San Bernardino Economic Development Agency’s Downtown Reviatlization
SITUATION
Reeling from the challenges of a tough economy including business and retail loss, San Bernardino needed a vision plan that would create a long-term renaissance for its Downtown. The City of San Bernardino EDA developed the Downtown Core Vision & Action Plan – a blueprint to revitalize San Bernardino. From a proposed Theatre District and Education Center to a Transit Village and Bus Rapid Transit, the plan hinged on community support and City Council endorsement. Westbound was retained to spearhead the open house and with public support, begin implementation.
IMPLEMENTATION
Our goal of generating support for the plan with the opinion makers was challenging – many plans of the past never came to fruition. Already working on multiple area projects, Westbound leveraged existing relationships to build support for the plan. Engaging residents and businesses in conversations about San Bernardino’s future encouraged leaders to attend the open house and speak in support of the Vision. What’s more, our efforts paid off ten-fold with local media. Editorial board meetings with the San Bernardino Sun resulted in a feature series on the “comeback of Downtown.”
RESULTS
More than 200 community members showed their support of the plan at the open house. Attendees included the mayor, councilmembers and representatives from the county supervisor, assembly and congressional offices. All were supportive of EDA’s efforts to revitalize downtown. The Vision Plan was endorsed by City Council and one year later, the vision is now becoming a reality with $2B being invested and Westbound spearheading an aggressive marketing effort.
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