Dt bainbridge guide

ISSUE 3 / 2016

D I SC OVER

DOWNTOWN BAINBRIDGE A PUBLICATION OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF BAINBRIDGE

VIBRANT BUSINESS DISTRICT SOUTHERN CHARM EVER EVOLVING GREAT SPACES AVAILABLE

G E T TI N G STA RTE D I N

DOWNTOWN BAINBRIDGE The Downtown Development Authority of Bainbridge is always looking for local independent businesses-that is what primarily distinguishes historic downtowns from modern malls and contemporary strip centers. Downtown Bainbridge has a place for you if you are a classic “mom and pop� business. We always encourage the community to Shop Local and Think Downtown First!

Creating a successful business is the dream of many Americans. Although starting a

BAINBRIDGE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 101 South Broad Street Bainbridge, GA 39817

successful business does not take magic, it does require a great deal of diligent effort.

The business startup process can be confusing and cumbersome. Fortunately, there is quality, FREE assistance for businesses available throughout Georgia through the Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network.

contact: Amanda Glover p: (229) 400-9093 e: amandag@bainbridgecity.com www.downtownbainbridgega.com facebook.com/downtownbainbridge

There are no defined steps that have to be followed in a set order when starting a business, although there is a logical sequence in the major procedures. This sequence includes determining the feasibility of the project, covering the various legal issues, examining the financial considerations, and assembling it all into a written document called a business plan.

The Downtown Development Authority of Bainbridge has a great working relationship with the Planning & Zoning Department, and we are willing to assist you through the local requirements to help you expedite finding a location and opening for business.

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YOUR

COMMUNITY

BUSINESS

PROFILE

OPEN

STEP ONE ZONE COMPLIANCE

STEP THREE

Meet with the Downtown Development

OCCUPATIONAL TAX CERTIFICATE

Authority Director and Assistant City

Obtain Occupational Tax Certificate from

Manager for zoning compliance.

City Hall

Make sure the type of business you want to

Contact the receptionist to complete the

open meets the zoning regulation for the

one-page application

Central Business District.

STEP TWO FIND A LOCATION

The DDA Director can assist you with finding

This form triggers the Building Official to

Bainbridge, Georgia is a beautiful and charming community, known for its tree-lined streets and elegant old antebellum and Victorian homes. The town continues to revolve around its central square (Willis Park), which is beautifully maintained. The high clock tower of the Victorian-era Decatur County Courthouse rises above one corner and the surrounding blocks are lined with historic buildings, the majority of them over 100 years old.

A GEORGIA EXCEPTIONAL MAIN STREET CITY Bainbridge was designated a Georgia Main Street City in 1991. The downtown program has been

complete an Occupancy Permit for the

recognized as a National Main Street Community on an annual basis for commercial district

property

revitalization by meeting standards for performance set by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center. The annual recognition program evaluates commercial district

STEP FOUR

revitalization programs by criteria like: broad based public support, historic preservation ethic, active board of directors, adequate funding, a paid professional manager and reporting of economic

the perfect location!

BUILDING PERMITS

progress by providing statistical information. In 2014, the program was designated as a Georgia

Learn about the Historic Preservation

Have a contractor complete any necessary

Exceptional Main Street program.

Ordinance. Only major material exterior changes require review from the Historic Preservation Commission.

building permits Obtain electrical, plumbing, mechanical or sign permits

The Georgia's Exceptional Main Street communities, or better know as GEMS, represent some of the best of the best Main Street Programs that the state has to offer. These Main Street Programs have gone above and beyond expectations by making a strong and positive impact in their communities as measured by the Monthly Reporting and the Annual Assessment Process. GEMS level communities

STEP FIVE

BUILDING INSPECTOR

are entitled to special one on one technical services offered through the Office of Downtown Development as well as discounted training opportunities.

Occupancy permit completed by the Building Official 4 | DISCOVER DOWNTOWN BAINBRIDGE

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WHO WE ARE The Downtown Development Authority of Bainbridge is an organization that helps preserve the historic identity of the City of Bainbridge by strengthening and revitalizing the traditional downtown area with its characteristic small-town charm. We are here to help you with everything from finding the right space to working with local authorities to designing a dynamic storefront.

THE LOCAL ECONOMY The City of Bainbridge is the largest city within the county, serves as the county seat, and is the business hub of the county. The majority of retail businesses (234 of 245 countywide) are located within the City of Bainbridge. Establishments located within the city account for 97.7% of Decatur County’s retail-based employment and 96.7% of the county’s retail spending. Similarly, over 90% of service-based businesses and over 97% of healthcare and social assistance entities in Decatur County are located within the City of Bainbridge, along with corresponding percentages of jobs and spending. One of the most important subsets of industries that make up the Decatur County economy is agriculture. The total value of agricultural activity in the county in 2010 was estimated at$183.5 million, or 13.2% of the county’s economic output.

RETAIL AND OFFICE SPACE Our retail/office spaces range from 615 square feet up to 7500 square feet, most being in the 1,0002,000 square foot range. The average cost per square foot is $2.40. The Downtown Development Authority office is here to help you find the perfect location for your business!

BAINBRIDGE

BY THE NUMBERS

$41,011 Average household income 27,842 Decatur County population 4,354 Commuters through Bainbridge per day 152 Seats at Bainbridge Little Theatre 30 Residential units downtown to date 36 Median age of population

A complete listing of available properties is located in the back of this packet or click on the Real Estate tab at www.downtownbainbridgega.com.

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11.6% Of total jobs in the county are related to agriculture $2.40 Average cost per square foot in downtown

WE C A N H E L P YOU

488 Parking spaces in downtown

FIND THE PERFECT LOCATION

300 Downtown employees 10,000 Vehicles per day on Broad Street 1,385 Bainbridge workers who live out of town

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A N N U A L E V E N TS & V E N U E S I N

DOWNTOWN BAINBRIDGE Downtown Bainbridge boasts several excellent restaurants, gift shops, antique retailers, jewelers, bakeries, professional services and more. We also offer a variety of annual events that are attended by hundreds of Decatur County citizens and visitors.

BAINBRIDGE LITTLE THEATRE

THE BAINBRIDGE FARMERS' MARKET

220 East Troupe Street Get the schedule at www.bainbridgelittletheatre.com

Come to North Broad at Market Street to get fresh local produce, baked goods and more each Saturday from 9am to 1 pm April through June and October through December. Visit www. thebainbridgefarmersmarket.com or call 229-329-3135 for more information.

FIREHOUSE GALLERY 119 West Water Street The Firehouse Center & Gallery is used for exhibits, concerts, meeting, lectures, and other fun activities.

Check out the historic jail!

DECATUR COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM 127 East Water Street Open Tuesday & Thursday from 1 pm to 4 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 2pm Call 229-254-1736 to arrange an appointment or tour.

DOWNTOWN ART AND WINE WALK Downtown Bainbridge merchants showcase the work of local artists and photographers. Participants stroll through downtown shops enjoying a glass of wine and taking in the art. Spring of each year

MUNCHKIN MASQUERADE Celebrate Halloween in downtown Bainbridge with a costume parade for the children, Trick or Treating and more!

LIVING HISTORY TOUR Meet some of Bainbridge's most famous former residents and experience the truth, tales and folklore they have to share! Fall and Spring at Oak City Cemetery, Downtown Bainbridge

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Get an early start on your holiday shopping with Downtown Bainbridge merchants the Saturday before Thanksgiving from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

TOUCH-A-TRUCK Touch...Ride...Climb! Childre of all ages explore some of the City of Bainbridge's big equipment and emergency vehicles downtown on the square. Spring and Fall of each year

CHRISTMAS PARADE An annual parade with participants form all of Decatur County, the Christmas parade begins at Bainbridge Middle Schools and ends in Downtown Bainbridge on the second Thursday in December at 6:30 p.m.

DOWNTOWN BLOCK PARTY Enjoy live music from area bands in Willis park.

Spring and Fall of each year

DOWNTOWN SIDEWALK SALE Get the best deals in town at Downtown Bainbridge merchants. Friday before July 4 at 10 a.m.

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YULETIDE JUBILEE A community holiday celebration in Downtown Bainbridge featuring the lighting of the Community Christmas tree, shopping, caroling Santa's Worshop activities and much more on the first Thursday in December.

D OW N TOW N B A I N B R I D G E H A S OV E R

OVER 480 AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES As a new downtown business, we encourage owners and employees to utilize the off-street parking lots that are available. By employees utilizing the off-street parking lots, it opens up the possibility of providing more spaces for your customers. A recent study found that if a customer came to town, parked for only thirty minutes and spent only $5 and left, and the stores were open 40 hours a week, each parking space would generate $17,000 a year in gross sales. All of us know that the average sale is much more than $5 so therefore, can a business afford to pay $17,000 or more a year for one parking space?

P

P P

P

WATER ST.

BROUGHTON ST.

CLARK ST.

Willis Park

BROAD ST.

WEST ST.

CRAWFORD ST

P

MARKET ST.

P

TROUPE ST.

P P P

SHOTWELL ST.

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D OW NTOW N PR O PE RTI E S

FOR SALE OR RENT

115 WATER STREET

231 SOUTH BROAD STREET

Area: 3,000 square feet Year Built: 1901 Features: Commercial space available in the historic Bon Air Hotel overlooking Willis Park Contact: Bainbridge Enterprises, LLC Phone: 229–246-0525 Lease Terms: $900 per month

Area: 7345 square feet Year Built: 1925 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Miller Griffin Realty Phone: 229-246-4750 Price: $190,000

200 W. BROUGHTON STREET

213 EAST WATER STREET

Area: 2200 square feet (base floor) Basement: 2200 square feet Year Built: 1950 Number of Stories: 2 Contact Person: Leslie Harrell Phone: 229-400-3813 Price: $275,000

Area: 2790 square feet Year Built: 1895 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: John Dodd Phone: 205-705-7190

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114 BROUGHTON STREET

109 TROUPE STREET

Area: 1680 square feet Year Built: 1880 Number of stories: 1 Contact Person: Bill Fleming Phone: 229-246-6327 Purchase: $27,100

Area: 2662 square feet Year Built: 1907 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Jennifer Ard Phone: 229-416–7326 Lease Terms: $750 per month

223 EAST WATER STREET

225 EAST WATER STREET

Area: 2100 square feet Year Built: 1885 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Monroe Godwin Phone: 229-220-1215

Area: 3315 square feet Year Built: Circa 1905 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Monroe Godwin Phone: 229-220-1215

402 NORTH WEST STREET Area: 5700 square feet Number of stories: 1 Contact Person: Zack Parsons Phone: 229-246-9336 Price: $85,000

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107 & 109 CLARK STREET

222 TROUPE STREET

Area: 850 square feet (approximately each building) Year Built: 1910 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Monroe Godwin Phone: 229–220–1215

Area: 2,960 square feet Year Built: 1900 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Gene Dunlap Phone: 220-246–9837 Price: $96,000

344 NORTH BROAD STREET

232 EAST WATER STREET

Area: 744 square feet (base floor) Year Built: 1910 Number of Stories: 2 Contact: Robert Fletcher Phone: 229-248-2000

Area: 1643 square feet (base floor) Year Built: 1895 Number of stories: 2 Contact Person: Cleo Lynn Phone: 229-246-5372

110 BROUGHTON STREET Area: 2400 square feet (each floor) Year Built: 1910 Number of stories: 2 Second Floor: Residential Contact: Ivette Guitterz Phone: 305-607-9700 Lease Terms: $750 per mth 2nd floor; $700 per mth 1st floor Purchase: $150,000

212 NORTH BROAD STREET Area: 3264 square feet Year Built: 1895 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Monroe Godwin Phone: 229-220–1215

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114 SOUTH BROAD STREET Area: 8580 square feet Year Built: 1900 Number of Stories: 3 Contact: Ruth Martin, Miller Griffin Realty Phone: 229-400-0013 Price: $350,000

108 EAST BROUGHTON STREET Area: 2100 square feet, 400 sq ft basement Year Built: 1920 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Bruce Kirbo Phone: 229Price: $175,000

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327 WATER STREET

209 NORTH BROAD STREET

211 NORTH BROAD STREET

Area: 1740 (approximate base floor) Year Built: 1915 Number of Stories: 2 Contact: Loftin Willis Phone: 229-400-5323

Area: 1740 square feet (approximate base floor) Year Built: 1915 Number of Stories: 2 Contact: Loftin Willis Phone: 229-400-5323

Area: 1st floor 1800 sq ft; 2nd floor 1800 sq ft Year Built: Circa 1900 Number of Stories: 2 Contact: Dan Kucera Phone: 850-556-6994 Price: $79,900

109 WEST STREET Area: 1012 square feet Year Built: 1885 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Monroe Godwin Phone: 229-220-1215

SECOND FLOOR BELCHER BUILDING 426 NORTH BROAD STREET Area: 8500 square feet Year Built: 1910 Number of Stories: 2 Contact: Loftin Willis

Area: 6100 Year Built: 1899 Part of Condo Association Contact: Amanda Glover Phone: 229-248-2000

220 NORTH BROAD STREET Area: 14,000 square feet Year Built: 1890 Number of Stories: 1 Contact: Monroe Godwin Phone: 229-220–1215

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301 EAST WATER STREET Area: 9000 square feet Year Built: 1903 Number of Stories: 3 Contact: Amanda Glover Phone Number: (229) 248–2000 Price: $70,000

Features: Originally built in 1903 as the Fordham Hotel. Over the years it was also the Central and Georgian Hotel. It is located one block east of Willis Park, and is a great mixed use building that can be used for office, retail and residential.

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BAINBRIDGE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES The Downtown Development Authority of Bainbridge will partner with the Department of Community Affairs office of Downtown Development and provide a facade rendering of a downtown building to prospective buyers and/or property owners. The rendering provides design assistance to potential developers and showcases the importance of rehabilitating our historic structures. The City of Bainbridge is offering to new businesses the opportunity to waive utility connection fees. In addition, the City of Bainbridge will waive permit fees on major rehabilitation projects that exceed $10,000 within the Central Business District. Flint Media, comprised of Live 101.9, Rockin’ 106.3, WMGR 930 AM/99.3 FM and Q92.3 FM, is offering new businesses their first month of FREE advertising by having two commercials per day ($300 value). After the first month, your business can continue the advertising package for only $100 per month. The Post Searchlight is offering new businesses the opportunity to buy four ads of any size and receive four ads of equal size for FREE during the first month of operation.

DDA FACADE GRANT PROGRAM The Facade Grant Program is funded and administered by the Downtown Development Authority of Bainbridge (DDA) and is designed to give property owners and business owners’ financial assistance for facade improvement. Monies are available for exterior improvements only and may be applied to a front, side or rear facade, provided the facade faces a public street or parking area.

BUILDING LOCATION

ONE STORY

TWO TO THREE STORY

% PAID BY DDA

Interior Block

$2,000

$2,500

50%

Corner Building

$3,000

$3,500

50%

Full Facade*

$4,000

$4,000

75%

Awning

$1,500

$1,500

50%

Improvements that qualify for facade grants are paint/pressure wash, ordinary repair and maintenance, window and door improvements, replacing or additions to awnings and restoring or uncovering of architecural features (i.e. removal of tin to uncover original facade).

*Full facade projects include a group of activities done together as one project. For example, painting, rehabilitation, windows and entryways.

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LOCAL LOAN POOL PROGRAM

LOW INTEREST LOAN PROGRAMS

The Loan Pool Program is a public/private partnership providing development incentives to

Georgia Cities Foundation: Assists cities in their efforts to revitalize and enhance downtown areas

businesses, property owners, tenants and individuals. The objectives of the pool are to improve the

by serving as a partner and facilitator in funding capital projects through a revolving loan fund. For

viability and historic appearance of the downtown area and stimulate new, long-term reinvestment

further information visit www.georgiacitiesfoundation.org.

in Downtown Bainbridge. The incentives are in the form of short- or medium-term loans at favorable interest rates from a pool of funds set-aside by participating banks in Bainbridge. The funds may be

Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund: The purpose of the Downtown Development

used only for building rehabilitation, structural improvements to buildings, or real estate acquisitions,

Revolving Loan Fund (DD RLF) is to assist cities, counties and development authorities in their efforts

if part of an overall project.

to revitalize and enhance downtown areas by providing below-market rate financing to fund capital projects in core historic downtown areas and adjacent historic neighborhoods where DD RLF will spur

HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX INCENTIVES State and federal government tax incentives are available for owners of a historic property who carry out a substantial rehabilitation. All properties must be listed in, or eligible for the National/Georgia Register of Historic Places, either individually or as part of a National/Georgia Register Historic District.

Project work must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s/Department of Natural Resources Standards of Rehabilitation. For more information on the tax incentives visit www.georgiashpo.org.

commercial redevelopment. For further information visit www.dca.state.ga.us.

Green Communities Fund Rebate Program: Offered by the Georgia Cities Foundation that provides a 25% rebate for pre-approved eligible energy efficient improvements to downtown commercial, mixeduse and multi-family buildings within the state of Georgia. For more information, visit www.georgiacitiesfoundation.org/GreenFund.

A federal income tax credit equal to 20% of rehabilitation expenses is available only for incomeproducing properties.

A state income tax credit of 25% of rehabilitation expenses. The credit is capped at $100,000 for residential and $300,000 for income-producing properties. This amended tax credit is allowed for the taxable year in which the certified rehabilitation is completed.

The state preferential property tax assessment for rehabilitated historic properties freezes the county property tax assessment for over eight years. It is available for residential as well as income-producing properties. The owner must increase their fair market value of the building by 50-100%, depending on its new use. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Historic Preservation Division and the Georgia Department of Revenue administer the program.

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