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ENLARGE
As we come to the end of 2006, the Nevada City Historic Downtown Business Improvement District is gearing up for a productive and exciting 2007. We thank the Nevada City council for its thoughtful review of our 2006 accomplishments and supporting the 2007 annual renewal of the district and the BID’s project plan and budget.
The BID was established by the Nevada City council in July 2006. It came about after two years of planning, public meetings, surveys of downtown merchants and studies of Nevada City’s special needs and assets. An ad-hoc volunteer steering committee of downtown merchants and Nevada City supporters led the effort.
Our structure and fee schedule is based on successful BID’s in more than 200 California towns, including Grass Valley. Our goal is to work with all the merchants, the Chamber of Commerce and the city to improve the physical setting of the historic district and enhance the shopping experience of locals and visitors. Significant steps were made in 2006 to realize these goals.
Spending plans
We purchased and installed six quality benches, and paid for sidewalk cleaning in time for the Christmas season. Gary Tintle and the city deserve thanks for their help with the installation of the benches.
The BID co-sponsored a number of “downtown” public events such as the First Friday Art Walk, SYRCL’s Film Festival, The Artist’s Tour, and the Snowboard Demonstration and Film Debut. Promotion of our downtown stores took place when 8,507 shoppers joined the “$1,000 Nevada City Shopping Spree” contest from April to August.
The BID participated in the fun and highly successful “Nevada City 150th Anniversary” week-long celebration.
In 2007, we will continue the sidewalk cleaning (at no extra charge to the merchants), sponsor the “Windows on History” exhibit and the popular street musicians in the summer months.
There are several new and exciting projects for 2007. The BID, along with the chamber, will sponsor the sidewalk sale that proved so popular in the fall.
This will be the year that signage is addressed by partnering with the city. The goal is a design that reflects our historic setting and sign placement that supports and guides visitors easily through the shopping district.
And with the chamber and city we will be exploring ways to design a system for a South Pine Street Promenade. This will allow various groups to use the section between Broad and Commercial streets for temporary events without the expense and challenge of blocking traffic flow.
Next year, there will be more lamppost flags purchased to brighten up the streets. Also we are starting to brainstorm with the chamber and the city to find improvements to the parking issues and making the public bathrooms more visitor friendly. Also in the planning mode is a special merchant led celebration of the arts. Ideas for the event are welcomed.
As if 2007 won’t be busy enough, we plan to work with the chamber to develop a brochure-sized map and list of the Historic District businesses to be available at every business in the downtown.
The BID has come along way in the last several years. With a limited budget and a core of volunteers who give generously of their time and energy, we are bringing new ideas and enhancement to downtown Nevada City. While there is still opposition to the idea of a BID, we are sure that 2007, only our second year of existence, will show that the downtown can come together for the mutual benefit of this, the most beautiful of the gold-rush towns.
During the approval process for this year, it was brought to our attention that some merchants felt that the fee structure was unfair. While keeping in mind that this is a fundraising mechanism and that without money nothing gets done, our board of directors has committed to readdressing the fee structure for 2008. Next year, we hope to meet and hear from all participants, new ways that we can improve the BID and come together for a better historic downtown.
Our meetings (second and fourth Thursday’s) are open with agendas being posted at city hall. All are invited. Let’s keep Nevada City a great place to live, shop, and have fun.
ooo
G. Patrick Dyer is the chairman of the Nevada City Business Improvement District.
The BID was established by the Nevada City council in July 2006. It came about after two years of planning, public meetings, surveys of downtown merchants and studies of Nevada City’s special needs and assets. An ad-hoc volunteer steering committee of downtown merchants and Nevada City supporters led the effort.
Our structure and fee schedule is based on successful BID’s in more than 200 California towns, including Grass Valley. Our goal is to work with all the merchants, the Chamber of Commerce and the city to improve the physical setting of the historic district and enhance the shopping experience of locals and visitors. Significant steps were made in 2006 to realize these goals.
Spending plans
We purchased and installed six quality benches, and paid for sidewalk cleaning in time for the Christmas season. Gary Tintle and the city deserve thanks for their help with the installation of the benches.
The BID co-sponsored a number of “downtown” public events such as the First Friday Art Walk, SYRCL’s Film Festival, The Artist’s Tour, and the Snowboard Demonstration and Film Debut. Promotion of our downtown stores took place when 8,507 shoppers joined the “$1,000 Nevada City Shopping Spree” contest from April to August.
The BID participated in the fun and highly successful “Nevada City 150th Anniversary” week-long celebration.
In 2007, we will continue the sidewalk cleaning (at no extra charge to the merchants), sponsor the “Windows on History” exhibit and the popular street musicians in the summer months.
There are several new and exciting projects for 2007. The BID, along with the chamber, will sponsor the sidewalk sale that proved so popular in the fall.
This will be the year that signage is addressed by partnering with the city. The goal is a design that reflects our historic setting and sign placement that supports and guides visitors easily through the shopping district.
And with the chamber and city we will be exploring ways to design a system for a South Pine Street Promenade. This will allow various groups to use the section between Broad and Commercial streets for temporary events without the expense and challenge of blocking traffic flow.
Next year, there will be more lamppost flags purchased to brighten up the streets. Also we are starting to brainstorm with the chamber and the city to find improvements to the parking issues and making the public bathrooms more visitor friendly. Also in the planning mode is a special merchant led celebration of the arts. Ideas for the event are welcomed.
As if 2007 won’t be busy enough, we plan to work with the chamber to develop a brochure-sized map and list of the Historic District businesses to be available at every business in the downtown.
The BID has come along way in the last several years. With a limited budget and a core of volunteers who give generously of their time and energy, we are bringing new ideas and enhancement to downtown Nevada City. While there is still opposition to the idea of a BID, we are sure that 2007, only our second year of existence, will show that the downtown can come together for the mutual benefit of this, the most beautiful of the gold-rush towns.
During the approval process for this year, it was brought to our attention that some merchants felt that the fee structure was unfair. While keeping in mind that this is a fundraising mechanism and that without money nothing gets done, our board of directors has committed to readdressing the fee structure for 2008. Next year, we hope to meet and hear from all participants, new ways that we can improve the BID and come together for a better historic downtown.
Our meetings (second and fourth Thursday’s) are open with agendas being posted at city hall. All are invited. Let’s keep Nevada City a great place to live, shop, and have fun.
ooo
G. Patrick Dyer is the chairman of the Nevada City Business Improvement District.
