2012 REPORTDOWNTOWN CANTONSPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

WELCOMEDear SID Member:

We are pleased to present to you our 2012 Annual Report for the Downtown Canton Special Improvement District (SID). The report highlights our accomplish-ments for the 15th full year of operation. Overall, activity in downtown Canton increased due largely to the presence of oil and gas related businesses in our area. Staff continued to emphasize the importance of downtown aesthetics and mar-keting, and a number of new businesses joined our center city.

Two important new initiatives will be shaping our downtown. First, the SID board approved moving forward with an update of our 2003 Downtown Master Plan. We expect the revised plan to be completed by the first quarter of 2013. Secondly, the SID is committed to being the catalyst to develop plans for downtown living. In fact, we expect a new market rate apartment project to be unveiled this year.

We appreciate all of the support we receive from our partners, the City of Canton, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and ArtsinStark. Thanks also to our Board of Directors and property owners for their counsel, financial support and ideas. We look forward to continued success in revitalizing our downtown and creating value for our property owners.

Sincerely,

David T. BeuleChairman of the Board

Michael P. GillPresident

MISSION STATEMENTThe Downtown Canton Special Improvement District is a nonprofit corporation that provides programming to preserve the economic well being of downtown Canton. The SID is dedicated to preserving the aesthetic, architectural, and historic character of the downtown area. The organization is funded by special assess-ments on downtown property owners.

DOWNTOWN

Color DowntownThe beautification of the center city continued with the planting of the 50-plus flowerbeds downtown. For the ninth year, volunteers donated their time and efforts to make downtown look its best throughout the summer.

BannersPromoting upcoming events, celebrating the seasons and raising awareness of civic and cultural organizations in the SID, banners line and decorate the streets. The SID approves and coordinates the placement of banners throughout downtown with the City.

SecurityIncreased police presence is added in the downtown areas Monday through Thursday, 6 to 10 p.m. from November through March. This additional security cruises the center city, and walks among the restaurants and bars, and provides a sense of well-being to downtown visitors.

Architectural Review BoardTo preserve and protect the historical, cultural and architectural integrity of downtown, an Architectural Review Board was created in 2005. This Board has reviewed 13 projects so far this year.

AESTHETICS

AESTHETICS

GumbusterHerman Horner, our resident Gumbuster, continues to operate the Gumbuster Gumcart in downtown Canton during the summer and early fall. Using a solution that is entirely safe for the environment, this machine devours gum and keeps the sidewalks in the central city clean.

SidewalksOver 2,100 feet of new streetscape sidewalks were added this year, which included brick inlays, trees and ornamental light posts.

North/South PlazaThe SID adopted the North and South Plaza areas. This ensured that the areas were maintained, and assisted the city in beautifying this area.

FOOD& FUN!

Farmers’ MarketThe Canton Farmers’ Market experienced record crowds this year! Our new location, at the corner of McKinley Ave.

NW and 4th St. NW in the parking lot of the Timken High School Administrative Building, proved to be the perfect

home for the market. The Canton Farmers’ Market’s incred-ible momentum comes from our broad base of conscien-

tious and caring farmers and producers, chefs, artists and most importantly, the consumers. We not only offer fresh

produce, delicious baked goods, organic meats and cheeses, beautiful flowers, plants and herbs, but we also offer a great

lineup of music, arts and more for our customers to enjoy!

Community GardenEach year, a breathtaking variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs are grown in the Downtown Canton/Summit Neigh-

borhood Community Garden. This year was no different, with families and businesses occupying all 75 spaces! Project Rebuild

Inc. is our garden coordinator and plays a big role in the success of the garden year after year. This year, Project Rebuild converted

the garden to raised beds, which enhanced the aesthetics of the garden and benefitted all of our users. The dedication of all of the

gardeners and partners is bountiful; there is an overall sense of community pride and spirit at the garden. The garden has trans-

formed a once blighted space into a place of beauty and community.

& FUN!Downtown DealsThis promotion, funded by the SID, invited patrons to enjoy downtown restaurants at a discount each Wednesday evening in February and March, and again in September, October and November. The SID continues to support downtown restaurants’ success by coordinating meetings as needed to capture new marketing ideas.

Restaurant & Arts District GuideThe two guides that list downtown eateries and arts organizations have been reformatted to pock-et guides and were distributed around Canton and in tourist welcome centers. The guides provide a quick listing of where to go and what to do down-town.

Canton Food ToursThis is a privately owned company which enhanc-es downtown by offering walking and van tours that show off the food, history and art of our city.

ARTS &ACTIVITIES

Arts ExplosionThe SID continues to partner with ArtsinStark in the ongoing development of arts initiatives in our down-town. This partnership includes collaborating on First Fridays, marketing and funding. A new pocket guide to the Arts District was also introduced.

First FridayThe success of First Friday is evident by the consistent number of people who attend this celebration of the arts, food and entertainment. 2012 marked First Friday’s fifth year and 60th consecutive event. This unique downtown Canton tradition is the result of a partnership with ArtsinStark, and continues to grow each year.

Cinema in the CityAttendees brought blankets, chairs, family and friends to enjoy this cinematic experience on Market Square. Partnering with ystark! and the Palace Theatre, three Hollywood hit movies were screened on an inflatable screen including Back to the Future, The Sandlot and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Moviegoers eager to get the best spot staked out their spaces and enjoyed preshow entertainment and concessions.

4th Street Concert SeriesThis popular, free concert series, under the lights in the heart of the Canton Arts District, had something for everyone this season. With tunes from Pat Dailey, The Ultimate Journey Experience and Broken Road: A Ras-cal Flatts Tribute Band, 4th Street was transformed and energized with this series.

Photo courtesy ofJeremy Aronhalt, A Studio Photography

DESTINATIONDOWNTOWN

ANNUAL FESTIVALS

TASTE OF CANTONThis incredible spring food festival serves up local

flavor and fare with a side of entertainment!

BLUES FESTIVALBoogie your way downtown, sit back with an ice-cold beverage,

delicious midway fare, sensational tunes and great friends and enjoy the best outdoor music festival north of Memphis!

VINTAGE CANTON

Vintage Canton is a sophisticated downtown gathering, offering distinctive center city charm alongside live music,

vibrant art exhibits and, of course, quality local wine and wine from around the world!

LIGHT UP DOWNTOWNLight Up Downtown is your chance to watch 16 blocks

come alive with attractions, entertainment, refreshments and fun for children of all ages.

Photo courtesy of Shawn Wood, Studio 7 Photography

Photo courtesy of Michael Barath, Just Us Two PhotographyPhoto courtesy of Michael Barath, Just Us Two Photography

ADMINISTRATIONDowntown ContactsAn e-mail listing of downtown contacts is maintained to ensure that our businesses and offices are informed about events and other happenings in our center city. In 2012, a census of downtown businesses and employees was conducted.

Space InventoryAn updated space inventory is maintained online at www.downtowncanton.com. The listing pro-vides information on downtown buildings, including square footage, space availability, pricing, and contact information. The SID also calculates occupancy rates for our Class A, B and C buildings.

BUSINESS & PLANSSID Master PlanThe SID Master Plan Committee feels that now is a perfect time to consider an update of our 2003 Downtown Master Plan. So many things have changed since early 2000 that it now seems appropriate to bring our master plan up to date with today’s reality. Consequently, the SID Board of Directors selected czb LLC to provide a data update, conduct a document review relating to zoning, land use plans, etc., interview stakeholders, and present the proposed revisions to our plan. The results of this process are expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2013.

Downtown LivingDowntown Canton looks good and feels good, but it is in need of peo-ple living downtown to continue the momentum each and every day. The SID Master Plan Downtown Living subcommittee has been work-ing for the past year to develop a strategy that can create living space in our center city. The committee has conducted focus groups, utilized surveys, collected data on existing units and explored opportunity sites for future units. The Downtown Canton Land Bank will assist by carrying out this strategy of developing new market rate apartments at 400 McKinley Avenue NW. The hope is to encourage the develop-ment of other units downtown by other groups and developers.

Economic DevelopmentDowntown Canton enjoyed another great year of economic activity. New restaurants opening in our center city included Sports Therapy Bar and Grill, The Lion’s Den, Tozzi’s Restaurant Downtown, and Ba-sil Asian Bistro. Other new businesses downtown are Agile Network Builders, Erinn’s Laine Primitive Candles, B-Side Wine House, Gem Charter School, and Journey Studios. Oil and gas related business in-creased downtown with Chesapeake Energy expanding its presence, along with Mike Baker, Inc., Dawood Engineering, CESO, and Jackson Kelly LPA. In addition, the YMCA and Stark State College have an-nounced plans to establish a presence downtown. And VXI Global Solutions continues to rapidly expand their work force.

2012ANNUALAWARDS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

David T. BeuleChairmanRobert KingVice ChairmanRodney W. MeadowsTreasurerJon H. JacobSecretary

Ronald D. BeckerTimothy S. BeldenSteve CoonRobert J. HankinsMayor William J. Healy IIMichael E. KingDennis P. SaunierChris SmithMichael E. Williams

Michael P. GillPresident

Krista SchumacherEvent Manager

Annette RosenbergerOffice Manager

Basil Asian Bistro

Lynda Tuttle’s Art Center

Created by artist su nimon

Each year, the SID Board recognizes

downtown organizations that are making a

significant contribution to the revitalization of

our city by presenting these businesses with

a SID Award. The SID Board applauds their com-

mitment & investment in downtown Canton.

Canton Food Tours The Lion’s Den

Sports Therapy Bar and Grill Tozzi’s Restaurant Downtown

B Side Wine House

Canton Development Partnership222 Market Ave. NCanton, Ohio 44702

330.456.0468DowntownCanton.com