2022-2023 Annual Report

Annual Report 2022 - 2023

Introduction.

On behalf of the board and staff of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, we are pleased to bring you our annual report for fiscal year 2022-2023. While we do our best to share the details of our projects and programs throughout the year, putting it all together in one place each year allows us to inform you, our stakeholders, of outcomes and progress over the past year.

This past year brought significant growth and change to Downtown West Palm Beach, with buildings rising, the residential population increasing, and new businesses opening. The DDA has continued to expand our programs to ensure that we keep pace with growth and our impact is felt district wide. As you will see in this report, the DDA expanded our public realm maintenance programs, increased our investment in mobility programs, and made some great improvements to public spaces with projects like the Fern Street Chess Park.

We also improved the way we support the business community, with increased business development grants and marketing outreach to drive customers to the unique local restaurants and shops that make the Downtown community one of a kind.

I am proud to say that we did all these things while also reducing our milage rate.

As a small, community-focused public agency, our connection to and collaboration with downtown residents and businesspeople is the foundation of our work. With your input and feedback, we will continue to refine and improve the projects and programs the DDA provides to the community.

Sincerely,

Raphael Clemente

About the Downtown Development Authority

The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is an independent taxing district created in 1967 by a special act of the Florida Legislature. Working in close coordination with the City of West Palm Beach and West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to deliver the most impactful and value-based outcomes possible to our stakeholders.

Mission: To promote and enhance a vibrant Downtown West Palm Beach.

In the following pages, you will learn how the DDA supports four strategic goals:

Public Realm Maintenance Neighborhood Services Business Development Marketing and Public Relations

.75

Square Miles

30,000+/Race/ Ethnicity

10,000+/Employment Population

Residential Population

$77,000

Media Household Income

67% White 20% Hispanic or Latino 10% Black 2% Asian and Pacific Islander 1% Other

Public Realm Maintenance The maintenance of the public realm is directly connected to quality of life, economic development, and community pride. The DDA proudly contracts with dedicated partners to make Downtown West Palm Beach cleaner, safer, and more welcoming for residents, merchants, and visitors. Our Downtown Clean Team conducts cleaning and litter removal throughout the district seven days a week. Debris removal and maintenance of plant beds and baskets throughout the district is maintained by our landscaping team five days a week; with the addition of parking garages and outer beds serviced twice a week. And as our population grew, we increased the frequency of cleaning to accommodate foot traffic.

26% 26%

4,345

Total Bags of Trash Collected

190K

Pounds of Trash Removed

177

2% 8%

8%

220

29% 1%

Landscape Maintenance Holiday Lights Pressure Washing, Cleaning & Maintenance Capitol Projects Signage and Pedestrian Wayfinding Graffiti Removal Downtown Cleaning Team

Maintained Landscaping Beds (Weekly)

Trees Trimmed

322 Graffiti Cases 784 Addressed

8,719,772

Hanging Baskets Planted

Square Feet Pressure Washed (200.17 Acres)

Neighborhood Services The DDA’s strategic plan focuses heavily on improving the quality of life for residents, workers, and visitors. This can be seen in the increasing amount of funds invested in this area of the DDA’s budget.

The safety and comfort of our stakeholders is a top priority. Our dedicated Downtown Ambassador team works closely with West Palm Beach Police Department to improve safety and provide assistance to businesses, residents and visitors with information seven days a week throughout the district.

Creating reliable mobility in our district is also essential. In partnership with the City of West Palm Beach and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), a complimentary trolley service was provided until May 30, 2023. Additionally, with our partnership with Brightline, Circuit, the on-demand electric shuttle, offers free rides throughout downtown and the Town of Palm Beach; creating a reduction of more than 60 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and the creation of 37 jobs for local residents.

And to help evaluate our projects and programs, the DDA co-developed the first ever Public Life Data Dashboard with the Gehl Group; which electronically measures pedestrian and bike counts, as well as analyze how spaces are used by residents and visitors with the assistance of dedicated volunteers. Data can be found at DowntownWPB.com/PublicRealm.

Neighborhood Services $1,200,000 $1,000,000 $800,000 $600,000 $400,000 $200,000 $ 17/18

18/19

19/20

20/21

21/22

Meetings

Communications/Newsletter

Residential Programming

Community Engagement

Transportation

Secuirty and Policing

Public Space Programs

Homeless Outreach

22/23

Downtown Ambassador Program A full-time private safety unit contracted with Professional Security Consultants. Ambassadors work closely with West Palm Beach Police Department to improve safety throughout the Downtown District. The dedicated team provides assistance to businesses, residents and visitors with information seven days a week.

571

Business/Public Assist

3,435

Residential & Business Check-In

1,594

Patrols of the Area

846

Homeless Interactions

Transportation Trolley

75,863 Passengers

Note: Service ended May 30, 2023.

Circuit

156,993 Passengers

Business Development Downtown West Palm Beach continues to be a fast-growing area that is the economic engine of the city.

The DDA assists businesses before and after coming downtown. Support includes incentives, permitting guidance, grand opening announcements, resource assistance, exposure, and more.

Business Assistance

$273,974.75 Awarded in Event Sponsorship and Grants

Business Incentives

$141,571.75 3 Recipients Awarded to

Façade Grants

$21,700 3 Recipients Awarded to

Grand Openings

$2,000 2 Recipients Awarded to

Welcome To DowntownWPB Adrienne’s Pizza Bar AKA Hotel Charlie Melon’s Dog Grooming Spa & Supply Garden District Taproom Harry’s Bar & Restaurant Lilly Juice Peachwave Frozen Yogurt and Gelato

Sushi By Bou Tanuki Go WPB The Watermark Tropical BBQ Market Winson & Roth Boutique Ve Yolk – West Palm Beach

Business Partnerships West Palm Beach Development & Investment Forum Partnered with Urban Land Institute (ULI) Southeast Florida/Caribbean to host an impressive lineup of development leaders to discuss the City’s real estate investment trends, opportunities and what’s in the development pipeline.

Meet and Greet at Palm Beach Dramaworks To better acclimate our community with the local theatre.

DNA Community Outreach Programs Downtown Neighborhood Association hosted several Programs to engage the residential community about projects affecting the downtown community.

League of Cities The City of West Palm Beach hosted the League of Cities in September 2023. The League is a non-partisan, non-profit membership organization that represents all thirty-nine municipalities of Palm Beach County and over 100 Associate government, non-profits & business organizations.

Marketing and Public Relations

Social Media

Stats of all channels from October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023

We strive to strengthen Downtown’s appeal as a tourism and entertainment destination.

109,736

Marketing Statistics

Total Followers 9.4% increase

Pageviews 298,075 Website

38,147 Facebook

Users 185,730 Website Subscribers 7,373 Email

22,363 Twitter

49,226

Instagram

5982

Total Followers 28.6% increase

1,877 Facebook

753

Twitter

3352

LinkedIn

Advertising

Stats of all channels from October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023

Television

Radio

EffecTV

iHeart Radio

1,208,533 IMPRESSIONS WPBF

2,427 TOTAL COMMERCIALS 984,649 DIGITAL IMPRESSIONS

2,949,325 IMPRESSIONS

Print Palm Beach Dramaworks

Palm Beach Guide Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches)

Florida Trend

Guide to the Palm Beaches (Discover the Palm Beaches)

INVEST Palm Beach

BDB Profile Magazine

30,000 IMPRESSIONS 270,000 READERSHIP 159,000 IMPRESSIONS

20,000 READERSHIP 50,000 READERSHIP

20,000 READERSHIP

Placemaking Programs and Community Events

79

Self-Produced Placemaking Activations

Trojan Rocking Horses WPB (March 10, 2023)

From an international search for the Next Big Thing in Placemaking, a community-wide project called Trojan Rocking Horses was chosen and consisted of eight life-sized rocking horses custom designed by local children and then fabricated locally, under the guidance of world-renowned Finnish artist and architect Marco Casagrande. The horses journeyed through West Palm Beach collecting messages from West Palm Beach citizens. Approx. 210 children were engaged in the process of designing the TRH through collage artworks and dreams. 1,300+ dreams were collected.

Fern Street Chess Park (All Year Round)

By adding chess tables and chairs in collaboration with the community group WPB Street Chess, this space’s attractiveness was enhanced; allowing opportunities for sociability by creating a welcoming, neighborly and friendly environment for all. Our introduction to the community and first in the County garnered national recognition by the American Chess Magazine for “Creating and Supporting a Dedicated Public Park that Unites a Diverse Community Through the Game of Chess.”

Nature in the City - Art Utility Boxes (July 2023)

Traffic utility boxes are often an overlooked part of urban infrastructure. Through an RFP launched in 2021, artwork with the theme “Nature in the City” was sought to update designs installed since 2013. Twelve local artists were selected, and their vibrant new artworks were digitally printed to add to downtown’s art.

Rolling Art Tour (July 22, 2023)

In an effort to showcase the latest downtown art installations on 12 utility boxes, the community was invited on a leisure two-hour guided bike trip throughout the district. During the exploration, attendees learned about the designs and met the artists behind each artwork.

Placemaking is the process of creating and improving public spaces in a way that reflects the needs and desires of the people that use them. It involves a wide range of activities and elements, from physical improvements to community engagement initiatives.

Recurring Programming Motivational Mondays Programming in collaboration with local fitness instructors to provide a better quality of life for residents and visitors alike while promoting health and wellness. This outdoor pop-up program is held in outdoor spaces once a month and at various locations.

Sunset Silent Disco Dancing outdoors promotes self-care, belonging, and mental well-being. In collaboration with Be You Disco, the community was brought together in a monthly guided silent disco experience where they can dance in nature while the sun is setting in Downtown West Palm Beach.

Let’s Vibe Connecting with residents in community engagement programming twice a month throughout the district not only helps them meet their neighbors but also informs them of who we are and how we can make our community better. Attendees also became familiar with local participating eateries and unleashed their creativity with Tiny Door and collage masterpieces.

Que Bacano Activating the City Hall Courtyard with a cultural program based on Salsa dance classes and a domino tournament. In Colombia, “Qué Bacano!” means “How Cool!”

The five-month Domino Tournament is slated for one team to win a grand prize.

S.P.E.A.K. (Storytelling Portrayed through Expression, Adventures, and Knowledge) To create new connections in the community through storytelling and increase programming that focuses on diversity and inclusion; a call for the community to participate in a monthly open mic activation took place. Programming provided a space to celebrate multicultural experiences through storytelling, songs, poems, or a story that is told by word of mouth.

Bike Valet In collaboration with Freddy Hennevelt “The Dutch Bike Guy”, this program encourages residents and visitors to go greener and live healthier by supporting bicycle trips during visits to the West Palm Beach GreenMarket and the Antique and Flea Market each Saturday.

Soul of the City Celebrating the history and culture of jazz, in partnership with the City of West Palm Beach, the community was invited to enjoy live jazz performances on the Downtown Waterfront by some of the world’s most prominent performers including Nicole Henry, Yvette Norwood-Tiger, and CeCe TeNeal.

Awards

Florida Festivals & Events SUNsational Awards 1st Place TikTok - Downtown West Palm Beach Twitter - Downtown West Palm Beach

2nd Place Website - Black Art Matters Installations / Wraps - Circuit Shuttle Twitter - West Palm Beach Arts & Entertainment District Event Recap / Annual Report – Downtown Development Authority Television Program Ad or PSA – Downtown West Palm Beach

3rd Place Community Outreach Program - Que Bacano

International Festival & Events Association Gold Best Community Outreach Program - Trojan Rocking Horse Best Organization Website - Downtown West Palm Beach

Silver Best Facebook Site - Downtown West Palm Beach Best TV Promotion - Downtown West Palm Beach Best Community Outreach Program - Tell Your Story Challenge Best Event / Organization E-Newsletter - Downtown West Palm Beach

Bronze Best Single Digital/Social Ad - Downtown West Palm Beach Best Facebook Site - Downtown West Palm Beach Best Instagram Site - Downtown West Palm Beach Best Printed Materials (Single Page) - Let’s Vibe Best Printed Materials (Multiple Page) – Downtown Development Authority Annual Report

Financial Overview

The DDA receives its funding from multiple sources as reflected in the chart below.

As property values have grown, so has the DDA’s revenue.

Revenues FY 2018-2023 22/23

21/22

20/21

19/20

18/19

$0

$1,000,000

$2,000,000

$3,000,000

$4,000,000

$5,000,000

$6,000,000

$7,000,000

$8,000,000

$9,000,000 $10,000,000

2018/2019

2019/2020

2020/2021

2021/2022

$181,985

$181,986

$181,985

$181,985

$181,985

DDA/CRA Interlocal Agreement

$3,502,647

$3,795,780

$4,273,025

$4,366,157

$6,049,193

CRA Project Funding

$580,000

S413,938

$409,500

$385,000

$0

CityPlace Shuttle*

$123,205

$33,842

$75,000

$0

$135,000

Tax revenues (@ 1 mil) net

2023/2024

Fees/Grants/Services/Interest

$20,100

$100

$100

$100

$500

Carryforward (All Funds)

$1,743,302

$2,156,160

$1,261,942

$3,377,754

$2,526,941

The DDA’s 2023 budget is allocated

Reserves, 8%

to the following targeted areas: • The DDA’s tax base is comprised of 568

Business Development, 10%

Personnel, 12%

commercial/industrial and 2,998 residential properties.

Professional Services, 2% Physical Environment, 21%

• From fiscal year 2022 -2023, the taxable value of

Operations 4%

property in the DDA increased by 15%.

• The DDA represents 17% of the City’s taxable value.

• The value per acre within the DDA is $795,383,394.

The DDA’s taxable value is 1.25% of the County’s.

Residential Quality of Life, 26%

Marketing/Public Relations, 17%

Future Plans/Looking Ahead The Stable “Dream Machine” Urban Living Room As a continuation of the Trojan Rocking Horses WPB project, the Stable “Dream Machine” will be a mobile community center that will showcase the past dreams collected and will continue engaging the public with interactive activities based on the dreams collected.

Placemaking Mini Grant Seeking proposals to activate locations throughout downtown through placemaking - creating public spaces that contribute to the community’s health, happiness and wellbeing. Winning submissions will be granted up to $5,000 to bring the idea to life within the district. This grant is made possible with the contribution from the West Palm Beach DDA and the Palm Beach Community Foundation as supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Parklet Grant Program Seeking merchants that need financial support in creating a parklet through the newly adopted parklet ordinance and guidebook. This grant is made possible with the contribution from the West Palm Beach DDA and the Palm Beach Community Foundation as supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Augmented Experience Creating augmented reality experiences which allows visitors, residents, and merchants to immerse and explore throughout the district. Experiences to include pop-up information, 3D imagery, and more curated from the local artistic and business community.

DowntownWPB Rocks Drummers, guitarists, bass players, keyboardists, and singers will gather for a flashmob experience to perform in unison to a selection of rock classics.

Art Outside WPB A city-wide project which places nineteen reproduced artworks from the Collection of the Norton Museum of Art into the Downtown West Palm Beach district.

Future Plans/Looking Ahead

DDA Board:

Rick Reikenis, DDA Chairman The DDA’s strategic plan focuses heavily on improving the quality of life for residents, workers, and Bill Jacobson, DDA visitors.

This can beVice-Chairman seen in the expansion of funds invested in this area of the DDA’s budget due to the increase ofBratter people moving into downtown. The quality of programming improves the experience of Samantha living in the heart of the city.

Varissa Lall Dass Tim Harris (July 2023) Daryl Houston The Next Big Thing A community-wide project called Trojan Rocking Horses was chosen from a search that Cynthia Nalley (June 2023) generated more than 20 international submissions aimed at engaging the West Palm Beach Robert Sanders community, downtown residents, and visitors. The eight life-sized rocking horses will be custom-designed by local children then fabricated locally, under the guidance of world-renowned Finnish artist and architect Marco Casagrande. They will journey through various communities in West Palm Beach collecting messages from West Palm Beach citizens on DDA Staff: ideas and visions for the future of Downtown West Palm Beach.

Raphael Clemente, Executive Director Teneka James-Feaman, Associate Executive Director Let’s Vibe DowntownWPB Connecting with residents in community engagement programming that not only helps them meet Vivian Ryland, Director of Administration their neighbors but also informs them of who we are, what we do, and how we can make our Samantha Moore, Office Manager (April 2023) community better. Participation includes creating a TinyDoorWPB to be placed around Jaqueline Smith, Office Manager (March 2023) DowntownWPB, a sidewalk audit, and “Cafecito” on wheels. Our vision is to foster more local connections between residents, merchants, and the DDA. Catherine Ast, District Services Manager Sherryl Muriente, Public Realm Director S.P.E.A.K. Tiffany Faublas, Marketing Facilitating an open call forDirector the community to participate in an open mic activation. The recurring placemaking program strives to provide a space to celebrate multicultural experiences through a Sabrina Lolo, Marketing Coordinator song, poem, or just a story that is told by word of mouth.

Krystal Campi, Placemaking Coordinator (April 2023) Que Bacano Activating the City Hall Courtyard at the corner of Clematis and Dixie with a cultural program based on Salsa dance classes and aContract domino Partners: tournament. In Colombia, “Qué Bacano!” means Downtown Development Authority “How Cool!” The five-month Domino Tournament is slated for one team to win a grand prize.

Public Relations and Media

Security Ambassador Program Fern Street Chess Park Enhancing Fern Street ParkOperator by adding chess tables. This will create a fun, active, and special use.

Downtown Trolley System It will also add opportunities for sociability by creating a welcoming, neighborly, and friendly Landscape Maintenance environment for all. Chess parks promote safe and clean spaces that are attractive and help Pressure connect Washing neighbors to one another.

Janitorial and Public Space Maintenance Gehl App and Residential Volunteer Program Holiday Lighting Partnering with and GehlDecorations Group for a data collection project to help evaluate our projects West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority and Legal Services programs.

With the assistance of volunteers Downtown West Palm Beach's public spaces be 107 South Olive Ave., Suite 200, West Palm Beach,will FL 33401 measured electronically by counting pedestrians and bikes, as well as analyze how spaces are Annual Independent Audit (561) 833-8873 | DowntownWPB.com used by residents and visitors. Participating volunteers will receive community hours for their service.