Latest news with #VacanttoVibrant
Belfast Telegraph
30-07-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Sponsoring a category celebrating best in design and innovation perfect synergy for Gateley
Despite economic challenges like planning delays and rising construction costs, the region's property market has shown remarkable resilience in the last year. Belfast is seeing a surge in commercial occupier demand, supported by initiatives like the £1m Vacant to Vibrant grant scheme. Major retailers such as Bershka, Mango, and LEGO have also committed to opening new stores, contributing to a retail revival. According to the quarter one 2025 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) commercial property monitor, demand for office, industrial and logistics space is rising. Flexible working trends are fuelling serviced offices, with developments like the £60m City Quays 5 — a nine-storey, 160,000 sq ft mixed-use sustainable building with office, retail and hospitality space — receiving planning approval. Alongside commercial property developments, the region's housing market has experienced a continued period of growth so far this year, with an increase in house prices, mortgage approvals and sales volumes. Lower interest rates are also thought to be contributing to the positive momentum. Additionally, Belfast's first major build-to-rent scheme, Loftlines, will deliver 778 sustainable homes in the Titanic Quarter in 2026. Belfast City Council is also partnering with developers to deliver around £630m worth of mixed-tenure housing across central sites. Aubrey Calderwood, managing director of Gateley Capitus, the specialist tax consultancy arm of Gateley advising businesses on property tax incentives, said: 'The Northern Ireland property sector continues to be active, thanks to the resilience of developers, increased interest from inward investors and support from the council. 'This has been supported by the city's hotels market beginning to thrive again, with record occupancy rates and new boutique and aparthotel developments planned. 'The purpose-built student accommodation sector is also expanding, driven by the growing student population and recent investments in local universities.' Gateley's property offering combines the expertise of legal professionals with the technical skills of its complementary consultancy businesses under one roof to provide full-service solutions for the property and construction sectors. Its team of lawyers, tax specialists, surveyors, architects and engineers provide support throughout the entire property lifecycle from initial investment and planning through to development, management and disposal. Alison Reid, real estate partner and Belfast office head at Gateley, said: 'We are thrilled to support the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2025. 'Our comprehensive property offering sees our team of legal experts working alongside our property and construction consultancies — including Gateley Capitus and Gateley Smithers Purslow — to provide full-service and forward-thinking advice to Northern Ireland's investors, developers and occupiers on a wide range of property, construction and regeneration matters. 'So, supporting the Developer of the Year category, which celebrates the standout property developers delivering best-in-class design and innovation, is a perfect synergy.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Al Pastor Papi's downtown San Francisco location is now open
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco's Vacant to Vibrant program welcomed three new businesses to the downtown area. What we know The new pop-ups include a Mexico-City-style taqueria, an interactive art studio and a clothing retailer. The Vacant to Vibrant program transforms empty storefronts into vibrant community spaces. Back in April, we reported on founder and head chef Miguel Escobedo's plans to turn his food truck, Al Pastor Papi, into a brick and mortar store. Now that location at 232 O'Farrell Street is open and serving his sumptuous, award-winning al pastor cooked on a spit roast, or 'El Trompo' for those who are in the know. Escobedo's bold Mexican flavors will be accessible in what the program calls one of the city's most high-traffic corridors. In a news release on Wednesday, Ecobedo said he's honored to bring a taste of Mexico City's street food to downtown. "This is about sharing our culture, feeding both locals and visitors, and proving that community, culture, and our signature tacos can help spark San Francisco's transformation," Escobedo said. Following Al Pastor Papi's Wednesday grand opening is Craftivity, the interactive art studio offers hands-on maker experiences and team-building workshops. Crafitvity opens Friday, June 13 at 215 Fremont Street. Both of these businesses will celebrate soft openings for the month of June. Patrons are asked to follow along on social media to see upcoming events and announcements. Perhaps Nooworks, a local apparel brand, is putting the 'vibrant' in this program's name. Their colors and artist-designed prints are bold and so is that fact that they offer inclusive sizing. Nooworks Union Square location at 236 Powell is now open. "Bringing back Downtown San Francisco means creating spaces to make this area into a thriving 24/7 neighborhood," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "We're just getting started - and we'll keep investing in small businesses to power our city's comeback." The ongoing Vacant to Vibrant project has been revitalizing underused spaces in San Francisco that were vacated, especially during the pandemic.
Axios
09-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
How a pop-up model is rewriting downtown San Francisco
Downtown San Francisco's experiment to place pop-ups in previously vacant spaces is fostering a fresh generation of local business owners. Why it matters: It marks a new strategy for longevity for Vacant to Vibrant, the grant program launched in 2023 to address the increase of empty spaces downtown. State of play: Vacant to Vibrant is expanding to Union Square this summer and betting on the area's reputation as a luxury retail district to deliver better success for its pop-ups. The organization aims to reach a point of launching two to four pop-ups per month. How it works: When the city partnered with the nonprofit SF New Deal to kickstart the program, both small businesses and downtown property owners were invited to apply on a rolling basis. The selected businesses received a three-month lease to operate with free rent, a grant of up to $8,000 for operating expenses and the option to extend the lease for another three months for free. The model "reduces the risk to both the small business owner to try an idea and also to the property owner to take a chance on a small business owner that might not be able to sign a long-term lease," SF New Deal executive director Simon Bertrang told Axios. Each pop-up also got a project manager to oversee the permitting process and help negotiate with the property owner or leasing company. Funding came from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development as well as corporate philanthropy. What they're saying: All of the grantees Axios spoke to said Vacant to Vibrant helped streamline the permitting process and lower costs. "They're like an incubator, accelerator and micro-investor all in one," Mo Abdelmeguid, owner of slow-bake cookie shop Hungry Crumbs, told Axios. What's typically a 6-8 month process took just two months, he added. What we're hearing: Despite negative perceptions of downtown vacancies, Devil's Teeth Bakery owner Hilary Passman said the demand is there — her pop-up was busy as soon as it launched in 2023 and eventually opened on weekends. Multimedia art studio GCS Agency owner Victor Gonzales, who signed onto a three-year lease during the first cohort, also noted that "activity breeds activity." He's been able to offer his studio as a space for neighboring organizations to use. By the numbers: Vacant to Vibrant has helped open 18 storefronts. A total of 11 have signed long-term leases. Three more pop-ups, including beloved taco purveyor Al Pastor Papi, were announced last month. Yes, but: Foot traffic is still not at pre-pandemic levels.
Irish Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Business investment scheme designed to fill empty city centre units is ‘resounding success'
A COUNCIL investment scheme designed to fill empty business units in Belfast city centre has been a 'resounding success' the local authority has confirmed. Some £1m in grants was awarded to small and independent businesses by Belfast City Council through their Vacant to Vibrant scheme. 'As well as helping to revitalise and animate the city centre, the council's investment has generated over £3.5m in rates – a return of almost £4 for every £1 allocated in grants,' the Council said this week. The scheme was launched in 2022 to incentivise business owners to take up empty units across the city. Belfast City Council's Vacant to Vibrant scheme has been a 'resounding success' Those who received grants under the scheme inlcide Another World, ArtsEkta, Bodega Bagels, Golden Thread Gallery, High Society, Michele International Hairdressing, Neighbourhood Café, Sloan's Gym, Vault Artist Studios and Verona Bridal. Of 48 grants awarded, 23 have helped, or are helping to regenerate a historic building or building of interest in the city. Round House Bakery is one of them. The local bakers will use their funding to bring artisan sourdough breads, pastries, and pizza to a unit in Cathedral Buildings which was almost destroyed by fire three years ago. The Vault Artist Studios received a £25k grant under the scheme, which will see them bring the city's iconic listed building Spencer House back to life. "We're delighted to secure £25,000 Vacant to Vibrant funding for Spencer House as the first phase of our fundraising towards taking on this iconic and historic city centre building," General Manager Neal Campbell said. 'Vault is passionate about advocating for the importance of arts and culture within sustainable regeneration, and we're very excited to do this in the heart of the city centre on Royal Avenue, where we can facilitate new conversations about how we reimagine and reactivate Belfast's heritage buildings," he added. 'We thank Belfast City Council for its support and we're hopeful that we can now press on and secure the additional funding that will be needed to bring Spencer House back to life, as a new home for over 30 multidisciplinary artists." The grants awarded have created 139 jobs and generated some £23m in sales over the lifespan of the scheme. 'Vacant to Vibrant has been such a success in the city centre, helping to strengthen Belfast's attractiveness as a place to visit, live and invest – boosting footfall, rates income, employment and business income,' Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Sam Nelson said. 'And I think that success is thanks to a combination of the applicants' energy, vision and hard work, along with the wraparound support we've provided to help them develop business plans, marketing, and of course linking them with suitable units.' He added: 'We're now seeking additional investment to allow us to extend the Vacant to Vibrant city centre scheme.' Applications for Belfast City Council's Vacant to Vibrant citywide scheme are welcome from business start-ups, independent retailers, social enterprises, cultural and voluntary organisations and property owners seeking to transform their vacant property. Grants between £2.5k and £25k will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, until all funding is allocated. See More: Belfast City Council, Funding, Vacant To Vibrant
Axios
05-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Downtown SF gets $1 million from Wells Fargo in promising investment
San Francisco's Vacant to Vibrant program just got a major cash infusion as Wells Fargo announced it's investing $1 million to provide grant funding and support to pop-ups transitioning into long-term leases downtown. The big picture: SF New Deals launched Vacant to Vibrant under former Mayor London Breed to populate empty storefronts with local vendors through pop-ups. The fact that they're now evolving into more permanent tenants is a promising sign for downtown recovery. Long-term lease signees include Devil's Teeth Baking Co., art studio GCS Agency, Whack Donuts, KALW radio and West African restaurant Teranga. The fine print: Wells Fargo's donation will be shared across La Cocina, Main Street Launch and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. La Cocina's mission is to solve inequities in food business ownership by supplying affordable kitchen spaces and training to entrepreneurs, while Main Street Launch aims to create economic opportunity by giving entrepreneurs the capital, education and networks they need. SF Chamber of Commerce has been around since the Gold Rush era and plays a crucial role incubating small businesses. Catch up quick: Since its inception in March 2020, SF New Deal has supported over 1,900 small businesses in San Francisco with financial and technical assistance. It launched Vacant to Vibrant in 2023 to address growing empty spaces downtown and has since helped open 18 storefronts across the Financial District, Yerba Buena and the East Cut. 11 of those businesses signed long-term leases with Wells Fargo's investment. The program, which has helped food trucks like Al Pastor Papi commit to brick and mortar, is expected to successfully jump-start 21 storefront locations by the summer. Over 20 are slated to open on a rolling basis over the next year. Between the lines: San Francisco's office vacancy rate dropped for the second consecutive quarter during the first three months of 2025, according to real estate firm CBRE. What's next: A formal check presentation will take place downtown at 11am Wednesday. Small Business Fest, a community celebration that's part of SF Business Week, will be open to the public from 11:30am to 3pm.
