The DLBA has collaborated with COBA and the City of Long Beach to create a means of collecting feedback about the experience businesses have in obtaining required permits, approvals, licenses, and related inspection processes in Long Beach. If you have recently completed or attempted one of the aforementioned regulatory applications, please take a few minutes to fill out this survey, so that we can work together to improve the climate of doing business in our City.

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Now Available for Download: 2012 Downtown Long Beach Economic Profile

With the inclusion of recent data from the 2010 Census, this resource reflects the last decade of growth and prosperity and presents an accurate snapshot of the current demographic composition of the Downtown community.

In addition to the annual publication’s longstanding components such as demographics, new development, employment, tourism, and housing, the 2012 Economic Profile has been expanded to include new detail on the psychographic tapestry of Downtown, retail spending potential, and information on Downtown planning and zoning.

Highlights from the 2012 Economic Profile demonstrate that Downtown residents are earning higher wages; the area is attracting the well educated, while home values are rising, and much more.

The 2012 Economic Profile is available to anyone interested in helping to attract investment to Downtown Long Beach. To request a free hard copy of the report, simply contact the DLBA at 562-436-4259, or info@dlba.org. The electronic version is now available for download by clicking here. The 2012 Economic Profile presentation can also be viewed here.

The City of Long Beach, Office of Special Event and Filming, has provided the Downtown Long Beach Associates the following street closure timeline for the 2012 Pride Festival and Parade.

• 10 am, Thursday, May 17

All westbound lanes of Shoreline Drive, south of Ocean Boulevard and east of Shoreline Village Drive will be closed.

•  7:00 pm, Thursday May 17, 2012

All east bound lanes of Shoreline Drive, between Shoreline Village Drive and the entrance to the Alamitos Beach parking lot will be closed.

• 10 am, Monday, May 21, 2012

All westbound lanes of Shoreline Drive, south of Ocean Boulevard and east of Shoreline Village Drive will be reopened.

All east bound lanes of Shoreline Drive between Shoreline Village Drive and the entrance to the Alamitos Beach parking lot will be opened.

This closure may create inconveniences to you, your employees and patron. Any questions or concerns you may have should be directed to the agency listed above.

2012 Pride Parade Street Closures

Sunday, May 20th, 2012

Ocean Blvd. – Redondo Ave to Lindero Ave.  (full closure 5 am – 12:30 pm)

Ocean Blvd. – Lindero Ave. to Atlantic Ave. (full closure 9:40 am – 3 pm)

Temple Ave. – Ocean Blvd. to 1st St. (full closure 5 am – 12:30 pm)

Molino Ave. – Ocean Blvd. to 1st St. (full closure 5 am – 12:30 pm)

Alamitos Ave. – Ocean Blvd. to 1st St. (full closure 9:40 am – 3 pm)

Lime Ave. – Ocean Blvd. to 1st St. (full closure 9:40 am – 3 pm)

Medio St. – Alamitos Ave. to Lime Ave. (full closure 9:40 am – 3 pm)

All side streets between Molino Ave. to Alamitos Ave., from Ocean Blvd. to the alley north of Ocean Blvd., traffic in the alley north of Ocean Blvd. shall be open flowing through side streets between barricades at the intersections north and south of the alley (9:40 am – 3 pm)

Parking lot on the corner of Alamitos Ave. and E. Ocean Blvd. from (5:00 am – 3 pm)

The Long Beach Water Department (LBWD) has advised the DLBA that sewer repairs are set to begin on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. It is anticipated that the repairs will be complete by Friday, May 11, barring any inclement weather or unforeseen complications. The primary work site is on Ocean Boulevard between Long Beach Boulevard and Elm Avenue.

This work will not interrupt water or sewer services to the public. To minimize impact, construction hours have been extended to finish construction as soon as possible. Daily construction hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m

City and Business Leaders Gather to Celebrate 200 Pine’s Success & Dedicate the Building’s Marketing Suite

Pictured: Noël Aguirre (Associate, Lee & Associates), George Thomson (Associate, Lee & Associates), Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Jerry Fink (Founder and Managing Partner, The Bascom Group), 200 Pine Owner J.R. Pearce, DLBA President & CEO Kraig Kojian

In mid-April, a group of City and business leaders came together to celebrate the successful repositioning of the 200 Pine Avenue building in Downtown Long Beach.

Located at the corner of Pine and Broadway, 200 Pine, a 70,000 square foot mixed-use tower was acquired by Realm Group, LLC in 2008. Since then, Realm has implemented a series of strategic improvements and targeted recruiting efforts that have resulted in the successful repositioning of the property and a dramatically improved occupancy rate. Realm invested $4 million dollars in capital improvements throughout the building. Makeovers to the lobby, bathrooms, elevators, and common areas were complemented with significant improvements to the building’s mechanical systems, upgrades to the parking garage and building lighting, as well as a cosmetic overhaul to the building’s façade. The building’s location at the heart of the city’s entertainment district made it an ideal candidate for the repositioning and made it appealing to tenants – particularly those from the creative industries.

Between period fourth quarter 2008 and fourth quarter 2011, occupancy within the 200 Pine building has increased from 71.5% to 85%, a 13.5% improvement. Over that same time, occupancy for comparable properties (Class B) in Downtown dropped from 86.2% to 83.3%, a decrease of 2.9%. On a net basis, Realm’s actions have led the 200 Pine building to outperform its direct competition by 16.4% over the last three years.

In the last six months alone, three creative businesses relocated their headquarters to 200 Pine. Ignify, a world class technology and business consulting company, moved their 100 person operation from Cerritos into 200 Pine. Street Surfing Worldwide, a developer, manufacturer and distributor of specialty wheeled consumer goods including waveboards, skateboards and scooters, also relocated their headquarters to 200 Pine from Irvine. The newest tenant at 200 Pine is Love vs Design, a wedding stationary design company that was formerly a home-based business.

In addition to strong leasing activity in the office space, 200 Pine has leased out its entire ground floor to three proven retail operators whom add value and amenity to the building and the Downtown community. With nine locations across Southern California, Octopus Japanese restaurant was the first retail tenant to invest in transforming the building’s retail tenant mix in 2010. The Argentine steakhouse Gaucho Grill followed in 2011, and later this year, Agaves will round-out the cadre of international-themed restaurants that anchor 200 Pine.

The following is an interview with J.R. Pearce, partner with Realm and 200 Pine Owner.

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Dear Community Member,

By collaborating with the City of Long Beach, residents and community organizations, the DLBA strives to continue the success of our Downtown and work with our partners to ensure that the shared goal of a vibrant and prosperous city center is realized across all sectors and projects.

As we enter into May, which is National Bike Month, I feel it is important to extol the bicycling successes that have taken place over the last few years. In 2009, Long Beach planners, civic leaders and residents came together to discuss the importance of bicycle programs as a vehicle for enhancing the quality of life in our city. These discussions resulted in the progressive and forward-thinking Bicycle Master Plan (BMP), which is one of the most ambitious of its kind.

The BMP has since guided efforts to make Long Beach the most bicycle friendly city in the U.S. As a number of great projects such as the dedicated bike lanes (the first protected bike lanes outside of Manhattan) and the opening of the new BikeStation are completed, and pending projects such as the BikeShare program and bike rack installations are on the horizon, Long Beach is gaining significant attention and notoriety, and is quickly rising in the ranks of leading bicycling initiatives. This is further evidenced by DLBA’s hosting of the 4^th Annual BikeFest Tour of Long Beach, which takes place this Saturday, May 5, and the selection of serving as host for the 2012 ProWalkProBike conference, taking place in September.

These bike-friendly projects – past, present and future – have helped make Long Beach safer, easier to navigate and more physically connected. The BMP is just one example of what can be accomplished when dedicated organizations and individuals come together to work towards a common cause that results in an improved Downtown and City. As a part of a concerted effort to listen to the concerns and ideas of the local community, the DLBA works diligently to engage the community, while ultimately shaping the future of our Downtown.

Please share this newsletter with your friends, colleagues and family so that we can continue to spread the news about the great things happening in Downtown Long Beach.

Sincerely,

Kraig Kojian

President and CEO

Break out your putters and put on your plaid pants as Leadership Long Beach’s much-anticipated annual fundraising event, Putt Putt on Pine, returns on May 31, 2012! You and your team are invited to participate in this evening of food, fun and miniature golf as restaurants and businesses create unique and challenging holes. Reserve your space today and don’t miss out on the fun! www.leadershiplb.org

5^th ANNUAL PINK PARTY KICKS OFF

LONG BEACH LESBIAN & GAY PRIDE WEEKEND IN STYLE

New Location, More Entertainment and Renowned Guest DJ Barry Weaver Announced

On Friday, May 18, 2012, the 5^th Annual Pink Party will once again help kick-off Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride weekend, with an incredible outdoor party to be hosted at a new location in the East Village (intersection of 1^st Street and Linden Avenue).

Produced and sponsored by the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA), the Pink Party has quickly become a Pride weekend tradition. A portion of the proceeds from Pink Party benefit The Center Long Beach’s Mentoring Youth Through Empowerment (MYTE) program, which provides cost-free services to gay, lesbian, transgender and questioning youth.

Adopted once again this year by Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc. (LBLGP) as an official Pre-Pride Event, attendees will fill the East Village with varying shades of pink as guests are encouraged to dress the part. Pink lights and festive décor will transform the outdoor venue into a party unlike any other.

Famed drag performer, Jewels Long Beach, returns to host the event as only she can. The Long Beach Drag Diva contest will feature Delta Work and Sonique from RuPaul’s Drag Race among the performers who will be dancing and lip synching. Famed DJ Barry Weaver will be spinning high-energy dance music all night while guests dance the evening away in the streets of the East Village.  The night will also feature a few surprises that will keep the crowd on their toes.

Outdoor bars presented by Hamburger Mary’s and Bliss 525 will serve beer, wine and cocktails. Guests will have the opportunity to get their hair & nails pink’d at the Big Pink Hair and Nail stations.

The Pink Party will take place at the intersection of 1^st Street and Linden Avenue in the East Village. Parking is available at Elm and Broadway. The cost of admission is $10 at the door.

Please note from May 18 at 2 p.m. until May 19 at 1 a.m., Linden Avenue from 1^st Street to Broadway, and 1^st Street from Linden to Elm avenues will be closed. Click here to read about street closures associated with Pride weekend.

Interested in Sponsorship Opportunities?

Find the event on Facebook and share with your friends!

Check out pictures from last year’s event below:

On Saturday, April 28, 2012, at 8 a.m., St. Anthony High School will host their 3rd Annual The Saints Run 5K Run/Walk. This 5K will start off at Belmont Brewery (Veteran’s Pier). Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Find out more about how to register here.

The DLBA is a sponsor for this event.