All America City Focus: Downtown Alliance
(Stockton, CA) - As Stockton prepares to compete in the 2004 All America City competition, part of the City's presentation will explain the role in how the Downtown Alliance has stepped forward in helping to reinvigorate Stockton's downtown.
Downtown
Stockton use to be the center of events, shopping, and government
for the city. Development outside the downtown in the 1970's started to drain the livelihood of the area. Property values dropped, and businesses began to abandon the area. In 1998, the downtown area started to see the beginning of a new era with the creation of the Downtown Alliance. The mission of the Alliance is: "To promote, develop, and maintain a vibrant downtown Stockton."
The Downtown
Alliance strives to maintain five specific goals.
1. Economic Development - Attract new downtown investors and businesses through an aggressive outreach marketing program.
2. Marketing, Promotion and Special Events - Increase the destination appeal of downtown and bring local and outside visitors to downtown for enjoyable events and historic tours.
3. Security - Create a safe and friendly downtown atmosphere by providing a daily roving hospitality and information guide program.
4. Maintenance - Keep downtown streets and sidewalks clean.
5. Public Policy - Act as a collective voice for downtown business and property owners.
The work
of the Downtown Alliance has paid off with existing and new
investors taking advantage of City of Stockton incentives.
Property sales assessments show a 45 percent increase in
property values over the last three years. Downtown lease
rates has also risen 50 percent and more than 150 businesses
have opened in the downtown area, providing nearly 500 jobs.
Downtown
crime rates dropped 22 percent over the past three years.
The Downtown Alliance also notes that the area is safer and
cleaner with a dedicated team of guides overseeing the area.
The Alliance
members include representation from downtown residents, business
owners, property owners, nonprofits, and community leaders
of different backgrounds. Partnerships include the City,
County, Cultural Heritage Board, Greater Stockton Chamber
of Commerce, State of California, Altamont Commuter Express,
San Joaquin Regional Transit District, Port of Stockton,
Stockton Unified School District, Cal State Stanislaus - Stockton, Stockton Redevelopment Commission, and ethnic and cultural organizations.
Through
the efforts of the Alliance, downtown Stockton is finding
new life an entertainment center for the City. Over 300,000
residents and visitors come annually to events such as the
Asparagus Festival, First Night Stockton, Ice Skating on
the Delta, Fourth of July, Jazz on the Waterfront, the Taste
of Downtown Restaurant Tour, the Downtown Farmers Market,
and Downtown Historic Tours. Even more signature events are
also expected to move downtown in the near future.
For more
information contact: Peggy Massey, Director of Business and
Economic Development. Downtown Alliance. 464-5246.
Florence
Low, City of Stockton. 937-8279. florence.low@ci.stockton.ca.us,
(209) 937-8279. |
Stockton,
CA 
Page
last updated
