|
ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2004 October 21, 2004 Summary of Flipcharts of Three Discussion Groups: Downtown Facelift and Funding Enhancing the Retail/Restaurant Experience Marketing and Tourism Follow-up Meeting November 9, 2004 Community Center Room #106 7pm - 9pm | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Downtown Facelift and Funding Public Improvements Required 1. Town Square • Near Visitors Center • River/Water Park - get rid of propane • Carousel 2. Underground utilities 3. Sidewalks/Lighting - Right of way? Utilities? 4. Gas Lamp District 5. Circulation/Traffic • Too many one way streets • Arrange for Vehicles, Pedestrians, Bicyclists 6. First Street as a pedestrian core 7. Develop a unifying universal theme/identity (Nederland? Downtown?) with: • Lighting • Signs • Murals • Art 8. Public Sign • Gateway orientation • Theme 9. Define Downtown as the "whole" of four quadrants 10. Civic Uses (such as Library) should be downtown 11. Incorporate lakefront 12. Replace bridge 13. Utility Infrastructure - electric, gas, etc. 14. Downtown land use area relationships Funding/Implementation Strategies 1. Lamppost adoption 2. DDA/TIFF (understand fiscal impact) 3. URA (understand fiscal impact) 4. Grants 5. "Town Cash" - grassroots community building like in Telluride 6. Comprehensive Plan Enhance the Retail/Restaurant Experience for Locals 1. Improve customer service and store appearances - grocery and restaurants - convenience and expectations 2. Develop promotions for local markets 3. Recruit additional stores - incentives, more specific data 4. Signage/lighting to demarcate shopping district 5. Award for "Best Business" 6. Education/Resources/Ideas/Time to make happen 7. Need to really look at business - hard truth 8. Use customer surveys 9. Accurate price comparison data to the community 10. Small visual changes add up to perception of change 11. We are in the people business 12. How to deal with flak about change Regular vs. New Customers (risk of making changes when it is so tight) 13. Visual improvements - "For Sale" signs 14. Employee pool is limited - can't afford highly skilled customer-friendly workers (hard to get people to work/live here) 15. Utilize volunteers (Seniors? Part-time workers?) Visitors Center volunteers as model 16. Landlords have final say 17. Submit proposal from groups to give 18. Stores/Retailers/Restaurants act collectively Start simple with those who want to participate Marketing and Tourism A. Map/Directory 1. Get sponsors to raise more money for maps and brochures. (Cherry Creek North = 40,000 brochures for $7,000 for six months) 2. Sell ad coupons for discount 3. Calendar of events in map 4. Outside funding • Gaming impact funds to put map in casinos • TARP - apply for grants 5. Train downtown employees about area attractions and referrals 6. RTD display 7. Create "Gold C" style coupon book 8. Placemats of map - Eldora B. Entrances to Town 1. Contest for welcoming sign (Eagle Scout project?) 2. Kiosks at Boulder Falls, Mining Museum, RTD Lot 3. Locations for gateways • On Hwy 119 between traffic circle and First Street. • Community Center • Eldora Road 4. Steam Shovel (gift from Mining Museum) 5. Sculpture in Traffic Circle C. Visitors Center Improvements 1. Change location 2. More bathrooms 3. Neon signs - tasteful 4. Interactive computer screen for 24-hour info 5. More space to display business information 6. Video loop for continuous display that includes businesses and locations 7. Nice and friendly 8. Repaint sign - more color - no brown on brown - easier to read D. Joint Marketing 1. Business Coupon Book with local business coupons (give to 14,000 visitors) 2. Locals VIP Card 3. Joint Marketing with: • Wild Bear Discovery House kiosk • Indian Peaks • Forest Service Trail Heads • Post Office • B&F Mountain Market grocery store 4. Locals Night Out • Restaurants • Personal Services • Music • Child Care 5. Promotional effort to visit businesses and get a prize 6. RTD and Parking Lot • Give Bus Route "N" a name like "The Climb" - 3,000 ft in 17 miles • Holiday Tour • Map kiosk • Photos/media/video • Restaurants - outreach to Visitors Center • Community Activities Sign 7. CDOT • Signage (Where? Theme? Mining Art?) • Planters - Mike Day for permit and criteria • Crosswalks • Flashing speed limit signs - permit, OK if Ned pays/maintains • Banner approval - OK with CDOT, need public utility approval 8. Shuttle from Eldora Mountain Resort to downtown Nederland 9. Discounted Lift Tickets at Eldora Mtn Resort for $50 spent in Nederland 10. Guided Tours to Biomass Fuels Plant, Mud Lake, Caribou Open Space 11. Invite out-of-town businesses to do trunk shows at similar store (we keep % of sales - fills accessory/fashion needs) 12. Mail Nederland directory to season pass holders of Eldora Mountain Resort 13. Survey about Nederland performed at Eldora Mountain Resort 14. Leverage Library, Casinos, Schools 15. Pick something and be known for it (Coal? Friendliest area? Best art?) 16. Improved and consistent special event signage 17. Signs on private property 18. Ads on sails on sailboats on lake 19. AM Radio message beamed into town Conclusion of Three Groups Combined Develop an interdependent entity to plan/implement downtown improvements (Chamber of Commerce to develop and transition group towards entity) Volunteers include: Kevin Probst, Paul Turnburke, Roberta Dulay, Ted Weaver, Chris Williams, Sarah Bessow, Carla Slaughter Challenges We Face
| ||||||||||||||||||
[ Nederland Area Chamber of Commerce ] | ||||||||||||||||||