market held every Wednesday from April to October. At the 2013 International Downtown Association Conference, DRA received a Downtown Merit Award for the CHEESE PLEASE! Festival.
• If you’re a broker or a developer, then you may have received a copy of our State of Downtown report, which is filled with market trends in a graphically appealing format that is tailored to your clients or your investors. To receive a copy of our latest edition, please attend our State of Downtown event on April 17, 2014 from 8 am-10 am.
• If you’re a government employee, then you may have partnered with our staff to help bring our community together on a variety of issues, such as the downtown Raleigh planning process, Moore Square food distribution, amplified entertainment regulations, the International Bluegrass Music Association festival, or outdoor event applications through the Events Task Force.
• If you live outside of downtown, then you may have been one of 15,000 visitors who joined us in celebrating the Official Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting at our wonderful Ipreo Raleigh Winterfest event.
In addition to our accomplishments, DRA was recognized by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce at the 2013 Pinnacle Awards for Community Leadership.
Get involved! Everyone in the community is welcomed to contribute to the DRA mission. It has been an honor to serve as Madame Board Chair of the DRA. I thank our stakeholders for the privilege of allowing the DRA to carry out such an important mission.
JILL WELLS HEATH | Mulkey Engineers & Consultants
Printed on paper from recycled post-consumer waste
LETTER FROM 2013 BOARD CHAIR JILL WELLS HEATH
BY DELIVERING FIRST-CLASS HOSPITALITY SERVICES and public safety support, the DRA Safety Ambassadors create a welcoming environment that is approachable and safe. Attentive and hospitality-focused, the Ambassador team is dedicated to providing exceptional service to residents, merchants, and visitors. They act as safety escorts, provide directions and assistance, and patrol all five downtown districts, serving as the additional “eyes and ears” for the police in downtown.
In 2013 DRA hired a new contractor, AlliedBarton Security Services, to manage the Ambassador program. The well-trained team strives to maximize existing public safety resources and address quality of life situations, such as deterring aggressive panhandling and providing parking deck security in a proactive and respectful manner. Equipped with hand-held radios, the Ambassadors traverse the streets and sidewalks seven days a week, providing strong uniform presence and helping to ensure that visitors feel confident in their personal safety and have a positive downtown experience.
The Ambassadors maximized their visibility and strengthened efforts to impact the community through:
• Producing on-going presentations to new businesses and community groups
• Participating in safety presentations to assist Red Hat employees • Developing strong collaborations with the Raleigh Police Department • Initiating the Ambassador of the Month program, which allows the
Ambassadors to recognize their peers each month • Obtaining certification through AlliedBarton Security Services and the
North Carolina Private Protective Services• Providing Safety Ambassador training including: patrol techniques,
report writing, and legal powers and limitations
A FRIENDLY + SAFE DOWNTOWN
IMPACT METRICS
1,279 SAFETY ESCORTS, the highest total since the program was
established in 2005—quadruple the
number since 2009
PATROLLED NINE PARKING GARAGES AND FOUR SURFACE LOTS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
2,846 motor assists, including battery
jumps and giving directions
10,436 hospitality assists, including
visitor recommendations and finding lost cars
RACHEL LOWE, NCCP “On Saturday night, I lost my car in a parking lot after a party I attended. I walked for 45 minutes by myself in the empty lot. Thankfully, I found Victor. He walked with me for another 30 minutes to help me find my car and kept me safe. He went out of his way to help someone in need and turned what could have been a complete meltdown on my part into a positive experience. He is an exemplary individual and an extremely kind man. I would have been completely lost without him and I can assure you I won’t forget him. He is a real gentleman and an excellent employee.”
SAFETY HOURS + HOTLINE
Monday-Wednesday (6 am-12 midnight)Thursday-Friday (6 am-2 am)Saturday (10 am-2 am)Sunday (6 pm-12 midnight)
Ambassadors also provide additional parking deck patrols:
Thursday-Saturday (12 midnight-2 am)
Hotline919.368.7962
EACH AMBASSADOR PATROLS SPECIFIC DISTRICTS, following a preset schedule and making regular stops by businesses on their route. Following the Guard1 Tour System, Ambassadors use a patrol wand to document completed tours, which includes location, date, and time. In all, the Ambassadors patrol 110 square blocks of downtown.
ON A TYPICAL DAY, Ambassadors provide hospitality services and assistance to downtown visitors, residents, and business owners. This includes helping people find nearby parking and teaching them how to use the parking meters, recommending a local restaurant, or offering directions.
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AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARDRANDY BLOW HAS BEEN NAMED AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2013 for his positive attitude, great work ethic, and excellent teamwork. An outstanding Safety Ambassador, Mr. Blow is recognized for his leadership abilities including taking the lead on managing aggressive panhandling, serving as acting supervisor on several occasions, and covering shifts when needed. Hailing from Hartford, Connecticut, Mr. Blow is currently in the Army Reserves and has been serving his country for two and a half years at the “MP Unit” in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. His background is a testimony to his professionalism and effective leadership skills.
A CLEAN AND ATTRACTIVE DOWNTOWN SPURS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, improves quality of life, and enhances downtown’s public image. The Ambassador Clean Team improves overall neatness and appearance of downtown’s environment. The team patrols downtown each day to remove litter, weeds, and cigarette butts to keep downtown sidewalks and public spaces neat and attractive. Highly visible in red uniforms, the Ambassador Clean Team plays an integral role in downtown revitalization by performing cleaning services and maintenance activities. In addition to maintaining downtown’s core, the Clean Team provides public communication and assistance to downtown businesses, residents, and visitors.
AN ATTRACTIVE DOWNTOWN
CLEAN HOURS
Monday–Friday (7 am-3:30 pm) Saturday (9 am-5:30 pm)
LAMONT GOODWIN ARRANGES CHAIRS FOR PATRONS EATING LUNCH OUTDOORS. Ambassadors also clean the tables on a regular basis to enhance the downtown visitor experience.
TO MAINTAIN A PRISTINE LOOK IN DOWNTOWN’S PREMIER EVENT SPACE, DANTE BROWN POWER WASHES CITY PLAZA. Ambassadors power wash the brick street once a quarter.
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IMPACT METRICS
718 HOURS GRAFFITI REMOVAL—almost 46% less graffiti to
remove than last year
56,182 POUNDS OF TRASH REMOVED from downtown sidewalks
Ambassadors spent OVER 2,660 HOURS total keeping downtown clean
and attractive in 2013
SGT. RICH MARX, RALEIGH POLICE “I recently toured Copenhagen, Denmark on a family vacation. It wasn’t as clean as I remembered it from a visit in 2002. There was a lot of street level trash and quite a bit of graffiti. I came back to work and it hit me how clean Raleigh is as I walked around downtown. I don’t know if you get many compliments about the Clean Ambassadors. Please pass along my thanks for what they do each and every day as we look better than one of the supposedly elite cities in Europe.”
AMBASSADORS ASSIST IN CLEANING up the sidewalks following events, parades, construction, farmers markets, and other activities to maintain a consistent level of cleanliness.
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THE CITY OF RALEIGH CONTRACTS THE DOWNTOWN RALEIGH ALLIANCE for retail recruitment and economic development initiatives to support downtown’s revitalization. DRA is proud to contribute to the continued evolution of downtown’s emerging role as a shopping destination, as well as its very strong presence of dining and nightlife. New and diverse storefront businesses bring a direct economic impact by increasing tax revenues and creating employment opportunities. Indirectly, they influence businesses and residents in their decisions to move downtown.
44 street-level businesses opened in 2013 continuing the positive trend of the last few years with a 16% increase in new business activation
2013 TYPES OF NEW BUSINESSES
IMPACT: NEW BUSINESSES DRA ASSISTED• Capstone Cleaners
• Coglin’s Raleigh
• Donatos
• Dos Taquitos Xoco
• High Cotton
• Jimmy V’s Osteria + Bar
• Jose and Sons
• Kimbap
• New Bridge Bank
• Nora and Nicky’s
• Nüvonivo
• Oak City Roasters
• Paddy O’ Beers
• Plates
• Pogo
• Quercus Studio
• Regus Business Center
• Seni Side Balinese Handcrafted Art
• Social Status
• Sorry State Records
A PROSPEROUS DOWNTOWN
Clothes + Accessories
52%Restaurants
+ Bars30%
Health + Services
9%
Arts + Gifts 9%
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The Raleigh MIX (www.theraleighmix.com) is a new nightlife merchant program that DRA launched in July 2013 to showcase downtown’s five dynamic districts to the greater Raleigh-Durham area and to make a positive impact on downtown’s nightlife venues. The promotion is designed as a one-night-only event with incentivized offers that strategically target the 20s to mid-40s demographic. The event showcased 20 downtown nightlife venues that offered DJ entertainment, drink specials, and no cover charge at the door, providing a unique experience for all patrons.
IMPACT• 20 participating nightlife venues • Over 10,000 patrons in downtown that evening• Over 760 Twitter followers within two months
(June and July 2013)
KIM O’SULLIVAN, SOLAS “A large amount of people were out for the Raleigh MIX. I noticed that many of the guests entering Solas were already wearing wristbands from other establishments, and we went through volumes of wrist bands ourselves. I also noticed the increase of traffic on Glenwood, especially for a Friday, mirrored a very busy Saturday, which was impressive. Overall, the event was a success, and Solas will happily participate in all of the upcoming DRA events. These events are masterfully organized, professionally promoted, and bring additional revenue to our business.”
THE RALEIGH MIX
DRA merchant programs boasted a 108% increase in participation from 2012
Our five signature promotions—First Friday, Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, Shop Downtown Raleigh, the Shop Downtown Raleigh Gift Card, and the Raleigh MIX—are designed to make an economic impact by developing comprehensive advertising campaigns that draw more customers to our downtown businesses. These programs showcase unique, diverse, and independently owned businesses while circulating money back into the local economy. DRA leverages resources to maximize the success of these programs and their economic impact.
© Tierney Farrell
MERCHANT PROGRAMS
Shop Downtown Raleigh (www.ShopDowntownRaleigh.com) is a campaign that promotes downtown as a culturally exciting shopping destination with a wide variety of unique shops for everyday and specialty items. In November 2013, DRA launched the Shop Downtown Raleigh Gift Card Program to showcase the dynamic mix of retailers, restaurants, and service providers and keep spending dollars in the local economy. The multi-merchant gift card provides a great opportunity for consumers to visit and experience a variety of independently-owned and eclectic stores as well as the vibrant dining scene.
SHOP DOWNTOWN RALEIGH METRICS• 48 Shop Downtown Raleigh participants • 901 Facebook fans—29% increase from 2012• 2,683 Twitter followers—291% increase from 2012
SHOP DOWNTOWN RALEIGH GIFT CARD METRICS• Over 700 gift cards sold and over $42,000 in sales • 110 Shop Downtown Raleigh Gift Card Program participants
SHOP DOWNTOWN RALEIGH + SHOP DOWNTOWN RALEIGH GIFT CARD
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RAY MALOUF, NŰVONIVO “During our search for a retail space in the beginning of 2013, we had our choice of many locations to open our first brick and mortar store, but few have the support of an organization like the DRA or a program like Shop Downtown Raleigh. All of the new retailers in downtown are pioneering a new wave of growth for our city, but without these programs it would be difficult to find some sort of coherence in developing a strong retail scene. The Shop Downtown Gift Card Program is the most impressive development thus far. It attracts folks to downtown’s unique and trendy shopping scene where they can discover something new. We love the urban experience, and we want to share that experience with our customers every day.”
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310 merchants benefited from DRA’s five signature promotions: First Friday, Shop Downtown, the Shop Downtown Raleigh Gift Card, Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, and the Raleigh MIX
Each year, DRA produces the State of Downtown report for its State of Downtown event. This report is the primary investor guide to downtown containing a comprehensive listing of market trends fueling the growth of Raleigh’s Central Business District.
IMPACT:• Over 500 attended the event—a 50%
increase from the 2012 event• Printed 1,000 State of Downtown reports• Over 208,000 website pageviews to
access the report
STATE OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH
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For over two decades, the First Friday Raleigh Art Gallery Walk (www.FirstFridayRaleigh.com) has been a foundational event to solidify downtown’s arts and cultural scene. On the first Friday of every month, galleries, studios, museums, and alternative art venues extend their hours welcoming art enthusiasts to this popular community event. This self-guided tour attracts thousands of attendees downtown to experience arts and culture and enjoy specials offered at participating shops and eateries. Over the years, DRA has developed media partnerships to create more awareness. Monthly media coverage includes the
Triangle.com First Friday guide, GoAskMom.com First Friday guide, WRAL’s Out and About First Friday guide, Midtown Raleigh News article, and a TV interview on News 14 Carolina. Triangle Downtowner Magazine also featured First Friday as its cover story for the volume 9, issue 5 publication.
IMPACT METRICS:• 97 participants—14% increase from 2012• Over 4,200 Facebook fans—52% increase from 2012• Over 6,000 Twitter followers—342% increase from 2012
MARY POOLE, ARTSPACE"It's amazing to see how First Friday has grown since Artspace and a couple of other galleries first initiated it in 1990. Today, downtown Raleigh is buzzing with the energy of thousands of people on the First Friday of every month. At Artspace we welcome between 2,500-3,000 people of all ages through our doors on any given First Friday. First Fridays provide a monthly celebration of not only local and national visual artists but all the other great things about downtown Raleigh— great local restaurants, one-of-a-kind retail shops, bars and music venues, and performing art theatres. On First Fridays, the city comes alive!"
FIRST FRIDAY ART GALLERY WALK
First Friday and other free arts, cultural, and music events were cited as one of the “favorite things about downtown Raleigh.”¹
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¹ Source: City of Raleigh Urban Design Center Downtown Perception Survey 2013.
Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week celebrates the diversity and culinary talent in downtown’s core. The program has made a positive impact on the local economy by encouraging patrons to dine out during a seasonal lull. At 35 participating restaurants, the 2013 promotion boasts the highest level of participation to date.
DRA launched a new and improved Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week website (www.DineDowntownRaleigh.com) to enhance the user experience. The website features readily available menus, real-time social media engagement, and mapping navigation.
IMPACT METRICS: The post-event survey of participating restaurants revealed that both sales and number of diners increased by 26% or higher than the three preceding weeks in August, confirming the event’s positive economic impact.
• Over 10,400 diners took advantage of the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week menu—generating over $260,000 in total restaurant revenue
• 54% increase in online reservations from 2012• Over 1,100 Facebook fans—67% increase from 2012• Over 1,200 Twitter followers—502% increase from 2012
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH RESTAURANT WEEK
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HOLLY MOHAJER, MO’S DINER “We are so pleased with the turn-out at Mo’s Diner during Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. Our sales were more than double the weeks prior in August. My wait staff and kitchen staff and I so appreciate the guests that joined us during Restaurant Week and we hope that we made some new friends and regular customers, not only for us but for the terrific downtown Raleigh that I am so proud to be a part of.”
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IT IS NO SECRET THAT DOWNTOWN HAS CHANGED PROFOUNDLY in the past few years and continues to grow. As a champion of downtown, DRA takes on the challenge of shifting public perception by raising awareness of downtown’s vitality. We connect to the community through our communications campaigns, membership programs, and networking events.
MARKETING + BRANDING DRA tells downtown’s revitalization story by integrating the award-winning “You R Here” brand in all communications and sales collateral. The brand captures downtown’s vibrant, diverse, and innovative spirit that inspires community involvement while fostering pride and ownership of our downtown. By developing and implementing strategic marketing campaigns for programs and events, we increase DRA’s visibility in the community and drive traffic to downtown businesses and events.
COMMUNICATIONSThis year, DRA hired a marketing and communications manager to maximize visibility of the organization and its programs on a day-to-day basis through digital media integration. We use many channels to communicate downtown’s continuing transformation from public relations tools, media partnerships and digital communications to social media activity. Our website and monthly e-newsletter serve to promote downtown events and to keep the community abreast with downtown news and updates.
2013 ACCOMPLISHMENTS* • Facebook: 17,400 fans—54% more than 2012• Twitter: 26,417 followers—261% more than 2012• New Instagram and Pinterest accounts along with LinkedIn Forum and
Company Page—over 3,340 followers • 14,000+ subscribers to e-newsletters and notifications • 6.7 million pageviews in 2013, a 24% increase from 2012 • Redesigned new and interactive websites, increasing visibility • Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week pageviews increased 165% from
2012 • Ipreo Raleigh Winterfest: over 228,000 in pageviews• Created an online press room to display press releases and track downtown
Raleigh news
*all DRA programs combined
A CONNECTED DOWNTOWN
DRA PROGRAM WEBSITESwww.RaleighWinterfest.com
www.RaleighEatLocal.com
www.FirstFridayRaleigh.com
www.ShopDowntownRaleigh.com
www.DineDowntownRaleigh.com
www.TheRaleighMix.com
JEREMY PERRY, RED HAT “For the staff at Red Hat Tower, the weekly event and street closure notification is a useful reminder of the vitality of downtown. As a Red Hatter, I enjoy the easy access to so many cultural events and I am delighted to see increasing signs of economic optimism in our downtown neighborhood.”
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OVER 700 PEOPLE ATTENDED the 2013 Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony themed “Revitalizing through Art.” To celebrate the arts, the event hosted a live painter, an opera singer, trapeze artists, a costume display, and a live band.
OVER 400 DOWNTOWN ADVOCATES attended multiple member networking events, including bi-monthly Meet Downtown receptions. In addition, we hosted a luncheon that showcased downtown women who are leading in the restaurant industry with over 230 attendees.
475 members with a 95% retention rateMembership is an opportunity for a diverse group of property owners, businesses, retailers, nonprofit organizations, residents, and individuals throughout the Triangle to connect around their common interest of supporting downtown’s revitalization. This growing network enables us to be a better advocate for downtown and builds fundamental relationships for downtown’s growth. The DRA also connects members to the downtown community by producing a monthly member e-newsletter and sending notifications highlighting new business openings, downtown activities, and civic conversation.
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WE CREATE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES FOR VISITORS, EMPLOYEES, AND RESIDENTS through special events in order to showcase downtown Raleigh as an exciting urban destination and center of activity. With corporate sponsorships and supported partnerships, DRA produces festivals and activities that strengthen our collective community. DRA also serves as a catalyst, facilitator, and promoter for downtown by managing the event application process, programming City Plaza, and boosting downtown activity.
DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE Our public space management responsibilities include streetscape beautification. We enhance downtown through our banner program adding color and motion to the pedestrian environment. The program fosters community pride, beautifies downtown, and raises awareness of cultural events, conventions, and civic programs. In addition, we provide holiday lighting and other festive enhancements.
• 433 banners displayed representing five distinct conventions• 50 American flags for six patriotic holidays• 47,500 LED lights on 95 trees lining Fayetteville Street
A MEMORABLE DOWNTOWN©
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Downtown activity flourished in 2013 with 246 outdoor events filling the streets of downtown with over a million people—128% more events than last year.
CITY PLAZA MANAGEMENT Contracted by the City of Raleigh, DRA is responsible for managing City Plaza, downtown’s premier public space for outdoor events. We hired a City Plaza manager to facilitate regular meetings with plaza tenants, property owners, and city officials to ensure successful collaboration with plaza festivals. In 2013, City Plaza hosted 131 days of activities.
EVENTS TASK FORCEWith over 35 members representing public and private interests, the Events Task Force (ETF), a committee managed by DRA, centrally processed and approved 95 outdoor event applications in 2013. By coordinating everything ranging from street closures and electricity needs to permits and crowd control, the ETF serves as a resource for event producers, streamlines the application process, and facilitates communication between event producers, city agencies, and the public.
Downtown hosted popular events including the International Bluegrass Music Association festival and convention, formerly held in Nashville, which attracted over 140,000 visitors in its inaugural year in Raleigh. Other highly-attended large-scale events include The ‘Works! Independence Day celebration, Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, Artsplosure, Hopscotch, the Raleigh Christmas Parade, and First Night Raleigh, which drew a combined total of 300,000 people to downtown.
Courtesy of the Kruger Brothers
RALEIGH WINTERFEST TRANSFORMS DOWNTOWN INTO A WINTER WONDERLAND during its 10-week season. As the premier holiday event, attendees experience the largest natural ice outdoor skating rink in the region. To enhance downtown’s appeal as a family-friendly destination, we opened the ice rink two weeks earlier in 2013, resulting in a combined total of over 15,000 skaters during the 2013-2014 season.
The 2013 festival featured a carousel, horse-drawn carriage rides, a new beer tent and wine garden, an artisan market, and the official Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. This year’s Norway Aspen tree measured higher than ever at 42 feet tall and donned 14,000 energy efficient LED lights. The event’s main stage hosted 18 local performance groups and two headliners. The festival attracted over 15,000 visitors, due in part to a great partnership with the City of Raleigh. In addition to a fantastic festival, DRA also programmed Two for One Tuesdays, Date and Skate Thursdays with carriage rides, and Rock Around the Rink Fridays with a live DJ.
IMPACT METRICS:• 4,581 Facebook fans—26% increase from 2012• 1,161 Twitter followers—265% increase from 2012
IPREO RALEIGH WINTERFEST
NANCY MCFARLANE, CITY OF RALEIGH MAYOR“The Ipreo Raleigh Winterfest Celebration combines all of the best of the holidays and winter. The tree lighting, the ice skating, the rides, Santa, the food, the music; it is easy to understand why the Ipreo Raleigh Winterfest celebration has quickly become a beloved Raleigh tradition.”
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THE RALEIGH DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET is the premier venue for locally-grown produce and artisan foods that brings workers, residents, and visitors together to enjoy their downtown community. Our 27-week long Wednesday market offers live music, local lunch options, cooking demonstrations, product tastings, and nonprofit participation. The Market hosted four local food festivals throughout the season: Pig Pickin’ Kickoff, Tomatolicious, CHEESE PLEASE!, and the Honey Buzztival.
IMPACT:• Over 105,000 shoppers throughout the season• Market customers spent over $230,000 on local agriculture and
artisan food products in 2013 and over $600,000 since 2010• Market’s EBT/SNAP program received an achievement award at
the national conference of the National Association of Counties• CHEESE PLEASE! Festival earned a 2013 Downtown Merit Award
RALEIGH DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET
“As a Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market vendor, I was able to test the Market for my coffee roasting business, connect directly with customers, and build strong relationships with vendors and the local community. The exposure opened up new business and promotional opportunities with other downtown merchants and organizations.”
BILL LANDAHL, OAK CITY ROASTERS
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DOWNTOWN ORGANIZATIONS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS in order to create a successful downtown; no single organization or individual can revitalize or continue the momentum of an entire downtown on its own. Indeed, the word “Alliance” in our organization’s name has never meant so much as it does today. Emerging trends such as the growth of downtown residents has reinstated the role of the business and government sectors in downtown’s revitalization.
DOWNTOWN VISION PLANDRA and the City of Raleigh are collaborating on a 10-year strategic plan for on-going growth and development in downtown. The planning process activated DRA stakeholder and community engagement through workshops, forums, and a perception survey to define a vision, identify catalytic projects, and formulate action steps. DRA serves as a partner, implementor, advocate, and catalyst for the planning process. We have raised $250,000 to contribute to the planning process.
DISTRICT COLLABORATIVESAs the number of new storefront businesses and new residents reached a critical mass in Raleigh’s downtown, DRA supported the creation of stakeholder groups in each district. The main goal of these groups is to nurture a collaborative environment in which solutions can be applied to the unique needs of each district. Lessons learned in one district can also be applied in another. The meetings are inclusive, and anyone is welcome to attend. Typical attendees consist of business owners, residents, government employees, and property owners. DRA’s role is to convene regular meetings for these groups and provide leadership that focuses on teamwork and results. Each collaborative has a planning committee that works to develop agendas, accomplish goals, and set a direction for the neighborhood.
ALLYSON SUTTON, HQ RALEIGH “The DRA has been instrumental in sharing our story and facilitating connections with local entrepreneurs, government leaders, and downtown business owners. From providing us with tables for our pop-up co-working space, to showcasing our members’ success stories, the DRA’s support has played an incredibly valuable role in the continued growth of our community.”
NAME PROJECT
BEST Raleigh
HQ Raleigh
City of Raleigh Museum
Raleigh Convention Center
Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Convention Center & Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau
Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau
South East Raleigh Assembly
Mural Unveiling
Community Sponsor
Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum
The ‘Works! Fourth of July Celebration
Annual Meeting
Iron Man 70.3 Competition
Wide Open Bluegrass Convention and Festival
Dancing in the Park
SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT PROVIDED TO THE FOLLOWING EVENTS + ORGANIZATIONS:
PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR EVENTS + ORGANIZATIONS:
• Activate Raleigh
• Artsplosure
• Compost Now
• Glenwood South Market and Scavenger Hunt
• Handmade Market
• Hopscotch
• Junior League of Raleigh Shopping Spree
• Learning Together’s Rock, Paper, Scissors Showdown
• Raleigh Round Up
• The Most Amazing Race Raleigh
A COLLABORATIVE DOWNTOWN
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The GLENWOOD SOUTH Neighborhood Collaborative conducted a sidewalk inventory to identify the areas that needed better lighting and address repairs to sidewalks and other public infrastructure. A special thanks goes to Alex Amra, Jim Belt, Niall Hanley, Donna Belt, Sue Glennon, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Tracy Saunders, Dan Lovenheim, Stephen Votino, Jennifer Martin, and Frank Bloom (DRA staff leader) for serving on the planning committee. This committee works to develop agendas, accomplish goals, and set a neighborhood direction.
The MOORE SQUARE Stakeholders petitioned City Council to fund the plan to redesign Moore Square Park for the purpose of repositioning the park as the heart of the district. A big thanks goes to Sally Edwards, Pete Pagano, and Jim Stella (DRA staff leader) for their leadership of the planning committee.
The FAYETTEVILLE STREET Stakeholders created a Clean Team to improve litter collection and power washing of Raleigh’s main street. A big thanks goes to Pam Blondin, Zack Medford, Guarav Patel, and Mike Stephens (DRA staff leader) for their hard work in planning the stakeholder meetings.
The WAREHOUSE DISTRICT Stakeholders will initiate meetings in 2014. We want to thank Sarah Powers, Jason Widen, and Lacie Lindstaedt (DRA staff leader) for agreeing to serve on the planning committee.
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH FREE PUBLIC WIFIDRA co-promotes downtown public WIFI with the city to enhance downtown’s image as a technologically-innovative destination.
• 126,450 sessions per month— 19.3% more than 2012
INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION DRA served on the local organizing committee for the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, which brought over 140,000 people downtown and generated $10 million in direct visitor spending and $5 million in media value.
R-LINE CIRCULATOR BUSCo-marketing the R-LINE, downtown’s free circulator, with the city clearly illustrates how the adoption of our “You R Here” brand by partner organizations increases our visibility, establishes brand equity, and raises awareness about downtown amenities.
• Set new record for most riders in one week with over 8,500 riders during the IBMA Festival
• Over 283,700 rode the R-LINE in 2013
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THE DOWNTOWN RALEIGH ALLIANCE WAS CREATED IN 1996 as a business-league nonprofit association for the purpose of revitalizing downtown. The by-laws state that DRA was created for “the delivery of services funded by the business improvement district (property assessment): to attract investors, businesses and developers to downtown; to recruit retail and service businesses and promote and encourage development; to undertake activities to promote a positive image of downtown and to improve its marketability; and to maintain continuous and positive dialogue with government leaders.” As you can see, DRA now fulfills its purpose more than ever through its core services and by virtue of its success and growth.
To further implement its mission, Raleigh Civic Ventures (RCV) was created in 2004 as a subsidiary of DRA to “serve as a supporting organization for the benefit of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.” Creating RCV expanded the potential revenue sources for DRA by providing opportunities for charitable donations.
In 2008, the combined budget for the two organizations was less than $1 million. At that time, our budget was significantly smaller than that of comparable downtown organizations operating in cities with similar populations to Raleigh. Five years later, the combined $2.4 million budget provides a diverse array of revenue streams that leverage one another. Multiple revenue streams reduce the risk to the organization by not relying heavily on any one source of revenue, which is a challenge for all nonprofits.
DRA’s finance committee develops annual operating budgets that are approved by its board of directors. The organization operates with a balanced budget and demonstrates fiscal responsibility by remaining debt free. Johnson Lambert & Co. LLC, an independent accounting firm, audits the combined financial statements of DRA and RCV annually. The firm’s reports have confirmed DRA’s sound financial standing.
A TRANSPARENT DOWNTOWN
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FRED FLETCHER
CHAVIS PARK
NASH SQUARE MOORE
SQUARE
Hunter-Thompson
Pilot Mill
Mordecai
Cameron Park
Boylan Heights
South Park
Oakwood
FAYETTEVILLE STREET
DISTRICT
MOORE SQUAREDISTRICT
Raleigh Convention
Center
Performing Arts
CenterShaw
University
William Peace
University
OAKWOOD CEMETERY
NC STATE CAPITOL
Glenwood-Brooklyn
GLENWOOD SOUTH
DISTRICT
CAPITAL DISTRICT
WAREHOUSEDISTRICT
Campbell School of
Law
2013-2014 Combined Budgeted Expenses 2013-2014 Combined Budgeted Revenues
Safety, Hospitality + Clean (SH)
Advocacy + Operations (AO)
Strategic Partnerships + Stakeholder Engagement (SP)
Special Events + City Plaza Programming (SE)
Retail Attraction + Merchant Programs (RA)
Strategic Branding + Community Communications (SB)
Property Assessment (PA)
Fee for Service (FS)
Corporate Sponsorships (CS)
Member Dues (MD)
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
32% SH
29% AO
15% SP
10% SE
8% RA
6% SB
51% PA
27% FS
18% CS
4% MD
BOARD + STAFF
Thomas S. Hill
Chair
Highwoods Properties
Rebecca Quinn-Wolf
Vice Chair/Treasurer
PNC
Jill Wells Heath
Immediate Past Chair
Mulkey Engineers & Consultants
Jason Smith
Secretary
18 Seaboard/Harvest 18/Cantina 18 Restaurants
Joseph “Bo” Dempster, Jr.
At-Large
Poyner Spruill
Sharon Moe
At-Large
North State Bank
Jon Wilson
At-Large
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
David A. Diaz (Ex-Officio)
President + CEO
Downtown Raleigh Alliance
OFFICERS + EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2014FRANK BLOOM | Special Events Manager
JEAN CARROLL | Special Events Coordinator
CARLA CHIRICO | Marketing + Communications Manager
ROXANNE COFFEY | Office Manager
DAVID A. DIAZ | President + CEO
ELLEN FRAGOLA | Merchant Programs Manager
KIMBERLEY JONES | Assistant to the President
LACIE LINDSTAEDT | Director of Communications + Membership
STACEY SIMEONE | Graphic Designer
JIM STELLA | Downtown Retail Recruiter
MIKE STEPHENS | Director of Operations
STEPHANIE WILSER | Bookkeeper
STAFF
The DRA board of directors and staff work as a team. The board provides leadership and sets the strategic direction for the organization. The staff implements the board’s direction on a day-to-day basis.
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Mary-Ann Baldwin
City of Raleigh
Jim Belt
Downtown Resident, Downtown
Living Advocates
Clymer Cease, Jr.
ClarkNexsen
Ashley Christensen
AC Restaurants
Marty Clayton
Duke Energy
Joe Durham
Wake County
Sally Edwards
Marbles Kids Museum
Gaddis Faulcon
Shaw University
Richard French
French/West/Vaughan
Sue Glennon
Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel at
Glenwood South
Ruffin Hall
City of Raleigh
Kathy Higgins
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC
Andy Holland
Wells Fargo Bank
Chad T. Lefteris
Rex Healthcare
J. Rich Leonard
Campbell School of Law
D. O’Hara Macken
Ipreo
Sarah Powers
Visual Art Exchange
Gregg Sandreuter
Hamilton Merritt
Harvey Schmitt
Greater Raleigh Chamber of
Commerce
Josh Stein
NC General Assembly
Andrew Stewart
Empire Properties
Anthony Tata
NC Department of Transportation
Debra M. Townsley
William Peace University
Caroline F. Welch
WTVD-TV/ABC 11
David P. Adams
Capital Bank
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014
THANK YOU TO OUR 2013 OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS
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Niall Hanley
Hibernia Entertainment, LLC
Venessa Harrison
AT&T North Carolina
Deborah K. Ross
NC General Assembly
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120 S. Wilmington Street, Suite 103 • Raleigh, NC 27601 • YouRHere.com • 919.832.1231
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