Downtown District Report for Downtown Subcommittee
August 2, 2022
Cadance Hinkle Allinson, Executive Director
[email protected]
The following information represents the changes, challenges and work occurring in the Downtown Santa Rosa Community Benefit District for the month of July 2022.
Downtown Business Changes
• New retailer Yarrow Goods opening in 605 4th Street
Current Challenges
• Increases to the homeless population, and the resulting mess and bulky belongings, have negatively impacted local businesses
• Timeliness of permits and delays related to TIs, and other relevant updates, make it a challenge to promote Downtown as feasible location for business
Beautification / Landscape
• NexStreet transition has been going well – team is doing a great job managing the street level needs of the District
• DAO has replanted the black planters on 4th Street
• New mural from Raizes Collective on the side of 3rd Street Aleworks • DAO Committee working on a wayfinding plan
• Received positive comments on the work that Parks did around pressure washing the Square and maintaining the tree beds
Courthouse Square Events overseen by Chamber
• Summer on the Square events have been seeing great numbers of locals enjoying the activations, especially families
o Mix of music and movie nights
o Partnered with Sonoma County Pride on family specific event • Fall Fun Fest is taking place on October 28 with 4th Street closed to create safe environment for trick or treaters
• Winter Lights Tree Lighting on November 25, with Skating on the Square running from November 25 through December 31
o Public Skating open Thursday-Sunday
o Holiday Market on Sundays
o Multiple on-ice performances
o Skating workshops
Parking & Parklets
• Supporting the Parking District’s changes to the garage hours and incentives • Eager to continue working together to simplify Downtown parking and make it more accessible and understandable
• Unknown how many businesses will be moving forward with permanent parklets, currently one is in process
Business Attraction & Development
• Business Attraction initiative is underway – will incorporate data, relevant details, business friendly policy information into physical collateral and website to highlight Downtown for new businesses and developers