A letter from Devney Preuss
Dear DTPHX Stakeholders,
Reflecting on our 2020 work plan, we recognized how important it would be in 2021 to continue to define and redefine our efforts in response to the unprecedented growth, development and progress in the Downtown area.
Our priorities were to support, promote, and accelerate the development that is changing our skyline, the evolving street level experience, and the addition of amenities that have led to DTPHX becoming a neighborhood, a connected community.
We were correct about our need to be ready to redefine our efforts, but we could not have predicted the reasons for the upheaval to our priorities and program of work for the year.
During a year that was wholly unpredictable, for reasons we are all too familiar with, Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI) harnessed the powers of industrious teamwork, collaboration and an unbreakable spirit to serve the community we love when it needed us most.
At the onset of COVID-19, we pivoted from our business-as-usual marketing, events and business development to business support and promotional efforts that were specific to helping our Downtown businesses and Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) Members withstand the impacts of the pandemic, recover, and in many cases reopen.
This all-hands-on-deck effort was the most cross-department and cross-affiliate work we have ever done under the DPI umbrella, and some of the best and most important work we’ve ever done as an organization.
As we plan for 2021, flexibility and collaboration will continue to be the name of the game. We will continue to respond to COVID-19 impacts as well as the changing needs of our local businesses, and challenges that our community faces. We will continue to work hard every day to maintain a safe, welcoming and inclusive Downtown, and ready the street-level experience to welcome back, with open wings, employees, students, visitors and new residents.
When Downtown is able to fully return to the distinctive, dynamic, and in-demand live/work/play/learn neighborhood and destination that it has become — we’ll be ready.
Devney Preuss
President + CEO
Downtown Phoenix Inc.
2020 Annual Report
OPERATIONS – Clean + Safe
Downtown’s sidewalk solar compactors collected 35,131 pounds of waste this year – 50% was diverted from the landfill through recycling.
OPERATIONS – Clean + Safe
Over the course of the year, the Clean + Green Team removed 10,495 pounds of litter from sidewalks, roadways and alleys, and completed 3,135 streetscape cleanups.
Membership / Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) – Promoting Economic Resiliency
Successfully sponsored and broke ground on a 20,000-square foot, state-of-the-art playground at Margaret T. Hance Park. Fiesta Bowl PLAY at Hance Park marks the first major piece of the park’s…
OPERATIONS – Street-Level Improvements
Installed takeout meters and signage, helping restaurants better-accommodate curbside and to-go orders.
Membership / Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) – Delivering Value
Added new PCA members Roosevelt Row CDC, The Golden Margarita, ProCopy Office Solutions, Ellie Hutchison and Holly Street Studio Architects. In 2020, PCA increased membership to an all-time organizational high…
MARKETING + EVENTS – Reimagined Events
Partnered with Arizona Center to host safe, free and fun holiday activations
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – Small Business Support
Assisted four businesses in creating temporary patios or extensions.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – Office Focus
Conducted an Employer Survey for Downtown companies, gathering valuable return-to-work data.
OPERATIONS – One-On-One Assistance
Delivered 1,400 welcome packets to new residents at Kenect, and thousands more throughout the year.
OPERATIONS – Street-Level Improvements
Assisted the Herberger Theater Center with site design and installation of an outdoor stage, landscaping, an interactive “Singing Tree” and planters.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – Small Business Support
Worked with the city on an implementation strategy for the temporary outdoor dining permit process.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Reimagined Events
Redeveloped the annual Urban Ale Trail as a weeklong, self-guided tour of the Downtown craft beer scene. The goal was to give patrons more time – and more space –…
MARKETING + EVENTS – Reimagined Events
Launched the Downtown Dine Out pilot activation, providing safer, open-air dining options. Between October and December, Downtown Phoenix Inc. hosted 19 Dine Out activations.
Membership / Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) – Delivering Value
Hosted the inaugural PCA Social + Housing Advancement Forum covering homelessness in Downtown with 100+ attendees.
OPERATIONS – Street-Level Improvements
Renovated The Space Between pocket park.
OPERATIONS – Street-Level Improvements
Repurposed planters at the Herberger Theater Center and the Majerle’s Sports Grill, and installed new custom planters at The Department.
Membership / Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) – Promoting Economic Resiliency
Launched a fundraising campaign in partnership with the Wildfire Family Resiliency Fund, which provides targeted support to individuals and families facing eviction. The campaign raised more than $25,000.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Creative Content
Launched a public relations positioning campaign touting Downtown’s amazing community, quality of life and ongoing development boom.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Reimagined Events
Launched #DearDTPHX Instagram photo and caption contest, resulting in 150 “love letters to Downtown.” The top submissions were published on the website, and four winners received prize packages supporting Downtown…
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – Development Boom
Created the Downtown Development webpage, which showcases a record number of residential projects under construction.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Creative Content
Shared the top Instagram post of all time (receiving more than 31,000 likes), depicting thousands of people marching east down Roosevelt Row. During the summer of 2020, protests across Phoenix…
MARKETING + EVENTS – Reimagined Events
Offered a virtual cooking class in partnership with a Downtown chef and small business.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Creative Content
Launched “Spread Your Wings” campaign to brand COVID-19-related marketing, programs and messaging.
OPERATIONS – Placemaking + Activations
Launched the Buy + Fly program, which incentivizes local spending at participating Downtown Phoenix small businesses. Participants were awarded free masks, pint glasses, tote bags, hats and shirts, just by…
OPERATIONS – Street-Level Improvements
The Clean + Green Team used 10 times the average amount of graffiti abatement chemical during the year, removing a total of 2,590 graffiti tags.
OPERATIONS – Placemaking + Activations
Installed “History Is Happening” banners for Historic Preservation Month in May, and coordinated with Phoenix City Council to recognize the 150th Anniversary of the Phoenix townsite.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Reimagined Events
Reimagined Urban Wine Walk to be a virtual, three-day celebration of downtown’s local wine and culinary scene.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Creative Content
Launched “History is Happening” campaign with artist-designed posters benefitting historic preservation, and a 14-part blog series celebrating the unique stories of Downtown’s past.
Membership / Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) – Collaboration + Communication
PCA’s Social + Housing Advancement and Public Affairs committees provided feedback to Governor Doug Ducey on residential evictions. During the year, PCA advanced a number of local, state and federal…
Membership / Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) – Promoting Economic Resiliency
Began providing information about COVID-19 relief funds and small business grant support on an ongoing basis.
OPERATIONS – Clean + Safe
Increased communication with building security teams through a shared chat app.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – Small Business Support
Creation and management of a one-stop-shop for COVID-19 small business resources.
OPERATIONS – Clean + Safe
Instituted a clean and disinfection plan for high-touch surface areas.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Creative Content
Published a widely-popular takeout guide, which then evolved into a definitive directory of Downtown restaurants. The blog titled, “Downtown Phoenix Restaurants Open For Takeout, Delivery And In-Person Dining,” is updated…
OPERATIONS – One-On-One Assistance
Began performing ongoing business check-ins, compiling updated hours, operating status and takeout information.
Membership / Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) – Promoting Economic Resiliency
Made hundreds of personal phone calls and emails to Members at the onset of the pandemic to see how PCA could directly assist them. The information gathered from these outreach…
Membership / Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA) – Delivering Value
Moved all meetings and events to virtual format, often with record attendance. During the year, PCA hosted more than 100 advocacy committee and subcommittee meetings.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – Small Business Support
Launched a Business Recovery Program to support local and small businesses through one-on-one consultations, social media marketing support, loan and grant information, help with outdoor dining extensions and more.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Creative Content
March 12, 2020 – Secured the first of 27 news stories in local media featuring Downtown Phoenix Inc. From Downtown recovery efforts to COVID-19-related business closures, Downtown Phoenix Inc. was…
OPERATIONS – One-On-One Assistance
Ramped up email communications detailing COVID-19 executive orders, canceled events, small business grants, safety information, transportation and construction updates.
MARKETING + EVENTS – Creative Content
Published the most popular blog story of all time, “Black-owned businesses to support in Downtown Phoenix,” which was viewed 41,000 times as of January 2021. Published in honor of Black…
OPERATIONS – Street-Level Improvements
Removed 23 hazardous trees on Washington Street and First Avenue, replanting 29 shade trees. During the year, the Clean + Green Team planted 59 shade trees and 850 plants, removed…
OPERATIONS – Placemaking + Activations
Saved and relocated the iconic “Bruce” bronze statue at First and Adams streets.