ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENTS: ALL ZONES

Based upon property owners input from interviews, surveys and forums, economic enhancements were considered most important.

To proactively improve the downtown business climate, combat Fresno’s lingering stigmas and the challenges associated with a prolonged national economic recession, new downtown-wide economic enhancements designed to fill building vacancies and storefronts are recommended to be supported by the PBID.

A collaborative approach is proposed, whereby multiple property owners and real estate professionals will work collectively with civic leaders to promote the advantages of downtown as a business location. Based upon “best practices” from other PBIDs in major downtown markets throughout the country, three primary program activities are proposed:

Business Retention and Recruitment

Image and Marketing

Leadership and Policy

ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENTS: ZONES 2 & 3

Environmental Enhancements will include Ambassador services to enhance both the reality and perception of public safety, streetscape and signage to make downtown more attractive, and parking management initiatives to better utilize existing parking and plan for future needs. Environmental  enhancements are proposed along Downtown’s key Van Ness and Fulton Mall corridors. In this area, PBID resources will be concentrated to make  Downtown’s most highly visible vehicular and pedestrian corridors safe, attractive and easy to use. Key environmental enhancements include:

Ambassadors

Streetscape Enhancements

Parking Management

FULTON MALL ACTIVATION: ZONE 3

For properties along Fulton Mall from Tuolumne to Inyo, an additional assessment is proposed to support a full time “mall manager” and Fulton Mall activation program. The mall manager is envisioned to provide a variety of marketing, communications and support services for Fulton Mall property and  business owners.