Uptowne Newsletter 9-09

All Around. . .

Uptowne Volume 1 Issue 2 September 2009

Beach Music is a Blast! Boasting an attendance topping at over 1,700, the third Beach Music concert on Thursday, September 24, confirms the series a resounding success! Though the promoter and organizers would probably admit to a few private prayers prior to the first concert that attendance would reach 500, they needn’t have worried; the first concert topped out over 1,000, and even the second in the series that was

moved indoors due to rain closed in on 1,000 attendees. Privately, some predictions are that attendance for the fourth, and final, concert will top 2,000. The last concert is scheduled for Thursday, October 1. Volunteers have handed out hundreds of red tickets to concert goers promising they will enjoy specials and discounts when they return to Uptowne on Saturdays. Volunteers are also collecting email addresses so email blasts can be used to keep

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Beach Music Blast

1

Uptowne Receives CVB Grant Award

1

New Name for Core City

1

Advertising & Promoting Uptowne

2

Event Planning

3

Business 2 Business

3

Call to Action

4

Calendar

4

Missions & Visions

4

Partnering with the CVB

5

City Supports Uptowne

6

Origins of Core City

6

all informed of events in Uptowne. Thanks are due to all who have volunteered hours to hand out the red tickets: Angela Morakis and Mason & Pressly Garner (Decorative Magic Design Center); Pat & John Lindsay (CaroLens); Jay Wagner, Esq.; Mike De Foggio (Capelli Salon); Michelle Beck (Beckoning Salon & Spa); Mark Rumley (Triad Uniforms); Sarah Allen (Grace Flower Shop); and Scott Jackson (Lazy Daisy). 

Core City is now The City Project Core City has a new name. The City Project and a new logo, designed by McNeill Communications, were unveiled at the first beach music concert on September 10. 

CVB Grant Application Successful On September 16, the Convention and Visitors Bureau notified the Uptowne High Point Association that an award had been made to the association for $7,500. The award will be used to acquire pole banners to designate the district. The logo, voted on and approved at the June meeting is in final design stages. The logo and color palette, chosen from The City Project palette, will be presented at the board meeting on October 12. The logo designer, Thomas McGuire ([email protected]), a graphic design student at GTCC, will receive a small stipend for his work, and the remainder of the grant award will be used to print the first brochures for the district. The brochures will be included in welcome packets to be distributed by the CVB to groups visiting High Point for conferences and seminars. 

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Advertising & Promoting Uptowne HPU Passport Program

White Lights

A-frame Signs

The HPU passport program offers the opportunity for HPU students to use a debit card to make purchases at local businesses. A third-party firm contracts with the university to provide the program. In a meeting at HPU, Uptowne businesses were invited to enroll in the passport program. As soon as full information on the program is available, an email will be issued with those details. 

After dark, it’s easy for passersby to question whether a business is operation. Dark windows can be interpreted in two ways: 1) a business is located there, but it is after operating hours or 2) a business was located there, but has ceased operations. The twinkling lights appearing in windows throughout the district make it obvious that Uptowne is open for business. 

A-frame signs are one more weapon in the advertising & promotion arsenal for Uptowne. With the sign ordinance variance granted to Uptowne, businesses can advertise specials and promotions or simply welcome visitors to Uptowne without concern that they will be fined or have the signs confiscated by the city. Solicitation of checks for aframe signs is completed. The order will be placed no later than Wednesday, September 30. This is the only opportunity to take advantage of the quantity discount. If you want a sign, make your check for $77.52 payable to Fast Signs and call Gray Wehrley, 6886186, to pick it up. 

Festival Lights A familiar site at restaurants with outdoor dining, festival lights are a universal indicator of eateries and night life. October will begin a campaign to install festival lights at Uptowne restaurants and clubs.

White Boards & Chalk Boards A quantity discount is being pursued for the white boards and chalk boards to be attached to the a-frame signs when they arrive. Watch for emails with pricing details. In addition, a team of volunteers is being recruited to help mount the boards to the a-frames. Any merchant who has ordered an a-frame sign should send an email to Gray Wehrley, [email protected], indicating the type of board required, whichever is appropriate to the business, and whether the volunteer services will be needed for the mounting process. 

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Contact:

Gray Wehrley

Wendy Fuscoe

Phone:

688-6186

833-8547

Email:

[email protected]

[email protected]

UPTOWNE

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E ve n t P l ann i n g The latest event creating a buzz in Uptowne has designers and decorators scurrying to be included in the Designer Holiday Showcase, organized in conjunction with the Junior League of High Point and scheduled at the Briles House two consecutive weekends in November. Designers will start meeting at the Briles House this week to bid on rooms and begin the planning process that will result in opulent holiday décor for every room on the first floor, including the front door and porch.

Events will composters to advertise the event. mence with a gala preMerchants wishing to encourview the evening of Noage traffic to their Uptowne busivember 6. Briles House will be nesses, may choose to function open for tours on as ticket sales cenboth Saturdays, ters. Tickets include lunch at Uptowne Nov. 7 and Nov. Additional adver14. Tickets inrestaurants and entitle holders to tising opportunities clude lunch at enjoy trolley rides to both lunch Uptowne restauwill also be available. and Uptowne gift boutiques. rants and entitle As the planning holders to enjoy progresses, updates trolley rides to both lunch and will be issued. Uptowne gift boutiques. Proceeds will benefit Hospice Sunday, 11/8, is family time of the Piedmont. with Santa, milk, and cookies. A For more information on upphotographer will be present to coming events, see page 5. capture each precious moment.  Each business will receive

Business 2 Business Just Priceless

The Drawing Academy

Southern Chic Salon

Is Moving! On October 1, Just Priceless will open at their new location, 1313 North Main Street, formerly the location of Raymond Waites. When a date is set and plans are complete for the Grand Re-Opening, more information will be announced, including opportunities to promote this solid sign of growth in Uptowne! 

thedrawingacademy.com Melody Miller is in the final stages of up-fitting the former Paramount Furniture building on Main Street to open The Drawing Academy. The Drawing Academy will open its doors to reveal a gallery and classrooms as well as other art forms. As plans unfold for the Grand Opening, opportunities to promote this new venture in Uptowne will be proposed. 

803-B North Main Street On October 24, Jessica Ragan and her team of hairdressers will stage a cut-a-thon. With their chairs moved into the parking lot, they will cut hair for $10! Also in October, Southern Chic will offer pink hair extensions for $5 in partnership with the Susan G. Komen fight against breast cancer. Jessica, 889-2442, would appreciate any tie-ins other Uptowne businesses would like to propose. Let’s put our thinking caps on to find ways to partner with and promote Southern Chic Salon in their efforts for this worthy cause. 

Char-Grill Opening set for mid-November Scott Hiatt reports that the site, formerly Armadillo Grill, will be complete and equipment delivered and installed in time for opening in mid-November. As planning progresses, more information will be made available.  Page 3

Some folks are still fuzzy on the exact goals of core city and what the Uptowne district is all about. The background information on pages 4 and 5 will be included in the newsletter through the end of the year. Beginning in January, the newsletter will shorten to only current news & happenings in Uptowne. UPTOWNE

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***

Call to Action ***

Uptowne businesses include retail, restaurants, hospitality, and personal and professional service providers. While Uptowne leadership is dedicated to promoting all business interests in Uptowne, many events and promotions will naturally benefit retail & restaurants to a greater degree than the service providers, so your Uptowne leadership is constantly searching for methods to provide roles for our service providers. In the upcoming months, service providers will be encouraged to take on the role of ticket sales centers and to become the information centers for Uptowne events. Additionally, advertising opportunities will usually be available. Service providers are encouraged to actively pursue tie-ins with all promotions and events. 

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As the newsletter makes apparent, Uptowne is empowering itself to become a bonded community, growing as an influence in our city. It is imperative that individual entrepreneurs step forward to assume leadership roles in Uptowne. Block Leaders are being recruited to distribute newsletters, promote Uptowne initiatives, and act as minipromoters for the strip, block, or cluster of neighboring businesses. Please Volunteer! Call Gray Today! 688-6186

Missions & Visions Mark Your Calendars!

October 1 Final Beach Music Festival (Armadillo Grill & Shops at Emerywood) October 12 Regular Uptowne Board Meeting Library Conference Room, 3rd floor November 2 Regular Uptowne Board Meeting Library Conference Room, 3rd floor November 6, 7, 8, & 14 Designer Holiday Showcase at the Briles House December 7 Regular Uptowne Board Meeting Library Conference Room, 3rd floor

As we continue to organize, we will channel our energies into creating strong working committees charged with implementing the Uptowne vision. Please be willing to serve.

Core City Mission Composed by Wendy Fuscoe The mission of Core City High Point, Inc. is to spearhead the revitalization of the Core - an eleven square mile area surrounding and including downtown High Point. Our strategy for carrying out this mission is four-fold: 1) Actively engage in promoting the return of people, businesses and services to the core city; 2) Identify and develop incentives, initiatives, and funding mechanisms that encourage public/private partnerships; 3) Serve as a resource to energize neighborhood reinvestment; and 4) Reduce sprawl, make use of existing infrastructure, and encourage revitalization. Our vision is for a core city that symbolizes economic health, local quality of life, and community pride.

Uptowne Association Mission & Purpose “Uptowne High Point is the vibrant, economically healthy heart of the community, the location of the best restaurants and entertainment and where arts and culture thrive.” Our association is formed by interested stakeholders to initiate and advance the core city vision in Uptowne and to increase traffic and business opportunities. Our name, logo, tag line, etc. will be used to advance our message. The first steps to organizing the merchant community have been borrowed from the Core City plan. 1. Coordinate days and hours of operations, where applicable. 2. Adopt a destination name We have agreement on Uptowne, have selected a logo and are pursuing designation signage. (Continued on page 6) UPTOWNE

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Page 5

Partnering with the CVB The following is a list of groups who will be coming to High Point for competitions, seminars, or conferences. The promotion or event proposed by Uptowne to entertain/provide services is noted. There may be additional promotions being discussed which are not noted inasmuch as it is too early in the planning stages. October 23—25 High Point Classic Dancesport Championships held at the IHFC building. Competitions start early and run late. Our only opportunity to entertain these visitors appears to be to provide meals on Friday and Saturday nights. They have specifically asked for, and we are searching for funding to provide, transport for the competitors to and from the IHFC and Uptowne restaurants.

November 5—8 Mid Atlantic Gaming hosted by Justus Productions, High Point Best Western will host these visitors who are avid board-game players. The gamers engage in almost round-theclock gaming, and the Best Western allows them to bring in their own food. Customized menus that feature sandwiches named after popular game characters or pieces will be distributed by Uptowne restaurants. Uptowne restaurants expect to provide both lunch and dinner to participants.

November 5—8 Special Olympics will be held in HP the same weekend we host the Mid Atlantic Gaming. Initial plans are to use our aframe signs to welcome the Special Olympics to Uptowne. Additional suggestions are appreciated. November 8—11 NC Presenters Consortium will host a national Arts Market. Early proposals include meals, but it is early in the planning stages. November 13—14 Miss NC and Miss NC Teen Pageants These groups are entertained royally while in HP, both by the CVB and HPU. It is anticipated that meetings with the planners will result in opportunities for Uptowne.

January 31—February 5, 2010 Southern Building Materials Association This group may provide the best opportunity for Uptowne to make a big and lasting impression. It is too early in the process to have any hard information.

If any of these groups excites your imagination for a promotion or event in Uptowne, please share your ideas! UPTOWNE

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Page 6

Missions & Visions (Continued from page 4)

3. Organize joint advertising among businesses Event & Promotion Planning Committee is spearheading the planning . 4. Organize special events/sales promotions The Beach Music festival will kick off our special events calendar. 5. Pursue business retention, ex-

Origins of Core City In 2004, High Point City Council expressed interest in housing issues (how to deal with boarded up/substandard housing, reuse of existing housing) and the stabilization of neighborhoods in the urban core of the city.

pansion, and recruitment. Gary Simon is a member of the Economic Development Committee, and the association is in close contact with the Chamber of Commerce. In addition, every business operator is invited to suggest businesses that would complement their own. 

In August 2008 the Core City Steering Committee selected an Executive Director.

City Supports Uptowne As Uptowne embraces the opportunities presented by the core city plan, the district enjoys contributions made by the city:

In October 2008 the Core City was registered as a nonprofit and the Core City Steering Committee became the Core City Board of Directors.

1. The city has agreed to install the pole banners.

To ensure a uniform, strategic response, the City Manager (Strib Boynton) directed the Planning Department to develop a strategy for the redevelopment, revitalization and enhancement of the urban core of the city.

Key Concepts of the Core City Plan

2. Plans remain in place for the city to repair curbs and sidewalks in Uptowne.

The Planning Department recommended the city hire a consultant who would comprehensively address the downtown and adjacent neighborhoods and identify opportunities to revitalize and enhance the core city.

The plan targets 8 neighborhoods for revitalization and rejuvenation and where concerted action can, we believe, create urban energies for economic growth and resultant reductions in crime and increases in property values. The plan also identifies three key institutions (High Point University, GTCC’s South Main Campus and the Hospital District) whose growth areas must be protected. The plan also clarifies the Furniture District and its relationships with other areas of the city.

A consultant was selected. In December 2005, they began with a public kickoff and the selection of the core city committee to provide community input into the consultant planning process. In February 2007 the final plan was adopted by City Council. In the fall of 2007 the City Council officially appointed the Core City Steering Committee (basically the same group that had been working with the consultants). The consultants recommended the creation of a nonprofit organization to oversee the implementation of the core city plan, and this committee was charged with working towards the creation of this entity and implementation of the Core City plan.

The Core City is an eleven square mile area surrounding and including what traditionally has been called our “downtown.” The downtown is only a small part of the larger core.

The Core City Board elected to implement the plan in phases. The first phase includes 1) North Main Street and Lexington Avenue (as a regional entertainment destination) 2) Washington Drive and surrounding neighborhoods 3) West End, and 4) GTCC/South Main. N. Main Street from Ray to State Street, with West Lexington as the center point, is High Point’s best location for a destination restaurant and mixed-use district. The raw ingredients for this Continued at right

3. The city is spending thousands each week in in-kind services for the beach music concerts (e.g. traffic management, security, and garbage disposal). 4. We continue to anticipate grant money to make the installation of park benches, trash containers, and bike racks possible. Remember, our strength is enhanced every time we work together toward the common goal of promoting and growing Uptowne!  type of use already exist. The City Council has already adopted use restrictions and design guidelines for future growth. UPTOWNE