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Crime reduced in January and February
Downtown Portland continues to be one of the safest neighborhoods in Portland. After last year's historic 13 percent reduction in crime, the trend has continued in January and February this year, with Central Precinct reporting that the
crime rate in the Business Improvement District is still down significantly compared to the same period last year.
"Part of this continued success is due to the transit mall move to 3rd and 4th avenues in January and the combined efforts of the Clean and Safe team, Portland Police Bureau's Central Precinct, the District Attorney's office and
Tri-Met/Portland Mall Management Inc. security, which disrupted criminal activity patterns in a large portion of downtown," said Clean and Safe Director Bill Sinnott. "We look at this partnership as a real opportunity to enhance our
efforts and keep the crime rate down. There has been a dramatic improvement in the livability of the area and we are working hard to maintain the momentum."
Everyone working, living and visiting in the Business Improvement District is encouraged to call Clean and Safe (503.224.7383) to report suspicious activity, threatening behavior, drug activity or situations where Clean and Safe security
officers can offer assistance. Officers can assess the situation for the appropriate response, and have direct radio contact with Portland Police officers when needed. Remember: See something wrong, do something right. Call it
in.
Public benches and restrooms added downtown
Mayor Tom Potter's Street Access for Everyone (SAFE) Oversight Committee, co-chaired by Alliance Vice President Mike Kuykendall, continued its work in February to provide benches and to open public restrooms and day shelters in the central
city. The City is renovating three existing public restrooms and will officially open them in March. The City is scheduled to open five more restrooms by May 1.
The Julia West House, owned by the First Presbyterian Church at SW 13th and Alder Street, currently provides day shelter services at that location and will expand its capacity to provide for 65 more individuals, six days per week. The SAFE
committee is seeking a second location with capacity for up to 85 individuals in the central city.
The City installed six benches in February in front of Sisters of the Road Café, Harbor Light, Transition Projects and behind the Central Library. Once the restrooms, benches and shelters are operational, Mayor Potter is committed to
bringing the proposed sidewalk obstruction ordinance to Council for its second reading; the Council voted 5-0 in support at the first reading in December.
Clean and Safe updateDuring February the Clean and Safe Security Patrols engaged in 16,884 interactions with individuals on the streets of downtown Portland in their work to enhance the safety and security of citizens
in the Business Improvement District. These contacts included 7,502 business assistance and referral contacts, 6,848 pedestrian contacts, 61 arrests, 161 exclusions and an additional 123 non-enforcement
problem solving contacts.
In February, the Westside Community Court ordered 119 defendants to perform community service on the Westside work crew. The Community Court work crews removed 29 bags of trash and 15 pieces of drug paraphernalia. For
the month, defendants from Community Court performed 529 hours of community service. These hours of community service include work at the Blanchet House and with Loaves and Fishes.
Forty-four defendants successfully completed the Theft Accountability Class. The Downtown District Attorney Legal Assistant reviewed a total of 188 misdemeanor cases for prosecution and referral to the Westside Community
Court.
Sidewalk Ambassadors promote events in February
The Ambassadors were busy this February promoting events in Old Town/Chinatown and the Portland Classical Chinese Garden to celebrate the Chinese New Year. They also promoted exhibits at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Oregon Nikkei Legacy
Center.
The Portland International Film Festival and Portland Jazz Festival brought droves of art lovers and visitors downtown. To assist them, Ambassadors staffed a booth inside the Jazz Pavilion at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
The Ambassadors worked on several BID projects during the last month:
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Parking survey to update numbers due to transit mall changes
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Restaurant survey to update the Dining Guide
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Business visits to distribute the Downtown Business Census and the Alliance's Top 10 Growth Awards nomination forms
Ambassador Activity for February:
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Business Modifications: 4
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Business Visits: 364
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Changes to Business: 24
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Incident Reports: 5
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Information Provision: 2,325
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Publications: 1,500
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Service: 59
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TriMet Information: 576
Monthly Total: 4,844
Visitors rave about the Sidewalk Ambassadors
"Ambassador Kean saw I was in need and stood right up to the plate- I was relieved. A great help to me as an individual and, I'm sure, to anyone visiting, etc. (A great relief!) Safe on my way!
- Brandon (Veneta, OR)
"Ambassador Bryan was fantastic! He went out of his way to help me find tickets to see William Hurt in Vanya. Bryan was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, courteous and insightful. This is a very good program."
- Dr. T Zazeckis (San Antonio, TX)
"It was a treat beginning our visit meeting Ambassador John. A big thank-you."
- G. Lee (Silverdale, WA)
City parking validation under review
The Downtown Retail Council (DRC) began discussing the City's current proposal to change the parking validation program. Several DRC members are participating in the Alliance's Parking Validation Task Force, an ad hoc committee reviewing
the City's program. This task force will provide recommendations to the City for a validation program that represents the interests of the customer, the merchant and the City's SmartPark garages.
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The Downtown Marketing Initiative and the Alliance's
downtownportland.org web site continues to promote shopping, dining and entertainment options to more than 7,000 subscribers. February ended with an average daily hit rate of 7,000, and the total numbers of hits to-date
are approximately 746,700 since November 2006. |
Alliance considers BID expansion
The Alliance is researching the financial impact of a possible expansion of the Business Improvement District to include all parcels within five blocks between SW Salmon Street, SW 11th Avenue, SW 12th Avenue and SW Washington Street. The
possible boundary changes would include the new retail core boundaries. Expansion of the BID is one of the proposals included in the Downtown Retail Strategy Update.
"We want to make sure we are providing services to the whole downtown retail core, while maintaining the level of service in the current BID," said Mike Kuykendall, Vice President of Downtown Services for the Alliance. The research will be
presented to the PDSI Board of Directors this spring.
All City Council members and the Mayor's office have been briefed on the Retail Strategy Update. The Alliance is also compiling market research collateral to provide brokers with information on the Downtown Retail Core. Portand Development
Commission approved the update this week, which may lead to more focused investment in downtown's retail core. And it was approved earlier by the Alliance board of directors.
Have you filled out your 2006 Business Survey?
The Alliance is in the data collection phase of the 2006 Downtown Business Census and Survey. The results will provide a 100 percent count of all businesses, non-profits and governmental agencies in the I-5/I-405 loop, and a statistically
significant amount of downtown employee demographic information.
If you have not yet filled out the 2006 Business Census and Survey, contact Carly Riter at 503.552.6768.
2007 Central City Development/Redevelopment Report underway
The Alliance began updating the Central City Development/ Redevelopment Report to reflect all projects under construction, under discussion, or on the drawing board in 2007. The report will provide a geographic overview of development in
the central city, as well as a project-by-project summary, to be used as a resource for developers and businesses considering relocating to downtown.
The Alliance is on schedule to complete the report by April 2007.
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