NEWS
Sneak Preview - Octopus Restaurant (200 Pine)
April 26, 2010
Thanks to the owner, Jae Chang, the DLBA is able to provide the Downtown community with a sneak peak of the new Octopus Restaurant set to open on April 29!
More info here: http://www.octopusrestaurant.com/pb/
Downtown Retail Visioning Process Nears Finish Line
March 23, 2010
Project Overview
Now underway, the DLBA's Retail Visioning project is intended to develop a cohesive, collaborative, and market-based retail recruitment vision and strategy for Downtown Long Beach.
As a community-driven effort, Retail Visioning will provide insight to stakeholders and about the realities of retail recruitment and share success stories from comparable cities.
Project participants will work collaboratively to develop a shared vision for the Downtown Long Beach retail environment and assist in creating an action-oriented strategy that includes a series of steps / metrics used to measure the results achieved while working towards achieving the vision.
The process is designed to help align the expectations of the stakeholders with a realistic and attainable strategy that provides a description of the various roles and responsibilities of the actors involved. The public is invited to attend and participate in shaping the vision and plan at three public meetings held on:
- December 9th, 2009
- January 6th, 2009
- March 4th, 2010
All three of the public meetings will be held at First Congregational Church (241 Cedar Avenue) and will run from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. To register for the workshops, contact Vanessa McCollum by calling 562.436.4259 or emailing VanessaM@DLBA.org .
First Public Meeting (12.09.09)
Video - Introductions / Project Overview (Kristopher Larson)
Video – “The Truth about Retail” (Mike Berne)
Photos from the first public meeting:
Second Public Meeting (01.06.10)
Video - Actions & Strategies Exercise
Video - Positioning the Community for Retail Growth (Mike Berne)
Sorted Feedback from 2nd Community Meeting
Third Public Meeting (03.04.10)
Video - Intorductions / Project Overview (Kraig Kojian and Kristopher Larson)
Video - Positioning Conclusions (Mike Berne)
Video - Actions / Strategies Organization (Kristopher Larson)
Video - Actions / Strategies Prioritization - Public Report-Out
Handout - Revised Vision, Public Input Themes, and Actions Detail
Revised Vision
It is 2015, It is 2015: Downtown Long Beach is riding a wave of accelerating urban reinvestment, propelling this international trading post that smartly blends metropolitan style with bohemian sensibility. This coastal community’s authenticity stands out amongst Southern California cities – its built environment is compact and walkable, while its approachable citizenry embodies a sense of stewardship and charm. Many of the new retail offerings reinforce Long Beach’s reputation as a multicultural city and complement its strong cultural events and attractions. The retail composition has struck a harmonic balance between independent and national businesses, and Downtown residents, employees, and visitors are able to fill most of their everyday needs without leaving the neighborhood. With its blending of eclectic shops, boutiques, entertainment, nightlife, and dining uses, Downtown offers a unique tapestry of retail experiences that are distinctly Long Beach.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee and its composition are critical to the overall outcome of the project. Members should hold positions of influence within the industries that impact retail growth. Examples include deal-making influences such as the brokerage community and commercial property ownership, but environmental factors such as zoning and other regulations will be included within the scope of the analysis and likely the strategic objectives. Additional factors such as tools (incentives, manpower) will likely be included within the realm of the objectives. Because the plan will be implementation-driven, it is imperative that steering committee members have the power to affect those areas such that roles / responsibilities toward achieving the vision can be clearly assigned and so that a system of mutual accountability can be established.
Steering Committee Membership:
Co-Chairs: Loara Cadavona (Downtown Resident) and Ted Slaught (Broker, Charles Dunn)
Members:
Phil Appleby (Appleby Brokerage), Becky Blair (Blair Commercial), Amy Bodek (LB RDA Bureau Manager), Derek Burnham (City of Long Beach Planning Dept), Ron Cole (VP, Lyon Properties), Broc Coward (2nd Council District representative), Robert Garcia (1st District Councilperson), Susana Gonzalez (1st Council District representative), Steve Goodling (LB CVB President & CEO), Suja Lowenthal (2nd District Councilperson) Dr. Joe Maggadino (CSULB Economics Professor), Jerry Miller (LB Chamber Vice Chair for Economic Development), Carl Morgan (LB RDA representative), Brian Russell (LB Commercial Broker’s Association President), Tony Shooshani (Owner, CityPlace Shopping Center)
Steering Committee Meeting Notes:
Other Important Documents:
Call for volunteer facilitators
