Havana B.I.D. Powers DRCOG 1st Place Gold Award for Aurora, Colorado
Aurora, Colorado (PRWEB) April 24, 2014 -- The Havana Business Improvement District (BID), dba On Havana Street, was recognized as a principal driver behind the City of Aurora’s 1st Place Gold Award for Planning for Economic Development by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG).
“We’ve created an identity that inspires the community and attracts visitors,” said Havana BID Executive Director Gayle Jetchick. “Aurora’s success is being studied and modeled regionally and nationally.”
Through increases over the last 7 years in retail shopping in Aurora, the Havana corridor now accounts for 12 percent of total annual sales tax revenue for the entire City of Aurora. Between 2010 and 2013, 90 new businesses opened in the corridor, resulting in 429 new jobs.
DRCOG’s Metro Vision Criteria for the Planning for Economic Development Award recognizes, “exceptional contributions to regional economic development through innovative…efforts to create vibrant and vital places where people live, work and play.”
DRCOG’S Metro Vision 2035 Goal for Urban Centers states, “By focusing development in these areas, the region can make the most efficient use of existing infrastructure, better plan future infrastructure, and attain regional goals…while ensuring the built environment accommodates the needs of residents of all ages, incomes and abilities.”
The Havana corridor, at the Denver/Aurora border, is identified as a major “urban center” in DRCOG Metro Vision 2035. Like many older urban corridors, it was showing signs of aging and decline. To reverse this trend, Havana Street businesses formed the Havana BID in November of 2007. In 2008, the new Havana BID Board of Directors worked with Denver marketing agency Webolutions® to brand the Havana corridor as On Havana Street and create a marketing strategy centered on creating unique experiences at events.
Since then, On Havana Street has focused on economic development and creating a sense of community through events, a monthly Life on Havana Street E-newsletter and social media. To create a sense of place, On Havana Street District Identity Markers were installed at 26 locations.
Since 2011, On Havana Street has partnered with the City of Aurora Art in Public Places Program on a public art exhibition called Art 2C on Havana.
DRCOG’S Metro Vision 2035 Goal for Infill and Redevelopment states, “Metro Vision encourages local governments to use overlooked vacant parcels and under-developed parcels for infill and redevelopment. Infill and redevelopment can absorb significant population growth and use existing infrastructure more efficiently.” Attention to seniors is specifically mentioned in the goal.
In 2008, to address the declining Buckingham Square Mall, the Havana BID helped develop and implement a plan to replace the mall with The Gardens on Havana, a sustainable lifestyle center which is the first “activity center” in the Havana corridor. The former City of Aurora office building at 1470 S Havana is now Bella Vita Senior Living, a walkable community connected to the Gardens on Havana. The water-wise rose garden at The Gardens On Havana, which hosts the annual Summer Concert Series, is tended by volunteer community members.
The corridor’s second activity center is a work in progress. The old Fan Fare building at 3rd and Havana, which sat empty for 30 years because of asbestos and environmental issues, was demolished in January, 2014. On Havana Street is working with the City of Aurora on repurposing this infill site into an active urban center.
In 2012, Jetchick worked with city planners on a Sustainable Infill Redevelopment zoning code (SIR) which was adopted by Aurora City Council in 2012 and gave the City of Aurora a true mixed-used zoning option.
The Havana BID Board worked with the City of Aurora on the All 4 Business Initiative, a streetscape overlay district and a new sign code, all designed to support business and infill redevelopment. Viridian, a new “green” multi-family community, is currently under construction and represents the much-desired new urban residential piece of the ongoing infill redevelopment.
“It is thrilling to witness the revitalization of the Havana corridor,” said Jetchick, “and we are so proud of our partnership with the City of Aurora and to be recognized by DRCOG. We invite everyone in Denver to come be a part of the family-friendly events happening On Havana Street this spring and summer.”
About Havana Business Improvement District
The Havana Business Improvement District (BID) dba On Havana Street is a special district in Colorado created in 2007 by business and neighborhood leaders and Aurora city staff working together to build a stronger, better community. The District makes a difference by focusing on unique, culturally diverse events and fun things to do and working to keep the area clean, safe and beautiful. For more information please contact Gayle Jetchick, Executive Director info (at) OnHavanaStreet.com, (303) 360-7505.
Gayle Jetchick, Havana Business Improvement District, http://www.onhavanastreet.com/, +1 (303) 360-7505, [email protected]
Share this article