Reports show business groups on healthy track for 2014
Both the downtown Glendale and Old Town Montrose promotional groups are planning to have new offerings and healthy budgets next year.
According to reports presented to the City Council at a meeting this week, the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. is set to add five more “Special Saturdays,” which include bands on nearly every block of the shopping park on Honolulu Avenue and vendors who do face painting, spa events and other activities geared toward weekend shoppers.
Meanwhile, the Downtown Glendale Assn. plans to move the downtown farmers market on Brand Boulevard to public parking lots on Maryland Avenue, north of Wilson Avenue behind the First Baptist Church.
“This [community benefit district] has been very successful in fulfilling their goals and there is clear evidence by the visual changes that have been made to the downtown landscape,” the city report stated. “Next year’s goals are more aggressive and include not only additional street enhancements, but also business recruitment.”
Both organizations are operated by an elected team of stakeholders and overseen by the city. The city set up special assessments to collect extra property taxes from businesses in the areas to support the promotional groups.
The Montrose Shopping Park Assn. plans to bring in $435,000 next year, while the Downtown Glendale Assn. plans to generate $1.09 million.
The Montrose Shopping Park Assn. expects to spend $260,400 on promotional events such as the July Car Show, October Halloween Spooktacular, annual Arts & Crafts Festival, $55,000 on seasonal lighting and décor and $9,300 for rent and utilities at the police substation in Montrose, among other costs. The downtown group forecasts spending $380,000 for downtown maintenance, $239,000 for marketing, including $36,000 for a public relations consultant, and $30,000 on a business attraction consultant or permit processor to expedite city permits needed for businesses in downtown.
The downtown organization was founded last year while the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. has been operating for decades. The Montrose Shopping Park Assn. has seen a resurgence in recent years as the weekly farmers market on Honolulu Avenue has had skyrocketing profits since cutting ties with former Councilman John Drayman.
Drayman has been indicted for allegedly embezzling at least $304,000 from the market over seven years and is awaiting his criminal trial, which is slated to start in April.
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