B'way BID Boss Change

As noted earlier on another thread, John Kevranian is leaving the B'way BID and Ross Bruce is stepping back in on an interim basis.  Here is the Daily Journal article describing the changes

“What I’m doing here every day as a business owner I can do at a county or city level as a full-time job helping our community improve,” said Kevranian, who has operated his candy store at 1241 Broadway for more than two decades.

In stepping away from leading the organization designed to allocate fees collected from Broadway business owners to fund improvements to the shopping district, Kevranian, 49, said he is interested in taking a position in the city or county ranks where he can share his expertise as a problem solver honed through helping other burgeoning merchants launch their businesses.

I'm not sure I agree with this bit though

Looking ahead, Kevranian said there are many more challenges for his successor, such as improving street lighting and attracting larger retailers, said Kevranian.  “We need some recognized names for Broadway,” he said.

I'm on Broadway at least three times a week and one of the things that draws me in is the relative lack of "recognized names".  It's quaint like 25th Ave in San Mateo.  It's also very easy to park which is incongruent with larger, better recognized retailers.  Let's leave well enough alone.

Comments

[Amateur Misseau]

Getty Up Little Horsey. It was also very easy to park a horse in front of the General Store in the 1800's. Doesn't mean I want to go back there.

How many of these unrecognized names do you spend money with the three times/week you visit?

I bet you eat at the places on Burlingame then come to Broadway to get a quick ManiPedi for $8....

This place needs an upgrade and soon. The merchants are not making much money. Help them out more.

[Joe]

Wrong, wrong and wrong again. Oh, and no manipedi's in either place. Why don't you just drive down to the Ave for all the chain merch you can stand. Keep the Farmer's Market, Earthbeam, Behan's, Rocca, Sutterfields, Pick of the Litter, Il Pic, the Wells Fargo where they actually have a personality, decent Chinese although I prefer Hot Wok and, of course, the best wine shop on the whole Peninsula. You are indeed an Amateur.

[hillsider]

Go check out Bridgepointe, Amateur Misseau. You'll love it.

[Refresh]

Congrats John, I always told you that you should get paid for your work helping to get endorsements for Democratic Party candidates...they finally rewarded you with a well paid job.

You're a good guy, and you deserve more.

The BID should hire a professional leasing and marketing strategist to better coordinate the existing and future tenant mix, rents, facade improvements, parking. Just like Burlingame Ave - it's a mall.

Take a look at 1-2 blocks back from Broadway and coordinate with city council to preapprove demolishing and rebuilding taller apartments to incent more gathering / open spaces and a much fresher feel for that area. New underground parking in the process for residents and shoppers. The goal isn't necessarily more traffic and construction, but helping the area to break out of the 1950s and to improve the quality of living for all people in the area. Of course, an additional benefit will be construction jobs, development fees, higher property tax revenues, higher sales tax revenues, better amenities for the nearby life-blood hotel guests. It'll take alot of time and effort, so don't be afraid to hire an expert.

[Myra Hindley]

Nothing has changed on Broadway in years. Its still run down and serves only maybe as a Walgreens stop if Burlingame Ave is busy. The owners of the buildings don't take any pride in the street and it attracts crazy and homeless souls from San Francisco.

Feel bad for the few good places who have to deal with the run-down appearance.

Just rezone it and start developing beautiful new places to live.

[resident]

It doesn't need rezoning, just some investment to spruce it up by the landlords and tenants. Oh, and a little crackdown on the hoes would help.