HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/08/2024 - Memorandum from Ginny Sawyer re: First Friday Linden Street ClosuresCity Manager’s Office
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 3, 2024
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
THRU: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
FROM: Ginny Sawyer, Project Manager
Michael Bussmann, Business Specialist
SUBJECT: First Friday Linden Street Closures
Bottom Line:
Linden Street closures on First Fridays from June-September were overall well received. Learnings
from this pilot lead to the following suggestions if the program continues:
• Some degree of programming and activity is needed to get people into the street.
• Dedicated staff (hourly or as part of existing FTE) would improve the level and predictability of
activity offerings and add greater ability to partner with activities in the Square.
• Business partnerships and ownership continue to improve and the businesses could play a
larger roll in the programing.
• The schedule may want to shift to August to November closures to avoid unpredictable spring
weather and to coincide with holiday lighting activities.
Background:
The Linden Street renovation project was completed in late 2022 and transitioned the 200 block of the
street into a “convertible street” designed to be closed to vehicle traffic and transformed into a
pedestrian gathering space during special events. Since completion, the street has been permitted for a
variety of events including Art Fairs and Music Festivals. City Council asked that staff pilot less-
programmed closures for the public to enjoy.
Staff initiated a pilot of closures on First Fridays from June to September from 5pm to 9pm with minimal
programming. All businesses were contacted multiple times, in person and through email, to encourage
them to participate and utilize the sidewalk space in front of their businesses.
June was the first event and somewhat impacted by cool, windy weather and by a private
event/concert occurring in the square. A few businesses attempted to have a sidewalk presence.
Immediate feedback focused on a desire for more activity and programming.
Docusign Envelope ID: 0BB43347-035F-4C1B-BB05-D5045E43EF78
July First Friday fell on July 5th. Staff paid two artists (a plein-air painter and a musician) to be on site
and corn hole boards were provided on the street. This event also saw a DJ from an Art Lab opening,
Pour Bros brought in their own musicians for performances in the street, Breadfellow had a portrait
artist onsite, and Wayward continued their sidewalk presence. Participation was higher than in June.
In August, staffed worked with Pour Bros to pay for and streamline the music they wanted to provide
and added additional cornhole boards. Additional signage was created to place further out in the square
and along Walnut. Similar participation as July.
In September, staff contacted Petrichor Collective (a local group of creatives) who had reserved the
Square for music and vendors and encouraged them to extended some of their tabling onto Linden,
which they did. Pour Bros continued with added music and City assistance with associated costs. This
event saw similar business sidewalk activity. Unexpected activity included the CSU pep band and cheer
squad who were making the rounds downtown.
Logistics:
While the bulk of planning and logistics were managed by the City Manager’s Office and the Economic
Health office the First Friday events required participation from Parking Services, Special Events,
Streets, Parks, Engineering, Communications and Public Involvement, and Utilities (for the corn hole
boards!!).
Total City funding for all events came to approximately $15,000 (not including staff support.) This
funding came from the remaining Linden Street renovation project dollars. Costs included:
- Special event permit: $100
- Traffic control: $10K
- Signage: $1K
- Towing (a total of 3 vehicles were moved): $280
- Music and activity related expenses: $2K
The City is in the process of acquiring new (and better) traffic control devices which should make street
closures more efficient to set-up/take down as well as improve the aesthetic and invitation to
pedestrians.
Feedback and Next Steps:
Staff heard mixed feedback from businesses prior to this pilot and adjusted the timing of closure and
length of pilot based on this feedback. Following the last closure in September, a brief, 3-quesiton
email survey was sent to businesses. Feedback ranged from:
Docusign Envelope ID: 0BB43347-035F-4C1B-BB05-D5045E43EF78
“From an economic perspective the closure of the street with no proper programming was an absolute
failure. Businesses on our street had to come together, invest time and our own money to promote the
closure of the street to continue to get business. If the road is closed for nothing it brings nothing. If the
road was closed for an event paid for by the city it may have more of an impact.”
To:
“We thought it was a great idea to highlight the Linden Street area but also highlight the beautiful
renovations that took place in that location as well. The Linden St area seems to be ignored or not well
known by the public so working on ways to raise awareness would be beneficial to both the businesses
and the city. More foot traffic equals more spending equals more tax dollars to the city - a win-win for
all.”
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) also provided feedback and generalized participant
counts from cameras in the area, Placer AI Visitor Data, and on-site observations. DDA observations,
feedback, and suggestions include:
• There did not appear to be any measurable difference in pedestrian activity on Linden Street
during the First Friday Pilot program compared to other Fridays throughout the summer.
• From a placemaking experience, the act of closing the street to traffic does not induce a
“pedestrian-only paradise”, as it takes a much more deliberate effort in both design and program
management to elicit the intended response this Pilot program was seeking.
• The level of pedestrian activity did not validate or support a continuous street closure from an
economic health perspective and the traffic control devices did not create a welcoming sense of
place.
• If there is still a desire in the future, to create a more active pedestrian Linden Street, we would
encourage looking closer at the original 2014 design intent and consider establishing
programmed activities on the wider sidewalks while still allowing vehicular traffic and parking on
the street.
Staff will continue to assist and encourage the businesses to take more ownership and to work together
(possibly through a business association) to continue to drive diverse and appealing activity in the area.
In looking at other downtown closures and activity (Greeley Friday-fest, Larimer Square, RINO, etc) all
are supported and coordinated through partner development organizations, Special Districts, and/or
non-profit organizations.
Unrelated to the pilot, and dependent on support, staff is considering bringing Council an expanded
Entertainment District Boundary. This boundary is required for any “common consumption” permits for
Docusign Envelope ID: 0BB43347-035F-4C1B-BB05-D5045E43EF78
defined events/spaces. Currently, the City has one entertainment district that overlays the Exchange
and allows for their common consumption permit.
Staff will work with leadership to determine direction on both the entertainment district boundary and a
desired plan for Linden closures in 2025.
Docusign Envelope ID: 0BB43347-035F-4C1B-BB05-D5045E43EF78