ATTRACT LEVERAGE INVEST 2016-2017
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair of the Board of Directors JUANITA T. JORDAN
Vice Chair DAN FORRESTER
OUR VISION A vibrant and authentic city experience unparalleled in the South.
Treasurer TONY ROJAS
Secretary BLAKE LISENBY
F
Of Counsel
or many years, the operative word in describing Macon was potential. Macon is a city with the gift of geography. It’s a city blessed with an ample water supply, a strong health care infrastructure, and a diverse and high-quality higher education presence. Macon is a city with great bones—with beautiful historic structures, more structures on the National Register of Historic Places than even Savannah. Potential has been the word for Macon. But there’s another word that better captures the Macon that we see today. It’s the French word renaissance, which literally means rebirth. Renaissance captures what we are experiencing, as our community is well into the process of translating its enormous potential into reality. This rebirth is evident in our urban core where decay has been replaced by vibrancy and where community has supplanted isolation. It’s evident in the hundreds of redeveloped lofts now being occupied by the talented, creative and entrepreneurial young people being drawn to Macon, in new restaurants, bars and retail establishments lining the streets, and in new public infrastructure investments reflecting our community’s growing self-confidence and willingness to reinvest in itself. Orlando magazine is right when it reports that “today, Macon has recovered its mojo.” ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND PRESERVATIONISTS ARE COMBINING FORCES TO REVIVE MACON AND TRANSFORM ITS TEMPO. It’s happening now because organizations across our community are collaborating to make the city more vibrant and competitive. It’s happening because we have empowered new, young leaders to bring fresh ideas and energy to the cause. It’s happening because of the leadership of NewTown Macon. NewTown exists because of the commitment of community leaders to the cause of reviving our urban core. We need your engagement with downtown. We need your investment in our work and community through our newly announced capital campaign. We need you.
CHRIS R. SHERIDAN
Chair of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail Committee THOMAS WICKER
Past Chair ALBERT ABRAMS VIRGIL ADAMS JEAN BRAGG JIM DAWS MIKE DYER CARL GAROFALO CORRIE HALL BOB HATCHER BILL KILBURG ELBERT MCQUEEN LESTER MILLER EMILY MYERS BRYAN NICHOLS JACOB PATTON ROBERT REICHERT JOHN RHEA LARRY SCHLESINGER SCOTT SEIGEL RON SHIPMAN DAN SPEIGHT BROTHER STEWART SCOTT THOMPSON MICHAEL WRIGHT
NEWTOWN STAFF
OUR MISSION To attract, leverage, and invest in self-sustaining transformation in Downtown Macon.
WILLIAM D. UNDERWOOD
JOSH ROGERS
President & CEO GAIL B. MANSFIELD
Chief Financial Officer ERIN KELLER
Vice President for Development BETHANY ROGERS, PhD
Director of Business & Real Estate Development HAL BASKIN
Assistant Director of Business & Real Estate Development
TODAY, THE WORD FOR MACON IS RENAISSANCE.
ERIKA CONLEAY
Director of Place DAVID MOORE
Project Manager MARK THOMPSON
Photographer & Special Events Assistant
WILLIAM D. UNDERWOOD Chair of the Board of Directors
2014 ANNUAL REPORT
2
2017 REPORT OF PROGRESS
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS
JULY 2016 The Office co-working space reached full occupancy after being opened for only two months!
SEPTEMBER 2016 Constructed the world’s largest pop-up bike lane network.
NOVEMBER 2016 NewTown decides to self-develop 520 Mulberry into Spearman Lofts with 12 luxury units.
JANUARY 2017 NewTown hosted the third Developer’s Academy.
The Oldhams Building, 520 Mulberry Street
APRIL 2017 NewTown created the Cotton Ave Pop-up Plaza, a temporary public park.
AUGUST 2016 NewTown hosted a downtown breakfast featuring international urbanist, Marcus Westbury.
OCTOBER 2016 A new, five-year strategic plan was established during NewTown’s Board retreat.
DECEMBER 2016 Twenty-two Downtown Challenge grants were awarded with three going to NewTown Macon.
MARCH 2017 With NewTown’s support, Daphne’s Boutique and Gifts expanded and re-opened as Daphne’s 525 on Cherry Street.
MAY 2017 Twenty-three Downtown Challenge grants were awarded with four going to NewTown Macon.
JUNE 2017 The Downtown Macon Business Improvement District (BID) passed overwhelmingly!
2014 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 REPORT OF PROGRESS
33
333 K DEVELOPMENT $6.3M $125K 333K $6.3M $1.9M $125K $6.3M 333K
LOAN PROGRAMS
When you look around at you want to be part of it!
Ribbon cutting at Reboot Retrocade & Bar
NewTown has loaned almost $6.3 million since the inception of the program in 2012.
— D. Ridley, Forget-Me-Knots
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND This fund exists to provide public benefit through converting vacant space to LOAN PROGRAMS active use, increasing property tax revenue, creating construction jobs and $125,000 was lent last year improving the aesthetics of Downtown Macon. through the Business Recipients this year include: 450 Third Street, B&D Lofts, MMI Capital, Development Loan Program. 524 Mulberry, BFIP-Second Street, and BFIP-Mulberry Street.
The loan program has supported LOAN PROGRAMS the renovation of more than 333,000 square feet.
NewTown has loaned almost $6.3 million since the inception of the program in 2012.
$125,000 was lent last year through the Business Development Loan Program. NewTown has loaned almost $6.3 million since the inception of the program in 2012.
1.9 M 333K $125K $
$1,942,000 was lent last year through the Real Estate The Development loan program Loan has supported Fund. the renovation of more than 333,000 square feet.
$125,000 was lent last year through the Business Development Loan Program.
$1,942,000 was lent last year through the Real Estate Development Loan Fund.
We would not have been able to do this without a Business Development Loan.
— W. Boyer, Reboot Retrocade & Bar
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND loan program has supported TheThe purpose of this fund is to fill downtown storefronts with thriving the renovation of more businesses that complement than the master plan for Downtown Macon. Loans can 333,000 square feet. be used to start, sustain or grow a business in Downtown Macon. Recipients this year include: Daemarii’s Boutique Downtown Pop-up Shops, Daphne’s 525*, Reboot Retrocade & Bar, and Situation Room.
125K
$
DEVELOPER’S ACADEMY NewTown hosted Developer’s $125,000 wasthe lent last year Academy for the third consecutive year. With 22 through participants, we hosted our largest class in winter of 2017, followed the Business Loan Program. by anDevelopment additional summer class with 12 participants. The Developer’s Academy is a six-part course designed to teach interested individuals the basic skills necessary to develop real estate in Downtown Macon. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to undertake their own downtown revitalization projects. The next Developer’s Academy is slated to begin in January 2018.
1.9M
$
NewTown accepts loan applications online $1,942,000 was lent last year at newtownmacon.com/loans.
2014 ANNUAL REPORT
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The loan program has supported the renovation of more than 333,000 feet. what’s going onsquare downtown,
2017 REPORT OF PROGRESS
through the Real Estate Development Loan Fund.
* Made possible by a grant through the Downtown Challenge.
RESOURCE ALLO CATION 9% 14% INCOME SOURCES Admin & Overhead
OHT
2% 4%
4%
Advocating In-Kind Progress
9%
Fundraising Other Income
1.46M
$
Rentals
$1.37M
2%
Sponsorships
32%
Sense of8% Place Membership Dues
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
11%
Investments 4%
9%
9%
14%
Admin & Overhead
OHT
24%
11%
Fundraising
4%
Donations
Advocating Progress
$1.46M
22%
Increasing Residents
32%
Growing Jobs
22%
Sense of Place
9%
47%
Increasing Residents
Growing Jobs
Grants (Restricted)
RESOURCE ALLOCATION 14%
OHT
9%
Admin & Overhead
11%
Fundraising
4%
Advocating Progress
$1.46M
32%
TARGET BLO CKS, 2017
22%
Sense of Place
9%
Increasing Residents
Growing Jobs
The Lofts at Silvers
The occupancy within our target blocks has increased from 52% in 2012 to 69% in FY16. Our goal is to reach 75% by the end of FY18. Occupied
Under Construction
Vacant
Land lot
Parking Lot
B&D Lofts
TARGET BLO CKS, 2012
Lofts at Capricorn
5
SOUL SPOTS Sponsored by the Macon-Bibb Convention and Visitors Bureau, the sidewalks of Downtown Macon are brought to life every First Friday by local musicians, artists, and performers.
FIRST FRIDAY Presented by Robins Financial Credit Union, First Friday has become a signature event in Downtown. The streets come alive each month with patrons enjoying First Friday specials, live music, and art. This community-wide event has proven to be a great time for the whole family.
POP-UP PLAZA In April 2017 a portion of Cotton Avenue was temporarily closed and transformed into a pop-up plaza. This project created a new vision for public space by encouraging engagement and activity through the use of outdoor furniture, lawn games, and live music.
GARAGE MEET Hosted quarterly on First Friday, the Garage Meet attracts hundreds of people to Downtown Macon to show off their rides and support local businesses. The Garage Meet is free to participate in and is held in the Mulberry Parking Garage. In May 2017, the Community Foundation of Central Georgia awarded the Garage Meet a Downtown Challenge grant to ensure the event could continue and grow.
MACON CONNECTS NewTown, in partnership with Better Block, 8 80 Cities, Bike Walk Macon, and Macon-Bibb County government, built the world’s largest pop-up bike lane network stretching more than five miles and proving there is a need for better biking and walking
The BID promises that downtown’s brightest days are ahead, not behind. — Josh Rogers, President & CEO, NewTown Macon
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID) Thanks to a Downtown Challenge grant from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, NewTown led the campaign to launch the Downtown Macon BID. The BID is a partnership between private citizens and local government in which property owners elect to tax themselves to fund an increase in public services. The BID will fund improvement projects in areas of sanitation, public safety, marketing, business development, beautification, and more. Learn more at newtownmacon.com/bid.
MOVEABLE FURNITURE Initiated in July 2016 and funded by the Downtown Challenge, NewTown launched the Moveable Furniture project to help transform downtown public spaces. This project encourages citizens to relax, socialize, and enjoy themselves downtown.
OCMULGEE HERITAGE TRAIL
O CM
U LG E
IV ER
ER
AMERSON RIVER PARK
RIVERSIDE CEMETERY
OCMULGEE HERITAGE TRAIL
ROSE HILL CEMETERY
Finished Trail
Sidewalk Connectors Under Construction or Proposed Trail
T
11 11 10 10
he Ocmulgee Heritage Trail—extending from Amerson River Park to the Ocmulgee National MILES OF TRAIL More than 11 miles of walking and biking Monument—is a public/private partnership. NewTown trails connect Amerson River Park the Ocmulgee National Monument. OF TRAIL plans trail expansions and improvements and raises withMILES More than 11 miles of walking and biking private funds to support these goals. Once a portion trails connect Amerson River Park with the Ocmulgee National Monument. of the trail is complete, NewTown transfers ownership and management over to Macon-Bibb County to operate in perpetuity as a public park.
PARKS
There are 10 parks along the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail.
ABOUT AMERSON RIVER PARK PARKS Consisting of 180 acres, Amerson River Park is the northernmost portion of the There are 10 parks along the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail. Ocmulgee Heritage Trail. This public park hosts upwards of 69,000 visitors per month and includes a playground, canoe and tube launch and take out, several miles of paved trails, and pavilions overlooking the river.
90K 90K
CENTRAL CITY PARK
8
VER O C M U LG E E R I
VISITORS
OCMULGEE NATIONAL MONUMENT
BIKE SHARE AT SPRING STREET The Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau was awarded an $88,170 grant, through the Downtown Challenge, to provide bike-share services in downtown Macon through Macon Soul Cycle. Stations are located at Washington Memorial Library, the Tubman
Amerson River Park is host to an average of 90,000 visitors per month.
Museum and the Ocmulgee Heritage VISITORS Amerson River Park is host to an Trail (OHT). The OHT location is per the average of 90,000 visitors month. busiest with 58% of the ridership. You can rent the bikes using the Zagster app. The bikes are free the first hour and $3 for each following hour with $30 as a per-day maximum.
DOWNTOWN LIVING For those wondering if the downtown life is for them, I say, “You should have moved in yesterday.” The people, businesses, and architectural beauties spread throughout make living downtown a unique and enjoyable experience. — E. Patterson, downtown loft resident
FIND YOUR PLACE Finding your place to live in downtown Macon is easier than ever with NewTown’s Loft Finder. The Loft Finder includes all loft properties in the Central Business District (CBD) and allows you to see what’s currently available for rent. Loft property owners within the CBD may list their property on the Loft Finder free of charge. Please contact NewTown Macon to have your property added.
The Loft Finder is available at newtownmacon.com/living-downtown.
458 % 95 49
Lofts in Downtown Macon
As of June 2017, 95% of the downtown lofts were occupied.
Forty-nine loft units were built during fiscal year 2016–17.
2014 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 REPORT OF PROGRESS
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CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE The Focused on the Future campaign is complete! Thanks to all who completed their pledge. Downtown is a better place because of your investment! Adams, Hemingway, & Wilson Adams, Jordan & Herrington Anonymous Donor BB&T Contributions Committee Mr. & Mrs. Hal Baskin Bragg Jam, Inc. Burgess Pigment Company Cox Communications
Mike & Nancy Ford L. E. Schwartz & Son, Inc. Mr. Blake Lisenby Ms. Gail Mansfield Metro Power, Inc. Josh & Meaghan Rogers Laura & Shane Schofield Secure Health Mr. Ed Sell, III
Elliot Machine Shop Georgia Pine Level Foundation Geotechnical & Environmental Consultants Ms. Erin Keller Ms. Nicole Kubas
from his discretionary fund with The Peyton Anderson Foundation
The Medical Center, Navicent Health The Peyton Anderson Foundation Mrs. Kris Vaughn W. L. Amos Sr. Foundation
BUILDING ON PROGRESS Every five years NewTown Macon develops a new strategic action plan and proposes a new set of goals to our public and private partners. The time has come to launch our new campaign, Building on Progress. We are asking our partners to commit to a fixed donation each year over the next five years. In addition to a fiscal pledge, NewTown will also be accepting experiential pledges with this campaign. Experiential pledges can include commitments such as eating downtown once a month or attending First Friday. For ideas on how you can pledge, visit newtownmacon.com/pledge. Downtown’s success will only continue with the committed support of our community. Please consider making a monetary and/or an experiential pledge that will continue to bring Downtown Macon to new heights! Be a part of the progress and help support NewTown’s initiatives by donating today! For more information or to make a donation, please contact: Erin Keller erin@newtownmacon.com 478-722-9909, ext. 107
You can donate online at newtownmacon.com/donate. 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
10
2017 REPORT OF PROGRESS
FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
HIGHLIGHTS 2012–2017
28.7M
$
LEVERAGED INVESTMENT We surpassed this goal! The campagin goal was $25M.
12%
Corporate
63%
Foundation Support
5M
16%
Individuals
$
8%
Board Dues
$5,014,288 IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
243
LOFTS COMPLETED With 22 additional lofts underway, we overwhelmingly exceeded the campaign goal of 125 lofts!
5M
$
#PledgeDTMacon
$5,014,288 IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS GIFTS OF MORE THAN $50,000 All-State Electrical Contractors Anonymous Donor Community Foundation of Central Georgia The Peyton Anderson Foundation $10,000 – $49,999 Acoustical Floors BB&T Bibb Distributing Charles H. Jones Family Foundation Cox Communications Dewayne Moore’s Painting Incorporated Dublin Glass Company Gateway, LLC Georgia Pine Level Foundation Georgia Power Griffith Family Charitable Foundation James H. Porter Charitable Trust Kumho Tire Georgia, Inc. Macon Water Authority Macon-Bibb County McCarty Air, LLC Rightway Drywall Robins Financial Credit Union Sheridan Construction Company Southern Company Gas State Bank & Trust Company SunTrust Foundation The Beverly B. Meadors Charitable Fund $1,000 – $9,999 Adams Law Firm Adams, Hemingway & Wilson Adams, Jordan & Herrington P.C. Bragg Jam, Inc. Burgess Pigment Company C&P Company, LLP R. Lee Discher Georgia Pine Level Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia Graphic Packaging Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce Ingleside Village Pizza James-Bates-Brannan-Groover, LLP KaMin, LLC L. E. Schwartz & Son, Inc. Macon Occupational Medicine Macon-Bibb Convention & Visitors Bureau McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co. MetroPower, Inc.
* FY July 2016 through June 2017
Middle Georgia State University Myers McRae, Inc. Navicent Health Pyles Plumbing & Utility Contractors Renasant Bank Sierra Development Stephen A. Reichert Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia Stuckey Management Services Thad E. Murphey Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia David Thompson & Dr. Madalyn Davidoff Mr. Scott Thompson Travis Jean, LLC Drs. Michael & Bridget Wright $500 – $999 Bike Tech Robert L Dickey, III Colonel William Harrop, III Little C., Inc. (dba Zaxby’s) Lynn and Alan Neal Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia Martin Snow, LLP Mr. & Mrs. Gary O’Neal Josh & Meaghan Rogers S&S Cafeterias Sheridan, Solomon & Associates SunTrust Bank of Middle Georgia Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia Union Baptist Church Women’s Specialty Care, P.C. $1 – $499 Lucy Harrison Allen Farley Andersen Katie Atkinson Jean Bragg Julie Barta James L. Bass Dr. David Biek Dr. Linda Bivins Lauren Beaty Kevin and Whitney Berry Robert Betzel Blair Furniture Co. Al & Sue Bond Helen Bowie Joel & Kay Bronstein Bob & Linda Brown
*
Jim & Mary-Frances Burt David Bury, Jr. Afika Bush Milton Butler Jeffrey Carter Commercial Furnishings Kenny & Erika Conleay Vicki Cunneen Asha Ellen Holly A. Ertel Eye Center of Central Georgia Lynn Farmer Mr. & Mrs. Larry Fennelly Shannon Fields James Freeman Kevin Frounfelker Dr. Lisa Williams Garrett Kay Gerhardt Kristy Graham Andy Greenway George Greer Janis Haley Stanley Hall Janita Hickenbotham Kathleen Hlavaty Charles Hoffman Michael Horner April Hornsby Mark Hurt Stacy Ingram Harriet R. Jardine Morgan Jarvis Quentin Jude Kara Keller Todd & Nannette Keller Erin P. Keller Alice Knierim Rhonda Koplin Marty Koplin Nicole Kubas Betty Sweet Ladson Lisa Langdon Mr. & Mrs. William Lightner Lauren Lin Dr. Judy Long Rhonda Lowe Autumn Lucas Susannah Maddux Gail Mansfield Vicki Marshall Gaye Martel Tracie Mathis Bert Maxwell, IV Mr. & Mrs. Samuel A. McDuffie Sylvia McGee Shannon McGhee Taylor McNeill Sydney McRee
J. Patrick Meyer & Dr. Glenna Meyer Paul Midkiff Lester M. Miller, Attorney at Law Vicki Mills Alex Morrison Sherie Moses Mr. & Mrs. David Neal Mr. & Mrs. John Newsom Mr. & Mrs. Ed Olson Alex Papadapolous Marguerite Parker Thomas Reichert Stephen A. Reichert Bebe & Albert Reichert Brenda Renick John Rhea Donald & Theresa Rhodes Anna Richards R. Lynn Rivenbark Drs. Eric & Jeanne Roddenberry Bethany Rogers Mr. & Mrs. Tony Rojas David Rose Creighton Rosental Joseph Saturna Elizabeth & Bobby Schorr, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. William P. Simmons, Jr. Todd & Mary Kay Smith Natalie Stroud Claudia & Gene Strouss Cindy Strowbridge Ruth Sykes William Tanner John & Rebecca Thacker The Urban CEO The Honorable & Mrs. Marc Treadwell Kris Vaughn Alane Waddell Dr. Suzan Watkins Thomas Wells Mr. & Mrs. Brian Whitley Youmans Chevrolet Rosser Riddle, LLC Kingdom Building Ministries of Macon, Inc. Carlyle Place Larry Bush Riverside Tire Mount de Sales Academy Summit Commercial Services, Inc. IN-KIND DONATIONS Cumulus Communication Macon Magazine Howard Moore McDuffie Lisenby & Associates Law Firm Middle Georgia State University Shadow Sound Studio Chris R. Sheridan ANNUAL REPORT The Creek2014 100.9 2017 REPORT OF PROGRESS
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555 Poplar Street Macon, Georgia 31201 NewTownMacon.com (478) 722-9909
Design by Burt&Burt
Photography credits include: Maryann Bates, Jim Burt, Mary-Frances Burt, Historic Macon Foundation, Matt Odom, Sean Pavone, Hart Roberts, Mark Thompson / Printing by Litho Press