Commercial Properties (vacancies, new businesses, etc.): First, I am currently working on developing an industrial property database for the City’s website to match the commercial properties database. This will take some time, but look for the first few properties to be listed during the first few weeks of March.
More news concerning the Coffee Station…I finally received a response from an e-mail inquiry about the status of the business from Andrew Muff. The response simply said “We are looking at an (sic) transfer of ownership. Hopefully that happens soon.” So there is the possibility that the business could re-open under new management, but given the difficulties associated with this property I feel that this is fairly unlikely…
Received a call from a Maddie Bettendorf requesting information about available commercial properties. She and her husband are local and would like to set up a PC repair shop somewhere in town, but are looking for a small and inexpensive property. I advised her to check out the old trophy shop right underneath SandyNet ($600/month) and directed her to the Commercial Properties Database on the City’s website.
Building activity continues at the old Priester’s location. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Carlos has enough funding to complete this project and re-open Stephanie’s under new management in the coming months. More to come…
Negotiations between Bill Trimble and one of the hair salon owners in town to occupy the property across from Windermere (38750 Proctor) have fallen through. The property is back on the market.
A gentleman with an auto detailing shop (Papa John’s Auto Detailing) was looking at the produce shack on the Leathers property as a potential home for his business. After receiving a list of needed repairs from the Building Department, he submitted that list to the property owners and asked when he could reasonably expect to move in and start his business. The property owners then said that they changed their minds and that they were going to sell the property, although the property does not currently appear to be listed as for sale. No word on whether or not he will continue searching for a new location here in Sandy.
Tickle Creek Antiques (a consignment antique store): Unfortunately, problems are already developing with this business. The property owner claims that this store has yet to pay him rent. The store owner claims that there are multiple major repairs that still need to be made on the property. I will check up on this at both ends over the next month to see if problems, real or perceived, get resolved satisfactorily.
Sandy Antiques & More: This business has moved into the old Mark Johnson campaign office at 38962 Proctor – another antique & second hand store that appears to have higher quality items than both Tickle Creek Antiques and Beagle Deals. They have had their health & safety inspection, and have a few minor repairs to make (fire extinguisher, ADA signs & privacy latches for restroom). They intend to operate the business for a few months, and if they are as successful as they are projecting they will then expand into the vacant property at 38958 Proctor. They also intend to have espresso available for their customers, although this equipment was not in place during the initial H&S inspection. The owner, Robin Dean, discussed this business opportunity with me prior to moving in. I advised against the espresso concept noting that there are 5 coffee shops within shouting distance of his shop, but he is dead set on having coffee with his antiques and apparently doesn’t mind the extra cost in plumbing, permits, county health inspections, etc. Mr. Dean has been notified by Noryne that if he is going to install a commercial espresso machine in the future, he will need a permit and inspections (city and county) to do so. I’ll keep an eye on it as well…
Sandy Gold Swap: This business (39080 Pioneer) will open its doors March 1. Made first contact with the owner, and told her to call if there’s anything I can do to help…
Rip City Glass: Another new retail establishment (a head shop, essentially) has moved into the Junker Building at 39080 Pioneer. This business has received its initial health and safety inspection, and is currently waiting for their business license to be processed. The main repair indicated on the H&S inspection was for an ADA ramp for the back of the building, which the property owner has committed to provide. The owner tells me they intend to open their doors as soon as they receive that license, so they are mildly hounding Mr. Paola to get the ramp constructed as soon as possible.
Public Information:
- Social media: Facebook followers = 3,079 (+13) // Twitter followers: 118 (no change) // only post that generated any traffic last month was the notification about the Parks survey. If Facebook is an indicator of the response of the general public, the overwhelming choice for a new facility is a dog park! (44 comments) – I actually had to remove 3 posts this month due to personal attacks; I believe this to be an anomaly (anytime something is posted about the Sandy PD, stuff seems to get dredged up from 2 or 3 chiefs ago), but I’ll keep monitoring it. It appears to me though that some of our younger residents just aren’t capable of disagreeing with someone without insulting them. Sad, but true.
- Current copy of Sandy Business Insider – G:\Economic Development\PIO duties\Sandy Business Insider\Sandy Business Insider – Mar 2013.pdf
- Current copy of H2O bill newsletter – G:\Economic Development\PIO duties\Water bill newsletter\Mar 2013.pdf
ED Committee: no meeting in February. There have been a few changes to the makeup of the committee which I believe will make the discussions more interesting. First, the gentlemen at the Sandy Inn Best Western asked me if they could have representation on the committee. My view has been that if you want to be on the committee, you’re in, provided you have something relevant to add to the discussion. Jeremiah and Heetan have been good community citizens, and as the lone hotel in town, they certainly have a vested interest in the economic development of Sandy. As such, I added a seat to the committee for Jeremiah Heiser, giving us a grand total of 13 members. I don’t plan to add any more seats, as I don’t want the committee to get too unwieldy. However, I believe this to be a good and proper move.
Also, in place of Karey Milne (who was going to be the SACC rep in lieu of an executive director), we have added Hannah Smith (co-owner of TCBY) as the SACC representative on the committee. Hannah is the ED chair at the Chamber, and rather than duplicate efforts by having a Chamber ED committee as well, the Chamber Board felt that having Hannah attend our meetings would be more efficient. I have had a few conversations with Mrs. Smith, and I believe that her voice will definitely complement our meetings.
Project work:
- · destination hotel – still in holding pattern – remaining in the loop as to status updates on this project, but nothing new has been reported in several months.
- · i3 fiber project – All-sector plenary meeting on morning of March 10th at the Community Center – feedback from all three groups (ED, digital divide, education) combined into overall strategy – NetCity will forward us this information within the next 2-3 weeks
- · PPLIP – waiting for weather to improve and/or wayfinding signage to be installed
Conferences/training: We had a check-in meeting for the Ford Institute Leadership Program in late February so the RDI (Rural Devl Initiatives – the group that does the actual training) folks can see how we’re progressing and do some follow up training. Our project is moving along very smoothly – so smoothly in fact that they literally said “Keep doing what you’re doing” and let us out an hour early. We have been communicating regularly with the Action Center, including a formal presentation to the SCAC Board of Directors by myself and Dawn Loomis of MHCC to show them where we’re at. Our Kickstarter fundraising project will formally begin in a few weeks, where we hope to raise approximately $4,000 for the cause (considering that the AntFarm raised over $32,000 this way, I am very optimistic that our goal will be not only reached, but exceeded) – I will publicize this heavily through the City’s electronic avenues when the time comes.
Next conference is the Broadband Communities conference in Dallas in April, where I will study marketing and advertising strategies for broadband by looking at other connected communities and talking with folks who have already made the conversion to 100Mb/1Gb fiber – looking forward to it!