Downtown Lexington Partnership (DLP) Managers of Downtown on behalf of our partners (Downtown Lexington Corporation, Lexington Downtown Development Association and Downtown Lexington Management District) and our
stakeholders.
DLP made significant progress on a number of new Downtown initiatives that will help drive customers Downtown and to our businesses. After months of DLP staff working through details, we were able to announce that DLP was moving the Fourth of July fireworks Downtown. At the April 2nd joint press conference the City of Lexington, Fifth Third Bank, Webb Companies and DLP announced that the fireworks will be shot off the City’s tallest building, the Lexington Financial Center. Many thanks to all who helped make this happen! DLP formed a new partnership with the Triangle Foundation to improve programming and food service in Triangle Park. To that end DLP issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) for an operator for the Triangle Park Café. Proposals are due in May. Stay tuned for more news about improvements and programming in Triangle Park! DLP, Visit Lex and Metropolitan Planning Organization made a presentation to the Lexington Fayette County Urban Government Council about dockless bike share systems and Spin, the company we are working with to bring bike share to Lexington. The council instructed the working group to move forward with planning for the program. The hope is that a bike share program will start by June 2018. Two internal accomplishments include retaining the ad agency Fieldtrip to lead us through a brand, website, social media tools and strategic marketing plan process. Look for our engaging process to begin in June as begin to create a new brand that works for our stakeholders and resonates with our customers. Finally, DLP hired Emily Watson as our Finance and Office Manager. She will help our office to be more efficient and manage our finances. We are very excited for Emily to join our team! Sincerely Terry Sweeney President/CEO
Fourth of July Fireworks Sponsors
Triangle Park Cafe
New ad agency
Emily Watson Finance and Office Manager
Development and Placemaking: Attract new businesses, development and residences; increase sales activity and street level occupancy and improve existing buildings and urban design. I. Plan Downtown development in coordination with City of Lexington and private sector.
A. Discussed development planning on conference call with M. Lister and G. Dycke from Gehl.
II. Attract new businesses and development and increase street level occupancy A. Continued Implementing Property Improvement Grant Program
1. Met individually with business owners to discuss the grant:
J. King, King Insurance.
J. Thompson, Belles. 2. Formed review committee including:
L. Weatherby, Republic Bank/DLP Board
T. Harris, UK/Advisory Committee
T. Phillips, UK/LDMD Board
A. Moore, EOP/Advisory Committee 3. Review committee met and approved two grants.
Up to $7,000 for Bluegrass Tavern
Up to $10,000 for Centro B. Met with or provided information to the following prospects:
1. J. Schrader, Schrader Commercial Realty. 2. J. Cirigliano, CLB Associates.
C. Met with S. Coleman and A. Camacho from Kimberly-Horn to discuss their new Lexington office of planning and design consultants.
III. Document and report the economic activity and impact of Downtown.
A. Conduct Economic Impact Study. 1. Reviewed updated draft and provided Thomas P. Miller and Associates with edits.
B. Documented new project pipeline. 1. Updated Project Tracking Document.
C. Created a business opening and closing tracking sheet. 1. Updated tracking sheet.
IV. Support residential development and attract new residents. A. Met with or provided information to the following:
1. Out of town developer representative. Environment: Create a cleaner, safer, more beautiful and accessible Downtown. I. Improve Cleanliness and Perceptions of Cleanliness.
A. DLMD Ambassador Team tracking. DLMD’s four-man cleaning crew recorded the following activity:
1. 935 pounds of debris and trash collected. 2. 27 Graffiti sites removed/painted over. 3. 46 Customer contacts. 4. 3 Business contacts. 5. 13 Panhandling.
Distillery Heights
Team Photo
6. 8 Sidewalk drains cleared. 7. 1 Requests for police. 8. 16 Motorist assists. 9. 8 Block of Weed Abatement.
B. Began planning for spring cleanup.
1. Held planning meeting with:
D. Hoskins-Squire, Commisioner of Environmental Quality and Public Works.
C. Cooperrider, Parks and Recreation. 2. Discussed initial review of downtown cleanup and repair items. Made plans for
better format of reporting issues with mapped locations and pictures.
II. Improve Safety and Perceptions of Safety A. Developed second chance employment program for parking lot attendants, to be launched
in May. 1. Met with C. Doane, LPD and J. Orth, LPD to discuss downtown security initiatives
and police coordination. 2. Met with K. Tucker, SP+ regarding surface lot agreements and program
implementation. 3. Met with downtown restaurants to update on
the security initiatives. 4. Began finalizing contract with City of Lexington
Office of Homeless Prevention and Intervention. B. Downtown Lexington Management District (DLMD)
hired and trained two new bike patrol security ambassadors through Block by Block.
III. Improve Accessibility, Infrastructure and Connectivity
(Multimodal Mobility). A. Participated in the bike share steering committee.
1. Made presentation to City Council with M. Ramer, Visit Lex and S. Thompson, City of Lexington.
2. Met with M. Biagi and T. Corrigan, The Rotunda Group, representing Ofo.
IV. Improve Beautification, Public Spaces and Placemaking
A. Participated in City Parks Alliance webinar with H. O’leary, Town Branch Fund.
B. Met with A. Poe discuss developing a Downtown electric box mural program.
C. Supported Town Branch Commons and Park. 1. Met with B. Peacher, LFUCG and A. Lankford, Town Branch Fund regarding
development planning along TBC and downtown. D. Improve Downtown parks in concert with City and other stakeholders.
New DLMD Safety Ambassadors
Spin Bike Share
1. Participated in conference call with A. Donworth, Lexington Public Library about Phoenix Park programming.
Experience and Activation: Increase sales, visitorship and investment in Downtown and attract more members and sponsors through strategic marketing, programming and developing/managing events. I. Market and Promote Downtown and Businesses.
A. Develop Downtown brand, new website, social media tools and strategic marketing plan. 1. Selected Fieldtrip through an RFP process and convened kick-off meeting. 2. Informed ad agencies that weren’t selected.
B. Implemented social media and e-marketing. 1. Sent nine electronic newsletters to mailing list of more
than three thousand people that featured over 90 member events or news items.
2. Social Media
4,671 visits to the Downtown Lexington Partnership website.
30 posts on Facebook, 45,580 reached, and increased to 616 likes.
14 Tweets, 13,583 reached, and generated to 30 new followers on Twitter.
9 posts on Instagram, 404 likes, and reached 7,196 people.
II. Create and manage DLP events to increase Downtown visitorship,
event attendance and revenue and sales of our businesses. A. Central Bank Thursday Night Live (CBTNL).
1. Met with Division of Police to discuss event operations.
H. Florence, Div. of Police.
Doane, Div. of Police.
J. Orth, Div. of Police. 2. Met with City of Lexington officials to discuss Central
Bank TNL kickoff
Mobley, Div. of Parks & Recreation.
J. Wuoruenama, Mayor’s Office.
Cooperider, Div. of Parks & Recreation.
J. Collins, CMR Companies. 3. Held a series of interviews for Beer Pouring Staff. 4. Produced four CBTNL events. 5. Recorded $18,641 in beverage sales. 6. Donated $1864 to participating non-profits including:
Dress for Success
Girls on the Run
AIDS Volunteers
Child Care Council of the Bluegrass B. Mayfest Arts Fair.
Conducted Electronic
Marketing
Social Media Promotions.
E-newsletter promotions.
1. Received contracts for 75 vendors. 2. Processed contracts for entertainment.
C. Fourth of July Festival. 1. Announced that the 4th of July fireworks were moving Downtown and will be shot
off the Fifth Third Finance Center building. Produced Fireworks Press Conference in partnership with the City of Lexington:
Mayor J. Gray, City of Lexington.
S. Grossman, DLP Board Chairman.
M. Ash, Fifth Third Bank.
Webb, The Webb Companies. 2. Patriotic Concert Logistics Meeting
T. Young, Transylvania Communication Specialist.
M. Sparks, Transylvania VP Marketing & Communications.
S. Thrall, Lexington Philharmonic General Manager. D. Triangle Park.
1. Released RFP for Triangle Park Café. 2. Met with Double HBBQ to learn about café.
Hensley, Double H BBQ Owner.
S. Grossman, DLP Board Chairman. 3. Café Re-key evaluation
G. Gaunce, WilliasKlein. E. Bike Lexington Family Fun Ride
1. Met with Broom Wagon Coffee and Bikes to discuss sponsorship opportunities and Bike Polo Demonstration for Event.
J. Gonyer, Broom Wagon Owner. 2. Met with Lamar to discuss and implement the 2018 Family Fun Ride Billboards (4)
S. Pelfrey, Account Executive. 3. Met with Bicycle Face to discuss Bike Lexington sponsorship opportunities.
J. Baugh, Shop Manager.
Green, Partial Owner. F. Christmas Holiday event planning:
A. Attended ice rink debriefing meeting with: 1. D. Pritchard, Ice Rink Events. 2. S. Grossman, Triangle Foundation. 3. B. Owen, Lexington Center. 4. J. Hatton, Lexington Center.
III. Support and promote other Downtown events and improve Downtown events operations.
A. Met with Transylvania University regarding sponsorship/consulting on Pumpkinmania event 1. M. Sparks, Transylvania University.
B. Broadcasted weekly event update on Cumulus Radio (NewsTalk590 & ZRock103.3). 1. J. Pattie, Radio Host. 2. T. Longo, Radio Host.
C. Kyle Attended Elevate Kentucky
Triangle Park Café
1. ELEVATE KENTUCKY offers young professionals in-depth personal and professional development while fostering a better understanding of challenges facing our Commonwealth.
2. The class of 24 first session took place in Owensboro Kentucky April 18 – 20.
3. Elevate is a program developed by Leadership Kentucky.
IV. Grow and activate DLP membership. A. Visited/called the following member establishments to
ensure member retention, and inform them about the transition of Membership Coordinator.
1. Manpower Inc. of Central Kentucky. 2. Nick’s Gourmet Beer Cheese. 3. SALA Studio. 4. David Waller. 5. Buddha Lounge. 6. AMR Management Services. 7. Be Medispa. 8. Bluegrass Land Conservancy. 9. Bourbon n’ Toulouse. 10. Daily Offerings Coffee Roastery. 11. Geddes Pool Company, Inc. 12. Lexington Ballet Company. 13. LM Communications.
B. Hosted planning day for DLP Advisory Board, commercial real estate professionals, Distillery District businesses and our members. Attendees are as follows:
1. Individuals:
D. Boggs, Opportunity for Work and Learning.
S. Oghia, Radio Eye.
G. Brown, C Forward.
P. Chartier.
O. de Corella.
A. Shechet.
C. Creacy, Smiley Pete.
Meredith Price, Livin’ Lex.
J. McCurn, Council Candidate.
S. Frasure.
J. England, Lexington Farmers Market.
L. Wetherby, Republic Bank. 2. Organizations Represented:
Goodfellas Pizza.
Ethereal Brewery.
DLP Advisory Board and Distillery District
Planning Session
Crank & Boom Ice Cream
The Venues of the Grand Reserve.
Pepper Mill Distillery.
Schrader Commercial Reality. C. Met with K. Campbell and T. Sweeney, DLP about future of the membership program.
1. Generated current membership analysis. 2. Created a list of membership goals for FY2019 including new membership levels
and benefits. D. Redesigned the monthly membership report to reflect more member details, and a notes
section. E. Developed a Membership report for the month of March.
1. 365 total members in the month of March. 2. 10 dropped members in March. 3. 4 members dropped because of not getting into Central Bank Thursday Night Live
food vendor line up. 4. 2 new members in March.
F. Updated prospective member list. G. Updated a sustainable tracking system for member mentions on social media platforms and
in e-newsletters. H. Updated new membership materials including:
1. DLP general information sheet. 2. Membership benefits infographic. 3. New thank you letters. 4. New perspective member welcome emails.
V. Grow DLP sponsorships.
A. Met with following Stakeholder Member to discuss renewing their membership:
B. Secured 3 additional TNL night sponsorships and a movie night sponsorship.
C. Met with following sponsors to discuss renewing their sponsorship:
1. G. Stacy, Herald Leader 2. H. Wilson, Peps
D. Contacted the following sponsors and prospective sponsors about renewing their sponsorship or becoming a sponsor.
1. Brittingham, Louie’s Wine Drive. 2. L. Sallee, Boone Creek Outdoors. 3. K. Nalli, Lexus. 4. C. Bradley, BMW, Honda, Don Jacobs. 5. A. Thornton, UK Law School Alumni. 6. L. Burke Schaad, MetroPCS. 7. DJ. Geddes, Geddes Pools and Spas. 8. J. Franklin, Barbasol Championship.
Supported Young Leaders
Conference!
9. A. Black, McDonalds. 10. E. Green, Bicycle Face. 11. L. Poulter, Lexington Clinic. 12. E. Smith, Columbia Gas. 13. P. Healy, T-Mobile. 14. G. Maeyer, Nursery Farms. 15. B. Miller, Bluegrass Sports Commission.
Administration To proactively pursue the DLP Mission by building an organization with adequate resources, technology, professional staff and engaged leadership, board members, stakeholders and volunteers.
I. Build DLP’s organizational capacity.
A. DLP Board Management: 1. Continued to engage stakeholders in developing a
DLP/DLMD joint Three Year Strategic Plan.
Cohosted planning open house with districts #1 and #1 LFUCG Councilors J. Smith and J. Brown attended by more than 35 people.
Hosted the DLP Advisory board, commercial real estate professionals and public open house in the Distillery District attended by more than 30 people.
2. Convened April Board Meeting.
Posted notice.
Developed and sent board packet.
B. Met with the following Downtown stakeholders to get their observations of downtown and issues to address:
1. D. Martorano, YMCA. 2. P. Worley, LFUCG Council. 3. G. Brown, C Forward.
C. Staff Management 1. Conducted weekly staff meetings.
II. Build and manage strong partnerships to improve Downtown.
A. Met with N. Plummer and N. Mullen, LexArts to commit to 2018 campaign.
B. Attended the City Center topping off ceremony and lunch. C. Implemented programs and services on behalf of Downtown Lexington Management
District: 1. Planned and hosted April board meeting.
Prepared financial statements and minutes.
Sent email reminders and board packets.
Provided updates. 2. Continued to develop downtown umbrella plan.
District #1 and #2 open house
Distillery District open house
V. Network and support collaborating organizations
A. Spoke at Commerce Lex breakfast updating members about DLP initiatives. B. Met with:
1. L. Adkins, BGCF regarding partnerships with Community Foundation. C. Prepared and submitted DLC’s LFUCG 3rd Quarter Report for quarterly funding. D. Prepared and submitted DDA’s LFUCG 3rd Quarter Report and invoice.
VI. Financial and Office Management:
A. Prepared materials for E. Watson to ensure a smooth transition. B. Prepared monthly financial reports. C. Processed invoices and checks. D. Coordinated payroll. E. Organized and coordinated 2017 audit which will begin in May. F. Prepared 6 month budget with cash flow projections. G. Met. With K. Moore about potential internship helping with
Development tasks. H. Filed DDA forms with Kentucky League of Cities.
VII. Personnel and Human Resource Management:
A. Hired E. Watson as the Finance and Office Manager and began orientation process.