Proposal

Revitalizing 3rd & B Street: A Hub for Community, Local Startups, Artists, and Community Food Events

We propose a revitalization of the 3rd & B Street space in downtown Davis to create a dynamic and engaging community hub that supports local food events, artists, nonprofits and startups. Our vision is to foster a strong sense of community while promoting sustainable growth in Davis through collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders, including, but not limited to UC Davis, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), Davis Farmers Market Alliance, Davis Farm to School, Central Park Gardens, UC Master Gardeners, Cool Davis, Yolo County, local AgTech startups, food entrepreneurs and farmers, Arts Alliance Davis, and many more. By evolving our city sustainably for the future, we aim to build a city that fosters inclusion, equity, community, growth, happiness, health, and prosperity. We believe that vibrant, active and well programmed community  spaces are critical to meet that goal. 

1. Introduction:

3rd & B Street is a prime location in the heart of downtown Davis with significant potential for revitalization. We propose transforming this underutilized space into a vibrant, multi-functional hub that fosters community, supports local startups, artists, food artisans and farmers, and other educational and fun events intended to bring the community together.

2. Objectives:

• Revitalize 3rd & B Street into a community-driven space

• Develop a thriving art, music, dance, and theater hub, promoting local talent and facilitating community engagement through diverse cultural offerings

• Provide an inclusive activity space for all ages, reviving the building's historical role as a hub for youth, especially teens, and extending it to serve diverse age groups in our community

• Establish a vibrant food hub, building on top of and in partnership with the strong, cultural roots of one of the city’s cultural gems: the Davis Farmers Market and taking advantage of the proximity to the market, establishing programming related to the market 

• Nurture education around local produce and agriculture, fostering communal dining experiences, and encouraging food innovation

• Encourage collaboration and innovation among local startups, artists, nonprofits and food entrepreneurs

• Support sustainable growth and economic development in the city of Davis

• Foster inclusion, equity, community, growth, happiness, health, and prosperity

3. Facilitating Community Events:

A key element of our vision for the revitalized 3rd & B Street space involves developing an infrastructure that will simplify the process for community members to plan and host a wide range of events. We intend to create a user-friendly online platform where community members can easily check availability, book the space, and access necessary information. 

Building upon this foundation, we aspire to create an enriching hub for art, music, dance, theater, and cultural and food events. This space is envisaged to become a vibrant cultural destination, a place where engagement, learning, connection, and creativity thrive.

Our commitment to designing a flexible and inviting space allows us to accommodate diverse community needs and foster a sense of belonging. The location is intended to host an array of events, such as music festivals, educational workshops, youth activities, and art exhibitions, making it a cornerstone of community life in Davis.

Ultimately, our goal is to simplify the process of bringing creative and innovative ideas to life. By doing so, we aim to nurture creativity, celebrate diversity, and strengthen community bonds, making 3rd & B Street not only a central fixture in Davis's community life but also a catalyst for interaction, collaboration, and community spirit.

4. Community Food Events and Programming (Led by Deema Tamimi):

Deema Tamimi, with her deep-rooted connections within the Davis food community, will utilize her experience as an organizer of popular events like Davis Village Feast, Davis Eats, and the StrEeatery, a unique street food event in partnership with the Davis Food Co-op. Notably, Deema was a co-founder of The VINE, a UC initiative centered around agriculture and food innovation and networks. Her involvement with The VINE has included initiating and orchestrating numerous food education and hackathon events, with two such successful gatherings already held at the 3rd Street location. A significant contribution of Deema's is the Food and Economic Development report she co-authored with former mayor Ann Evans, UCD professor Dr. Catherine Brinkley and UCD student, Grace Perry, submitted to the Davis City Council in 2019. This document outlines the potential for Davis to harness food as a means to cultivate a robust culture of resilience, sustainability, and economic development. The envisioned future events for the space will bring together farmers, food entrepreneurs, educators, and community members. These gatherings, facilitated by and/or in partnership with key partners, namely the Davis Farmers Market Alliance, Davis Farm to School, and The VINE will focus on promoting local food production, food education, and celebrating the unique food culture of Davis.

Potential programming may include:

• Food, agriculture, and gardening education events timed in conjunction with the Davis Farmers Market and separately scheduled ones as well.

• Communal dining experiences.

• The StrEatery: A singular food truck event that celebrates local food entrepreneurship and sustainability.

• Educational workshops and seminars, which might include food tastings, the launching of food businesses, and discussions led by leading food innovators and experts.

• Food innovation competitions.

5. Coworking Space and Meeting Rooms (Led by Do Tromp):

Do Tromp, the founder of Davis Coworking, will oversee the coworking space at 3rd & B Street. This space aims to serve as an economical hub for local entrepreneurs and startups, thereby stimulating economic development in Davis.

For budding entrepreneurs, the coworking space, part of UC Davis Venture Catalyst's Distributed Research Incubation & Venture Engine (DRIVE™) network, will offer a flexible and cost-effective workspace solution, eliminating financial and logistical barriers.

Startups, particularly in their early stages, will benefit significantly from this collaborative environment. Our partnerships with UC Davis Venture Catalyst and the Davis Chamber of Commerce aim to enrich the initiative; Venture Catalyst will offer mentorship, investment opportunities, and networking introductions to UC Davis students staff, and alumni to retain their enterprises off-campus but close to home, while the Chamber will connect businesses with local resources and host educational workshops.

Bi-monthly events focused on empowering local women entrepreneurs will be organized by the Davis Area Women's Network (DAWN). These events will further contribute to an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Davis.

By making workspace more accessible and fostering a community of support, we anticipate that this project will significantly contribute to economic growth in Davis, creating an environment where innovation can thrive, businesses can grow, and the local economy can flourish.

6. Space for Local Artists and Non-Profit Organizations:

In collaboration with the Arts Alliance Davis, Davis Coworking will continue to provide subsidized free access to all coworking space facilities for all Davis Arts Alliance affiliates. Through this initiative artists will now also be able to access the 3rd & B street location for art exhibits, as well as music, dance and theater productions. This initiative has a dual purpose: it supports local artists, a vital component of the cultural fabric of our city, by offering them a professional and affordable space. This lowers the entry barrier for artists to create, collaborate, and engage with the broader community, while also contributing to a vibrant and dynamic coworking environment.

Moreover, we are acutely aware of the invaluable role that non-profit organizations play in enriching our community. In recognition of their contributions and to support their ongoing efforts, our plan for 3rd & B Street includes providing subsidized free access to these organizations. By offering a cost-effective venue for their meetings, workshops, fundraising events, and other activities, we aim to alleviate some of the operational cost burdens that these organizations often face. 

This strategic provision not only enables these organizations to allocate more resources towards their core missions but also embeds them further into the heart of downtown Davis. The presence of these organizations in a central, accessible location fosters a greater sense of community involvement and awareness. We are committed to supporting these organizations and ensuring their continued ability to make a positive impact on our community from within its core.

7. Conclusion:

The time is now. Davis is in the midst of adopting its Downtown Plan to revitalize the downtown core. Energy around the Food and Economic Development report, which outlines how Davis can leverage food to develop a strong culture of resilience and sustainability, as well as encourage economic development, is growing.

By revitalizing the 3rd & B Street space we will create a vibrant and engaging community hub that supports local startups, artists, and community food events in downtown Davis. We, Deema Tamimi and Do Tromp,  are confident that our expertise, vision, and strong partnerships with key stakeholders will ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of this transformative project. Furthermore, the opportunity for local community members and businesses to sponsor the revitalization of the space will enable greater community involvement and shared investment in the future of Davis.

Together, we can build a thriving and sustainable city that fosters inclusion, equity, community, growth, happiness, health, and prosperity for all.