Video Safety Partnership

Wilmington is experiencing a rebirth. With new development on the rise, opportunities for living, playing, and working are ever-increasing. Our vision of Wilmington as a premier mid-sized city in which to live, work, visit and have fun is becoming a reality. However, for this vision to be fully realized, involved parties must first work to dispel the perception that our downtown is unsafe.

THE HISTORY

Downtown Visions spearheaded the formation of the Wilmington Video Safety Partnership, an ambitious, never-before tried project of providing complete coverage of Wilmington’s Business Improvement District. This was made possible with the support, both logistically and financially, of the downtown corporations, local, county and state government, local foundations, the non-profit sector and the Wilmington Police Department. By achieving an unprecedented level of cooperation between all parties involved, the goal of covering the Business Improvement District with video cameras was accomplished. In April of 2001, the Video Safety Partnership network went live.

THE DOWNTOWN SYSTEM

The Wilmington Video Safety Partnership was one of the first of its kind in the United States, covering an entire downtown district, while also being linked with other corporations' video systems. This network allows for the live feeding of events to law enforcement officials.

There are thirty-two cameras covering the BID which are monitored by a trained and dedicated Downtown Visions staff, seventeen hours a day, seven days a week. Overseen by retired Police Officers, the system not only allows for "live feeding" of activity to the Wilmington Police but also for monitoring calls for service received by the police at Downtown Visions headquarters. Any crime or event is then digitally recorded for future prosecutions.

THE IMPACT

The system has assisted the Wilmington Police and Fire departments with more than 10,000 incidents since the system went on line in April of 2001. These incidents include not only criminal acts, but also locating lost children, assisting disoriented persons, locating people in need of medical attention and discovering building fires before they were reported to the Fire Department.

For more information contact Michael Maggitti, Director of Operations, at (302) 425-5371 or mmaggitti@downtownvisions.org.

Music in the Streets

From Rodney Square down to the Loma District in partnership with Gable Music Ventures, Downtown Visions is creating opportunities for emerging musicians.

Outdoor Concert Venue — Downtown Visions is activating a vacant lot at 407 – 411 N Market Street with live music, food and beverages every Thursday starting at 5:00 p.m. Friday evenings and Saturday daytime may be added. The lot will also be offered to non-profits to stage events and fundraisers. Private companies wishing to stage events that benefit the community are welcome to apply.

Street Musicians — Downtown Visions is authorized by City Ordinance to issue permits for street musicians and other creative entertainment.

Wilmington Storefront Project

THIS PROGRAM IS NO LONGER ACTIVE.

Vision

Downtown Wilmington and the Creative District is home to a vibrant and dynamic consumer experience with a unique mix of retail, restaurant, pop-up, gallery and other street-level spaces.

Mission

Building on the momentum and growth that the Downtown and Creative District have experienced in recent years, the mission of the Wilmington Storefront Project (WSP) is to coordinate marketing of available storefronts and engagement with prospective tenants in order to identify appropriate uses for available spaces.

Project Description

A group of invested partners are developing a comprehensive strategy to effectively market and fill currently available spaces. Known as the Wilmington Storefront Project, this collective effort is led by a partnership of The Buccini/Pollin Group, The City of Wilmington — Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Downtown Visions.

Development Phase Goals

• Inventory of all available storefronts, including space description and rent agreement details

• Collection of relevant market data that prospective tenants would want information on

• Evaluation of most recent list of desired retail establishments

• Production and distribution of marketing materials

• Creation and promotion of WSP website

• Development of a list of target commercial brokers

• Development of a list of target regional small business owners

• Development of a 15-month cultivation strategy

• Engagement of a full or part-time individual to conduct cultivation

• Development of benchmarking success measures and timelines

Core Operating Activities

• Lead generation

  • Identification and outreach to prospective business owners

• Engagement with interested business owners

  • Site location assistance

  • Assistance and consultation with regulatory approvals

  • Access to demographic and consumer market data

  • Business development technical assistance

• Coordination of incentives

  • Marketing assistance

  • Façade improvement

  • Tenant Fit Out

  • Signage

  • Downtown Development District Grants

  • Low-interest long-term financing

Already have a business idea and plan? Use this site to get started on your State of Delaware licenses, certifications and permits. Already running a business? Use this site to get information about renewals or expansion, and connect to State Agencies.

http://firststeps.delaware.gov/

 

PROPERTIES AVAILABLE

The following properties are currently available and may qualify for incentives. Please contact Lani Schweiger at lschweiger@downtownvisions.org for information.

• 101 W 9th St.

• 105 W 9th St.

• 113 W 9th St.

• 107 W 9th St.

• 214 W 9th St.

• 216 W 9th St.

• 219 113 W 9th St.

• 224 W 9th St.

• 226 W 9th St.

• 302-320 W 9th St.

• 401 N Market St.

• 402 N Market St.

• 404 N Market St.

• 405 N Market St.

• 406 N Market St.

• 407 N Market St.

• 408 N Market St.

• 409 N Market St.

• 410 N Market St.

• 411 N Market St.

• 412 N Market St.

• 415 N Market St.

• 417 N Market St.

• 608 N Market St.

• 627 N Market St.

• 701 N Market St.

• 727 N Market St.

• 815 N Market St.

• 824 N Market St.

• 835 N Market St.

• 907 N Orange St.

• 909 N Orange St.

• 925 N Orange St.