With the new hotels, restaurants and condominiums opening there is a certain buzz about downtown Tallahassee.
Allen Thompson, administrative assistant to the executive director of the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, Al Pasini, says the downtown area is becoming a convenience to all Tallahassee citizens.
“Downtown is for everyone because it is right in the middle of everything,” Thompson said.
“We have college students that come downtown to eat lunch and even politicians and associations. It is a very convenient place for people to meet.”
Alister Loblack, 25, a fourth-year economics student at Florida A&M University from the Caribbean Island of Dominica, said the downtown growth is diminishing the racial separation within the city’s college students.
“Sometimes Tallahassee can be a black and white city. Now you can catch students from all three schools meeting, socializing, and networking,” Loblack said.
The TDIA was initiated in 1971 by the Florida legislature to improve and enhance the downtown area.
Thompson said under Pasini’s direction the city is “taking on new excitement and development.”
“You can see this with the new banner displays on Monroe Street and Adams Street,”
Thompson said. “There’s also the independent contractor that comes and cleans the sidewalks and the recreation planters.”
More noticeable are the alterations to the city’s skyline.
Thompson said the TDIA welcomes the Aloft hotel, the Tennyson Condominiums, the Tallahassee Center, the Plaza Towers and Hotel Duval.
“We [TDIA] are certainly happy to have them here,” Thompson said.
Marc Bauer, general manager for Hotel Duval, recognizes the new businesses and says Hotel Duval, which opened Oct. 5, will help to solidify the metro atmosphere of downtown Tallahassee.
“We want to be the catalyst to what is happening downtown,” Bauer said. “And if that brings more restaurants, more nightlife, and more economic development to the area we have proven success.”
Thompson said the improvements in downtown are economically beneficial for Tallahassee residents.
“[The businesses] promote themselves,” Thompson said. “It goes into the economy which helps everyone.”
Thompson described the self-advertising as a chain reaction.
“If there are more people employed because there is more work, then more people go out to eat and they leave tips,” Thompson said. “Servers make their money and then go out and shop locally in the city.”
Loblack, an events promoter with Soiree Entertainment, has first hand experience in the benefits of a growing area.
He said the new venues available in the downtown district have allowed him to expand his nightlife options.
Loblack said he is starting a Friday night cocktail hour for the 21 and older collegiate crowd at the Aloft’s WXYZ Lounge.
He is interested in hosting events at the Hotel Duval, but the hotel is in the process of arranging their nightlife schedule.
Downtown Tallahassee also includes family oriented and cultural events.
“The city and the TDIA want to encourage all types of activity in the downtown area,” Thompson said.
Thompson, who is also the Saturday events coordinator for downtown market place, said the TDIA is working to start an outdoor film series.
“You can go to Kleman Plaza in the evening and watch first run movies or older classic movies,” Thompson said.
In addition to the film series, the TDIA is working on the annual Invitational Art Show, which happens on the second Saturday in December.
“Over 120 artists are invited to come to Tallahassee,” Thompson said. “And we put on a show in the downtown Parks.”
Bauer, Hotel Duval’s general manager, said the high volume of development in the city of Tallahassee would bring healthy competition.
He said he knows more projects will be developing downtown and it will aid economic development.
“We would like to think that for a while we are the only ones downtown,” Thompson said.
“But competition will be good it just means the downtown market is the place people want to be.”
With the new programs downtown, StarMetro is meeting to extend bus hours.
“The StarMetro is undergoing a definitive change,” Thompson said.
He said StarMetro is currently holding open meetings to give Tallahassee residents the opportunity to give suggestions.
Loblack said Tallahassee will become more appealing and fewer students will want to leave on weekends and extended breaks.
“There are a lot of things happening for Tallahassee to make it a better college town,” Loblack said. “Soon people won’t be so eager to leave town for every break, because they will enjoy being here.”
He said the new venues available in the downtown district have allowed him to expand his nightlife options.
Loblack said he is starting a Friday night cocktail hour for the 21 and older collegiate crowd at the Aloft’s WXYZ Lounge.
He is interested in hosting events at the Hotel Duval, but the hotel is in the process of arranging their nightlife schedule.
Downtown Tallahassee also includes family oriented and cultural events.
“The city and the TDIA want to encourage all types of activity in the downtown area,” Thompson said.
Thompson, who is also the Saturday events coordinator for downtown market place, said the TDIA is working to start an outdoor film series.
“You can go to Kleman Plaza in the evening and watch first run movies or older classic movies,” Thompson said.
In addition to the film series, the TDIA is working on the annual Invitational Art Show, which happens on the second Saturday in December.
“Over 120 artists are invited to come to Tallahassee,” Thompson said. “And we put on a show in the downtown Parks.”
Bauer, Hotel Duval’s general manager, said the high volume of development in the city of Tallahassee would bring healthy competition.
He said he knows more projects will be developing downtown and it will aid economic development.
“We would like to think that for a while we are the only ones downtown,” Thompson said.
“But competition will be good it just means the downtown market is the place people want to be.”
With the new programs downtown, StarMetro is meeting to extend bus hours.
“The StarMetro is undergoing a definitive change,” Thompson said.
He said StarMetro is currently holding open meetings to give Tallahassee residents the opportunity to give suggestions.
Loblack said Tallahassee will become more appealing and fewer students will want to leave on weekends and extended breaks.
“There are a lot of things happening for Tallahassee to make it a better college town,” Loblack said. “Soon people won’t be so eager to leave town for every break, because they will enjoy being here.”