Phone: 301-562-1400
Fax: 301-562-5945

 

Gateway-Georgia Avenue Revitalization Corporation
Silver Spring Office:
 8035 13th Street, Suite 2
Silver Spring, MD 20910 
Phone: 301-562-1400  
e-mail: GatewayCDC@aol.com    
Washington, D.C. Office:
7826 Eastern Ave, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20012
Phone: 202-291-2400                 
Web site: www.gatewaycdc.com
Strategic Planning Objectives  

Working Program for the Revitalization of South Silver Spring and the Upper Georgia Avenue Communities of the District of Columbia

  May 1, 2000

Strategic Planning Objectives for the Gateway-Georgia Avenue Revitalization Corporation

Introduction:  Organizational Priorities for 2000 and 2001

The Gateway-Georgia Avenue Revitalization Corporation (GGARC) is dedicated to the renewal of the commercial district and residential neighborhoods along the Georgia Avenue corridor.  The focus area is the distressed corridor on both sides of the border between Montgomery County and Washington, D.C.  GGARC incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in 1997 and received seed money to hire a professional Executive Director in 1998.  In the year 2000, additional staff will be hired to assist in the management of the organization’s growing list of funded programs.

This document builds on the 1999-2000 Strategic Plan which was designed to provide a broad outline for both short and long term revitalization efforts.   As anticipated, the focus of the corporation has evolved over the course of the past year, with organizational priorities evolving through experience and discussions between staff, the Board, financial backers and the community at large.

This updated plan is more specific about priority action areas than its predecessor.  In late 1999, after a year of successful fundraising, Gateway received funding to manage several new programs.   To ensure positive organizational development two overriding goals must guide the organization in 2000-2001:

§    the primary goal for the current year is to continue to demonstrate to both public and private organizations the value of using the services of GGARC.  We will do this primarily by demonstrating success in our operation of ongoing funded programs.

§     the secondary goal for the current year is to use demonstrated successes as a means to broadening the financial base of support for the organization and developing new funded areas of work. We aim to strengthen our position as the facilitators for revitalization efforts in our district.  We will deepen our roots in the local community, and capitalize on our local base in seeking to expand our role in redevelopment efforts

The 1999-2000 Strategic Plan identified four activity areas, and these focus areas continue to be the framework within which the organization hopes to grow.  We believe that successful revitalization of the Gateway district requires ongoing market driven and community supported programs in each of the four activity areas described in this document.    

Overview of Categories of Work

The four areas of work in which GGARC will continue to focus its efforts are described below.   Specific proposals within each category of work are put forth in the subsequent sections of this document. 

1)      Commercial Revitalization.  This continues to be the primary focus of the corporation's efforts.  Efforts in the area of economic revitalization fall under two subcategories -- targeted efforts to improve the small business sector and other initiatives designed to seek new economic anchors for the district.  GGARC believes that targeted efforts to improve the economic well being of the small business sector must be initiated immediately. However, we also believe that reestablishing the overall economic health of the district requires new economic anchors to replace those that left the area in recent decades.

2)      Public Safety. Security issues continue to threaten the derailment of positive developments in the Gateway district. Our efforts include developing a funded public safety program and the promotion of more effective interjuristdictional law enforcement presence and cooperation.

3)      Building a Positive Community Image.  There is considerably more optimism in the Gateway area than existed a year ago.  Following the lead of the GGARC, Montgomery County Executive Doug M. Duncan has designated South Silver Spring an “Arts and Technology” District in the revised Silver Spring Master Plan.  Several anchor quality Arts, Education and Technology entities have determined to locate in the Gateway area. At the same time, Mayor Anthony A. Williams has put a high priority on Georgia Avenue revitalization in the District of Columbia.  The District government has engaged the reputable D.C. Agenda to conduct a planning charet for the Gateway district.  The District has initiated an attractive Streetscaping program just south of Eastern Avenue along Georgia.  GGARC events have brought personal visits to the Gateway by Mayor Williams, County Executive Duncan, Council Members Charlene Drew Jarvis (D.C.) and Derick Berlage (Mont. County), and Montgomery County’s new Chief of Police, Charles Moose.

In spite of all this attention, challenges still exist.  Gateway will seek funding to develop programs that will firmly establish this new optimism and help translate it into positive momentum toward our goal of community revitalization.

4)      Improving the Infrastructure.  GGARC received a major grant to play an important role in the management of one infrastructure element in the Montgomery side of the Gateway district – permitting for a parking garage.  In 2000-2001, we will demonstrate our ability to do this in a cost-effective manner while looking for other opportunities to play a role in the effective management of community resources.  GGARC hopes to play an increasing role as a mediator between governments and the local business communities with a goal of ensuring that public and private initiatives are synergistically coordinated, as the District Streetscaping compliments the streetscape in Montgomery County.

The many areas of work identified herein go well beyond the capability of one full-time staff-person.  This document identifies the funded programs that will be priority focuses of staff in 2000-2001. It also outlines new initiatives for which Gateway will develop budget proposals.  Gateway is committed to developing a streamlined, results-orientated organization.  

1.  Commercial Revitalization

A. Small business development

Priority and Ongoing Activities:
1.       Implement Loan Buy-down Program to aid undercapitalized businesses in Gateway district. The program will provide interest-expense subsidies for new or expanded Gateway businesses. (Funded: Montgomery County Economic Development Incentive (EDI)

2.       Maintain computerized inventory of small businesses, vacant buildings and property (Funded: Neighbor Development Assistance Program (NDAP/EDI)

3.   Continue to play a particularly supportive role for “keystone" retail businesses in the Gateway district, assessing their problems and assisting in any way possible to stabilize them and prevent bankruptcy or relocation out of the district. (Funded: NDAP/EDI)

4.   Develop strategies for attracting businesses that complement the identified keystone businesses, and work with the real estate community and economic development departments (in both Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County) to attract such businesses.  (Funded: NDAP/EDI).

5.   Evaluate effectiveness of existing government programs as tools for promoting commercial revitalization.  Promote programs with clearest value to business community, and promote changes or new programs if existing programs do not effectively address key problems. (Funded: NDAP/EDI).

New Initiatives:

1.       Seek funding from the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development to assist them in the management of a Façade Improvement Program using guidelines developed by Community Design Services.  This effort should be coordinated the Streetscaping program. Promote other targeted small scale, low-investment upgrades of keystone businesses and  provide positive publicity for businesses that dramatically improve the physical appearance of their storefronts.  (Funding pending)

2.       Seek funding to initiate a loan buy-down program for the D.C. section of the Gateway District similar to that initiated this year in Montgomery County

3.       Seek funding to expand the use of GGARC public relations resources such as Gateway News and the GGARC web site (www.gatewaycdc.com) to promote Gateway retail services to  surrounding residential neighborhoods.

B.  Development of new commercial, institutional or residential anchors

Priority and Ongoing Activities:

1.       Expand efforts to market appropriate redevelopment of major properties on both sides of the D.C./Montgomery County border.  Target sites include the Giant Bakery site, the old Dry Cleaning Institute buildings, Normandie Caterers, and others.  Develop a set of specific recommendations for mitigating any perceived negative attributes that may prevent redevelopment of these parcels and promote major replacement anchors for those that are gone by aggressively pursuing leads and networking with prospects.  (Funded: NDAP/EDI

2.       Work with realtors to consider ways of building on success of the PhotoGroup development project in South Silver Spring. (Funded: NDAP/EDI)

3.   Work with Montgomery College and Holy Cross Hospital to evaluate possible private-sector anchors that complement forthcoming Takoma Park campus expansion into the Gateway district. (Funded: NDAP/EDI)

 

New Initiatives:
1.       Seek funding to play an expanded role and step up efforts to deal with vacant high-rise structures; explore higher level of government intervention including condemnation or establishment of an urban renewal district.
2.       Seek funding or collaborate with others in the establishment and operation of Incubator Spaces in South Silver Spring and the District of Columbia. Explore possibility of providing such space for groups in technology, plastic and performing arts whose presence will strengthen the Arts-Education-Technology theme of the Gateway district.

3.       Evaluate feasibility of developing a program of site control and property acquisition so that GGARC can collaborate with potential developers of properties in the Gateway District, thereby expediting redevelopment in a manner most consistent with community objectives. 

4.       Follow up on D.C. Agenda and community recommendations by working with private developers and other non-profit organizations to develop new or rehabilitated housing in the Gateway district.

II.  Public Safety

A.                                 Promote increased police presence and effective law enforcement

 
Priority, Ongoing Activities:
Gateway has no funded programs in this area of work, but continues to believe that improved public safety is an essential precursor for successful revitalization.  We also believe that our organization has an important role to play in addressing security issues.  For these reasons, we will make special efforts to seek funding for the initiatives enumerated below:
      New Initiatives:
 
1.       Actively promote better interjuristdictional police coordination and seek augmented funding to expand the Operation Move Along program and Interjuristdictional police patrols.
 
2.       Seek funding for the establishment and operation of a Drop-In Center or Federal Weed and Seed program in the Gateway district;
 
3.       Seek funding from the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to operate a Drug Free Communities Program in the Gateway District.
 
 
III.               DEVELOPING A POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMAGE

A.                                 Promotional Activities

Priority, Ongoing Activities:

1.       Expand distribution of bimonthly newsletter (Funded: NDAP, EDI).
 
2.       Create a promotional brochure on the Gateway district. (Funded: EDI)
 
3.       Develop press packets and press releases for all major announcements, events, initiatives and successes. (Funded: NDAP/EDI)
3.   Prepare regular op-eds. for local papers stressing the importance of efforts in the GGARC area, promoting community engagement in action plans and promoting public awareness of expanded Montgomery College, proposed Holy Cross Hospital satellite facility and other signs of progress in changing image of the Gateway district. (Funded: NDAP/EDI)
4.       Work with the Silver Spring Redevelopment Office to ensure that the "Wayfinding System" under development for downtown Silver Spring is implemented quickly and promotes a positive image of the Gateway area.
 
 
      New initiatives:
1.       Sponsor or participate in community events such as Keep America Beautiful Day, April 29th; International Festival, June 25th;   National Night Out (August); Halloween Trail, October 31st;  the “Hot Spots” Community Service Day Picnic in Juniper Blair Playground, the Silver Spring Thanksgiving Day Parade and others.
2.       Seek matching funds from District of Columbia sources for the Gateway promotional brochure.
3.       Seek funding to oversee the design and implementation of a Wayfinding effort on the D.C. side of border that complements the one under design for  Silver Spring.
4.       Seek funding to expand and improve GGARC web site to make it a household name among commercial realtors and all area stakeholders including businesses and residences.

B.        Base Building

                  Priority, Ongoing Activities:
1.       Continue to work closely with the Gateway Coalition to ensure a synergistic relationship between the two organizations.
            2.   Initiate a business development seminar program as a means of outreach to the business community with a goal of planting the seed for the creation of an organized business association in the Gateway District. (Partially Funded:NDAP/EDI)
 
            3.   Continue to work closely with Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis’ Ward 4 Georgia Avenue Task Force to focus attention and funding on the Gateway area. (Funded: NDAP)
 
            4.   Continue to develop contacts with leaders of schools, churches and other institutions in vicinity of Gateway business district to introduce them to the organization, identify their concerns and look for networking possibilities. (Funded: NDAP/EDI)
 
 
New initiatives:
 
1.       Implement plan for GGARC Advisory Board to broaden pro-bono support for GGARC.
 
            2.   Seek event-specific augmented funding for business development seminar program      
 
       
 

IV.   MANAGING AND UPGRADING THE GATEWAY INFRASTRUCTURE

                       
A.                 Parking
 
Priority, Ongoing Activities:
 
1.       Manage the South Silver Spring Special Permit parking system for Garage #9 (the Kennett Street Garage) in an efficient manner. (Newly Funded: EDI)
 
 
New Initiatives:
 
1.       Seek other resource management opportunities that build on the experience of managing the parking permit system
 
2.   Seek funding to do a feasibility study of nose-in parking to expand supply on Eastern Avenue in support of Georgia Avenue businesses.
 
B.      Transportation, Circulation, Streetscaping

    Priority, Ongoing Activities:

 
Gateway has no specific funded programs in these infrastructure areas, but will continue to promote the timely implementation of improvements that foster community economic revitalization.
 
1.   Promote quick implementation of street signage recommendations in south Silver Spring developed from the Wayfinding Study and evaluate ways of complementing this effort on the D.C. side of the border.
 
2.       Promote completion of Streetscape upgrades throughout the Gateway District.
 
3.       Promote implementation of Gateway section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail including a spur to Georgia Avenue from the trail alignment along Fenton Street through Jesup Blair Park, in conjunction with Montgomery College expansion.
 
4.       Promote the development of the Purple Line and improvement to the Dasher linking Gateway to the Silver Spring Transit Center.
 
New Initiatives:
1.       Develop contract proposal for providing services to D.C. and Montgomery County to ensure that Streetscaping programs are well integrated with other efforts in support of keystone businesses.
2.       Seek funding to prepare reports evaluating infrastructure deficiencies in terms of public safety (e.g. poor lighting) with a goal of developing specific Capital Improvement Program requests.
3.       Seek funding to implement and manage an ongoing Landscaping and Landscape Maintenance program in the Georgia Avenue Gateway commercial district.
4.   Seek funding for a feasibility study of an interjuristdictional Jitney system serving Gateway locations between the Takoma Park and Silver Spring METRO center.
 
 
C.      Parks, Recreation, Culture
                   
 
                  Priority, Ongoing Activities:
 
      Gateway has no specific funded programs in this area, but will continue to promote the improvements in the following areas whenever possible:
       
1.       Promote  more family-oriented recreational facilities and activities in Jesup Blair Park and monitor progress of park renovation.
 
2.       Evaluate opportunities for increasing green space in Gateway area, through public and private efforts.

            New Initiatives:

 

1.       Seek funding for feasibility study for Visitor Information Center near the DC border on Georgia Avenue, possibly with the cooperation and support of the D.C. and Silver Spring Chambers of Commerce.  Such a center should capitalize on the continued importance of Georgia Avenue as a secondary entryway into the Nation's Capital. It should be integrated with local retail establishments to encourage patronage by visitors to the corridor.

2.       Seek funding for concept and feasibility study for a Civil War Historic Site/Memorial celebrating emancipation and highlighting the historic importance of the Georgia Avenue corridor during the war (possibly in conjunction with proposed Visitor Information Center).

3.       Seek funding to develop programs providing more recreational opportunities for teenagers to discourage loitering, vandalism, graffiti and other criminal activity. 
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