3. 2012-2013
ANNUAL REPORT
The litter patrol partnership with Mission
Arlington has significantly reduced litter in
Downtown. Since January, Mission Arlington
has collected over 450 bags of trash,
spending approximately 300 hours patrolling our streets. The DAMC also added
six trash receptacles, and we are planning to add at least six more over the next
year. There are currently 18 trash receptacles located in Downtown Arlington.
The DAMC is developing unique parking strategies
to support our downtown businesses and property
owners and to better serve our guests. Strategies
include the identification of potential shared parking
assets, improved signage and public awareness. Additionally, we obtained
a cost estimate from Graham and Associates to construct a new 63-space
parking lot along Front Street. We anticipate taking this project to the
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board in the coming months, with
construction starting in 2014.
SOUTHSTREETPEDESTRIANIMPROVEMENTS
The DAMC worked with Mycoskie+McInnis+Associates to develop a pedestrian
improvement plan for South Street between Center and Mary Streets. Improvements
include wider sidewalks, street furniture, pedestrian lighting, and landscaping. When
completed, these improvements will link the growing cluster of restaurants and bars
along East Abram with Levitt Pavilion and the UT Arlington College Park District.
PARKING
WAYFINDING
The City of Arlington
installed 17 new wayfinding
signs this year. These signs
not only look great, but they
improve guests’ ability to
find desired destinations.
BEAUTIFICATION
PARTNERINGWITHUTARLINGTON
As Downtown and UT Arlington continue to thrive, the boundaries between
the two have blurred and the partnership has strengthened. Recently, DAMC
co-hosted a Sunrise Pep Rally at Moritz Plaza to promote the College Park
District as a community-wide destination. We also were privileged to work
with two UT Arlington classes. One class of seniors developed public relations
campaigns to engage the student body. The other class wrote 40+ blog posts
for our website. DAMC will continue to partner with UT Arlington and its
talented students to further our goals and objectives.
DOWNTOWNEVENTS
The DAMC supported several events including a new summer block party
series entitled “First Fridays.” First Fridays are aimed at activating the area
around the Vandergriff Town Center. These free events which began on
Friday, May 3, and run through September include live music, an art market
and food. The DAMC partnered with the Grease Monkey to establish this
unique event. Additionally, we partnered with the Levitt Pavilion for the
2nd Annual Downtown Arlington Center Stage Music Festival to kick-off its
concert season. Finally, we worked with the organizers of Art on the Greene
to establish the South Street Art Festival. Other successful events this year
included the Holiday Lights Parade, Light Up Arlington, EcoFest and the
4th of July Parade. Together, these events attracted approximately 100,000
visitors. Plans are already underway to build on all these successful events
and make next year’s even bigger and better.
SOCIALMEDIA
(As of 8/26)
Facebook: 1,964 Likes
Twitter: 1,045 Followers
Instagram: 91 Followers
MAX–METROARLINGTONEXPRESS
Public transportation has made its way to Arlington, and its first stop
is Downtown. The Metro Arlington Express (MAX) officially launched in
August and connects Downtown Arlington with the TRE Centreport Station.
Individuals who arrive in Downtown on the MAX will be greeted with a large
map to help them reach their final destination. For more information about
this program, please visit www.ridethemax.com.
STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN
The DAMC has established a workable strategic action plan to guide our
efforts for the next five years. This plan was developed with the assistance of
Freese and Nichols. Our SAP represents consensus among the DAMC board,
members and staff. It establishes the DAMC’s common vision for Downtown
Arlington as a unique community, rich in opportunities. The planning process
began in late spring 2012 and ended the summer of 2013. Community input
opportunities included an online survey, stakeholder workshop and a DAMC
Board retreat. The planning process built upon recent successes, past planning
efforts and decades of leadership by local officials, entrepreneurs, stakeholders,
educational partners and citizens. Our SAP is intended to help manage DAMC
resources in an orderly fashion and maximize assets to strategically improve
Downtown’s image and physical environment. For more information, please
visit www.downtownarlington.org/actionplan.
ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT
The DAMC worked diligently to identify and promote development
opportunities in Downtown Arlington. We continued to evaluate high-
priority development blocks and maintained our focus on catalyst projects
including a boutique hotel, movie theater and residential and office
developments. We also experienced significant growth in restaurants and
bars as we welcomed eight new businesses to the area.
PHOTOCOURTESYOFTHECITYOFARLINGTON
4. The DAMC’s marketing
efforts continue to build
brand awareness and
loyalty for Downtown
Arlington. We published ads in Living Magazine and the Star-Telegram,
and we ran TV spots on KTXA and radio spots on KJKK. Additionally, we
facilitated co-marketing opportunities with our restaurant and bar partners,
including the FW Weekly’s EATS and Summer Guide, promos with DFW.com
and radio remotes with KTCK and WBAP.
PROMOTINGDOWNTOWN
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
TERRY BERTRAND, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - CHAIR
ROBERT S. JOHNSON, THE PINNACLE CORPORATION – IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
JOHN HALL, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON - TREASURER
NANCI JOHNSON-PLUMP – SECRETARY
CLIFF MYCOSKIE, MMA TEXAS
RICK MERRITT, RP ANVIL, LP
RYAN DODSON, DODSON DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTORS
DR. MOODY ALEXANDER, DRS. ALEXANDER ORTHODONTICS
JOHN ARNOT, COBLE CRAVENS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
O.K. CARTER, WRITER/AUTHOR
CHARLES CLAWSON, CLAWSON CONSULTING, LLC
MAYOR ROBERT CLUCK, M.D., CITY OF ARLINGTON
LANA WOLFF, CITY OF ARLINGTON
PATTI DIOU, LEVITT PAVILION
RANDY FORD, J. GILLIGAN’S BAR & GRILL
DR. JIM BURGIN, MISSION METROPLEX
EMORY ESTES, KHT INSURANCE
KRIS LANDRITH, LANDRITH & KULESZ, LLP
KEVIN MCGLAUN, CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
AUDRA MOORE, A&T MOORE HEALTH CARE CORPORATION
RANDAL ROSE, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
VARUN MALLIPADDI, UTA STUDENT CONGRESS PRESIDENT
VALERIE MCDONALD, THE SANFORD HOUSE INN & SPA
BEVERLY SALVANT, STATE FARM INSURANCE
RONNIE PRICE, EXPERIENCE ARLINGTON
CARL CRAVENS, SOUTHWEST BANK
JEFF JORDAN, JORCO GROUP
JOINDAMC
Collaboration with our
partners and members helps
keep the momentum and
excitement going. Visit our
website for more details.
downtownarlington.org
201 EAST ABRAM STREET, SUITE 130
ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76010
P.817.303.2800 F.817.303.2805
DOWNTOWNARLINGTON.ORG
STAFF
TONY RUTIGLIANO
PRESIDENT & CEO
TONY@DOWNTOWNARLINGTON.ORG
AIMEE MCMULLEN
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
AIMEE@DOWNTOWNARLINGTON.ORG
ALEX PIETROFORTE
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
ALEX@DOWNTOWNARLINGTON.ORG
