Page 6 - AnnualReport-17.18_v10_sf_18

GROW ECONOMIC VITALITY
Downtown Market Study & Shopability Study
The DDA hired leading urban retail planning consultant Robert
Gibbs of the Gibbs Planning Group in June 2017 to conduct
a Downtown Market Study and provide a Shopability Study
for the downtown district. The study was intended to allow the
DDA, City, and downtown merchants and businesses to gain
an understanding of the types of retail businesses that are likely 15 merchant meetings and two parking town hall sessions
to be maintainable in the study area which is the entire DDA
district, both presently and during the next five years.
The Downtown Delray Beach Retail Market Study was presented
by Mr. Gibbs at the December 11, 2017 City Commission
Meeting. The report included a written and illustrated summary
of relevant population and demographic characteristics of the
downtown trade area – including socioeconomic characteristics
and buying patterns; a qualitative opinion as to whether retail
development is maintainable; sales forecasts; and size estimates
of the retail categories. The Downtown Delray Beach Shopability
Study was completed in February 2018, provided to the DDA
and presented to the City Commission.
The DDA hosted the Annual Town Hall Session for Property
& Business Owners – “State of the Downtown”- on Thursday,
March 29, 2018. The Downtown Delray Beach Downtown
Retail Market Study and the Downtown Shopability Analysis
were presented, and highlights included:
• The categories of retail/restaurants that are maintainable
within the downtown, as summarized by the Retail Market
Study.
• Strong recommendations from the customers point of view
regarding ways to enhance the downtown shopping
experience including first impressions, and how important
these are for a return visit.
• A Downtown Delray Beach walkability score of 92 out of
100 - among the highest in the nation.
• A review of all master plans, land development regulations,
codes, parking regulations, and signage provided short,
medium and long-term recommendations to create the #1
Downtown in the US.
The DDA, City and downtown merchants have worked
together to implement short-term recommendations from the
downtown Study. Please see the Placemaking section of this
report for a complete list. To view the complete reports, please
visit: DowntownDelrayBeach.com/Research-Data
6 Annual Report | 2017–2018
Downtown Merchant & Business Association
A forum for the downtown businesses to collaborate on
programs, communicate amongst the organization and
community, and be a collective voice that advocates for
activities that promote the retention and smart growth for the
downtown business community. The DDA facilitated over
to capture feedback and gain participation in the programs.
Business Marketing Programs
Successfully implemented and executed marketing programs
focused on shopping, small business, art & culture, dining
and holidays. All programs produced involved the merchants
and were created to drive traffic and revenue and promote
the downtown businesses. The programs included: First
Friday Art Walk, Small Business Saturday, Downtown Goes
Pink, Delray Beach Fashion Week, Savor the Avenue,
Downtown Delray Orchid Giveaway in honor of Mother’s
Day and Dine Out Downtown Delray Restaurant Week.
Visitor Information Center
The Delray Beach Visitor Information Center located on
the beachside at 2 S. Ocean Boulevard re-opened in
March 2018 with triple the space and a whole new look
following an extensive renovation. The DDA added a part-
time staff position to oversee the center and manage the
17 volunteers who work Monday through Sunday from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 10,000 visitors with a value of
over $14 million in revenue spent in the community (based
on Discover the Palm Beaches formula of $1,400 per
person), have enjoyed the new center. They have come
from throughout the State of Florida and the United States,
and internationally including Canada, South and Central
America, Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe.
Visitor Information Center ribbon cutting event
on March 5, 2018