Presented by Kyle Bennett, assistant director of tourism, the proposal by Populace Mobile Media would include developing an app for the downtown area to include maps, calendars, notifications and directories for downtown businesses.
The cost of the app is $5,200 with a yearly maintenance fee of $1,200 per year, which would not be due in the first year.
After viewing the report, the board decided marketing funds were budgeted in the Convention and Visitors Bureau budget that could cover the Populace proposal and approved the measure 5-0.
In old business, Community Development Director Billy Peppers told the board that cost estimates have been provided for renovating Building B, which includes part of the former Woodstock Community Church and part of the Chambers at City Center campus.
Peppers said according to estimates by Clark Patterson Lee, the city will put $230,000 into the project and the DDA has been offered funding through Ameris Bank to complete the project. Initial estimates do not include contingency and design fees.
The project is expected to go out to bid in January and the board unanimously approved moving forward with the project.
Peppers also reviewed a hotel/hospitality market analysis, which showed the downtown area could support up to 80 hotel rooms. He also reported on the BoomTown Feasibility Report, which included a feasibility analysis done by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs that features the usage of Morgan’s ACE Hardware and Cotton Warehouse.
In other business, the board:
* Tabled a façade application for Hot Dog Heaven, 8558 Main Street;
* Approved 5-0 a façade application for Freight Kitchen & Tap, located in the Woodstock Train Depot, for lighting the outside of the building and the rails of the outside deck for a total of $7,089 with a requested grant amount for $3,544;
* Reviewed budgets for the DDA, Convention and Visitors Bureau and Main Street;
* Approved 5-0 an application for a tourism product development grant proposal for purchasing technology that can be used in the existing visitors center and can be transferred to the new location when complete;
* In the Main Street report, Bennett reported eight new houses were built in the month of September, making a total of 45 for the year; and
* In the Local Projects report, Peppers said 52 percent of the outlet mall is under roof, the Ridgewalk interchange should be opened by Thanksgiving and the Woodstock West by Walton development will have its grand opening March 14, 2013.
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