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Home My WebLink AboutI. A. Vibe Creative District 10 Year Update 3.11.2025April 2015-2025 Kate Pittman, Executive Director March 11, 2025 1 Virginia Beach City Council established an ordinance in April 2015 to: Spur economic development Attract residents, businesses and visitors Create a unique place for local artists and creative businesses For years, this neighborhood was riddled with violence, crime, empty lots and vacant storefronts. It was arguably one of the most depressed areas of Virginia Beach. 2 Establishing the ViBe Creative District City Of Virginia Beach Ordinance 3402 – Chapter 9 Creative Districts: The establishment of incentives for private property owners and creative businesses located within the district boundaries shown on the map above. •Incentives for Property and Business Owners include: Business tax rebate, Reimbursement for permit and zoning fees, Partial real estate exemption for rehabilitated structure (for 10 years), Live-Work Provisions. •Incentives available to qualifying creative businesses including but not limited to: 3 •Creative Arts Businesses •Museums •Theaters •Architecture •Marketing & Advertising •Culinary Arts •Design •Film & Media •Publishing •Software Development •Research and development of technology •Farmers Markets •Antique Markets Where is the ViBe in Virginia Beach? Oceanfront Form-Based Code ViBe is Virginia Beach’s first arts district Located within the Virginia Beach Resort Area Central Beach District / Entertainment District 4 5 5 2015 City Of Virginia Beach Ordinance 3402 – Chapter 9 Creative Districts MAP 6 65+ Small Business Partners 73+ Large Wall Murals 15 Utility Box wraps 22 VBCC Digital Art Identifiers 15 Neighborhood Identifier Murals 50 Sidewalk Mini- murals 48 Painted Parking Meters 12 Creative Crosswalks 35 Painted Parking Spaces 100+ Community Fence Murals 2024-2025 New Walking Maps 7 Google Mural Map – 710,000+ views & counting! ViBe = VIrginia BEach Named by Charles Powell the founding member of the Friends of the Creative District business association. #1 – A geographic location designated by our local City Council #2 – A non-profit established by local community leaders following a grass roots effort 8 ViBe District Non-profit Co-Founders: Andrew Fine, The Runnymede Corporation - 2017 Philanthropist of the Year by AFP - Inside Business Power List multiple years - 2019 VB Champion for the Arts Award Laura Wood, Citizen Advocate - 2018 First Citizen of Virginia Beach - 2019 Inside Business Power List - 2021 Human Rights Award Recipient - 2023 Virginia Business Magazine 100 People to Meet - 2023 Women in Business Award - 2024 National Travel and Tourism Award Kate Pittman, Executive Director - 2019 Inside Business Top 40 Under 40 - 2019 Human Rights Commission Award - 2019 VBSchools Partnership Award Recipient - 2020 Virginia Business Magazine 100 People to Meet - 2023 VBSchools Partner Award Recipient Virginia Business Magazine Feature & Cover Story 2022 .9 ViBe District Non-profit Mission & Vision: ViBe District Virginia Beach dba as ViBe Creative District was recognized as a 501 (C) nonprofit by the IRS in 2015. Since then, the organization has raised over $2.3 Million in support of the following mission, vision and goals. Mission To promote, support, connect, and inspire the arts and creative industries to boost our local economy, grow jobs, and enhance our quality of life. Vision To create and revive economic vibrancy in our neighborhood with a remarkable local vibe. 1- Nonprofit Board of community leaders (30) 2- Friends of the Creative District business association board (25) These 2 groups have donated thousands of volunteer hours since 2015.10 10 The ViBe Creative District fosters a local creative ecosystem Instead of hiring a large staff, the ViBe Creative District has contracted hundreds of local creatives since 2016 11 ViBe District Non-profit Goals: 1- To establish a Creative Industries District in the City of Virginia Beach which will serve as a vibrant center for the arts, culture, technology, and is environmentally friendly. 2- To enhance a sense of discovery for visitors and residents by revitalizing the area and making this uniquely ours. 3- To encourage the arts and artists as well as technical and creative resources to help them flourish and cross-pollinate. 4- To support and expand the industry and creativity of those who live and work in the District. 5- To stimulate commerce and enhance the quality of life for citizens of Virginia Beach and the District. 6- To foster rising real estate values by helping the district become a place where people want to be. 7- To assist in creating resources to help artists and artisans become established within the District. 12 Recent list of private supporters: 13 Recent list of programming partners: 14 Virginia Beach Season for Nonviolence Collective Positive Press for the City of Virginia Beach Over 1,000+ earned media articles, blogs, videos, and travel publications 15 Virginia Beach: It’s a VIBE Tourism Collaboration 16 Professional Presentations Virginia Commission for the Arts, University of Virginia Alumni, American Society of Landscape Architects Conference (Nashville, TN), International Conference on Creative Territories for Sustainable Development (Brazil) 17 Our regional neighbors are noticing the impact 18 •Over the last five years, representatives Ceel In the last 5 years, representatives from Newport News, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Suffolk and Williamsburg have toured ViBe. •A recent article sited Williamsburg’s Edge District was started in 2019 after leaders toured ViBe. •Newport News began a partnership with the Contemporary Arts Network nonprofit to create the Newport News Street Museum in 2024 after speaking with ViBe. •Support Portsmouth Public Art nonprofit started the Wall Street Mural Festival in 2024 modeling it after ViBe’s 10 murals in 10 days formula. •Suffolk community members are exploring murals in 2025. •Ceel 19 83%24% 205% ViBe Economic Impact: Commissioner of the Revenue Reports Gross Sales Yearly Taxes 2024 $174,710,411.00 $2,017,164.30 2015 $140,788,528.00 $1,100,736.00 $33,921,883 $916,428.25 Increase in annual gross sales Increase in annual taxes Business Licenses 194 in 2015 397 in 2024 203 Increase in licenses 20 ViBe Economic Impact: Virginia Beach Real Estate Values •10 Year report – Net increase of $56 Million Grew 41% from $135,969,700 in FY2016 to $192,016,600 in FY2025 $0 $50,000,000 $100,000,000 $150,000,000 $200,000,000 $250,000,000 FY16 FY25 ViBe Creative District Real Estate Values FY16 to FY25 41% 21 ViBe Economic Impact: Small Business Grant Pilot Program Year Applicants Awarded Grant Amount Paid Actual Private Investment 2021 9 $66,311 $201,853 2022 17 $113,695 $851,172 2023 13 $93,674 $380,561 2024 15 $116,543 $416,943 Total 54 $390,223 $1,850,529 ViBe Small Business Matching Grant Pilot Program FY17 & FY18 ViBe Researched over 15 other districts across the nation In 2018, $75,000 was made available for a matching grant program transferring fund earmarked for the nonprofit to economic development office 12 grants were approved Matching private investment over $375,000 Program went City-wide in 2021 Nearly a 5 to 1 return on investment City of Virginia Beach Economic Dev Façade Improvement Grant FY21-FY24 Still approximately 5 to 1 return on investment Visible Changes: Before & After The Alley 22AFTER AFTER BEFORE Visible Changes: Before & After Esoteric 23 AFTER BEFORE Visible Changes: Before & After Superior Pawn 24 AFTER BEFORE Visible Changes: Before & After Java Surf 25 BEFORE BEFORE AFTER Visible Changes: City 19th St CIP Improvements 26 Visible Changes: City 18th St CIP Improvements 27 Visible Changes: Before & After Farmers Market 28AFTER BEFORE BEFORE Visible Changes: Before & After ViBe Parklet 29 BEFORE BEFOREAFTER Visible Changes: Before & After ViBe Park 30 AFTER BEFORE ViBe Creative District 10th Anniversary Celebrations & Updates •April 2025: Local business anniversary branding & social media campaign, public engagement of stories and images from prior 10 years •April/May City Council: Resolution to permit “Good ViBes” Celebration Paver Program in 18th Street Parklet to support an endowment campaign for future sustainability •2025 ViBe Ordinance updates to address flexibility on nonprofit advertising within the district and opportunity for a mobile business pilot program to help activate empty lots •First Friday, October 3, 2025 – 10th Anniversary Block Party – ribbon cutting to acknowledge the completion of 18th St CIP, new street art & new pavers •2025 ViBe Publication illustrating all of the murals of the district •Ceel 31 Thank You For Your Support April 2015-2025 Kate Pittman, Executive Director March 11, 2025 32