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DTLA Resident Card Launches with Signups at LA Cafe

By Eric Richardson
Published: Thursday, May 13, 2010, at 12:03PM
DTLA Resident Card Eric Richardson []

Josh Gray-Emmer of AP Consulting LA holds up a pair of sample DTLA Resident Cards.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Downtowners who visit LA Cafe this afternoon be among the first to get their own DTLA Resident Card, a photo ID that is intended to make it easy for Downtown businesses to offer discounts to those who live in the neighborhood.

"I found that places in Downtown really wanted to provide benefits to Downtowners and loyal customers -- especially the places that were inside residential buildings -- but there was no good way to do it short of having people bring bills," explains Josh Gray-Emmer, founder of AP Consulting LA and a longtime resident of the Historic Core.

Gray-Emmer and AP Consulting LA partner Stephanie Estes came up with the DTLA Resident Card in hopes of solving that issue. The company will be conducting signups around Downtown to get the free cards in the hands of residents, eventually adding in online signups and working with buildings to make sure the cards end up in the correct hands.

Businesses are excited about the card, Gray-Emmer says. "I haven't had a single business say no yet, so I'd say that's a pretty good reaction."

At launch, include 50% off the wine glass of the week at BottleRock, 10% off at interior design store iSquared, a special room rate at the L.A. Athletic Club and $10 tickets to the L.A. Film Fest.

Businesses can also choose to offer discounts specific to their neighborhood. Cafe Metropol offers a 10% discount for Downtowners, but 15% off for those whose card carries an Arts District designation.

Signups will be taking place outside LA Cafe (639 S. Spring) until 7pm. Those who want to know when signups will be taking place in their neighborhood or businesses who want to participate in the program can email .

blogdowntown is partnering with AP Consulting LA on the Resident Card program, and we will be working to offer ways to integrate cardholder identity information into our user profiles.

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Guest 1

Guest on May 13, 2010, at 01:27PM – #1

is there a website to go to sign up for residents and businesses?


Guest 1

Guest on May 13, 2010, at 01:44PM – #2

ooops... now i see it


Rich Jesmer on May 13, 2010, at 01:45PM – #3

and signing up today gets you a free baked good :)


Guest 2

Guest on May 13, 2010, at 03:20PM – #4

I wonder if you are put on a marketing list or that they 2nd or 3rd party the list for lease/ sales etc. Anyone know?

Howie on the Hill


User_32

Dixon on May 13, 2010, at 03:50PM – #5

......and if we travel to Arizona, will it establish our citizenship??


User_32

on May 13, 2010, at 06:16PM – #6

We will NOT share your info with ANYONE! Your personal information is for our use only! If you have any questions or concerns please call our office at


Guest 3

Guest on May 13, 2010, at 07:49PM – #7

I guess it means I don't qualify. :( I'm in DTLA all the time but live in Chinatown.


Guest 4

Guest on May 14, 2010, at 08:49AM – #8

Stephanie, I own (Sub)Urban Home on 5th & Main.... how do I get in on the action? Can someone come visit me today or this weekend???


Josh Gray-Emmer on May 14, 2010, at 10:18AM – #9

Thanks so very much to everyone who signed up yesterday!! We'll be back at LA Cafe again today and this weekend to join more people, and stay tuned to blogdowntown for info on where we'll be next week!!


User_32

stephanie arculli on May 14, 2010, at 02:46PM – #10

I'm the owner of YAS Downtown LA at 831 S. Hope Street. We are opening on June 1, offering yoga and spinning classes. I would love to participate in the DTLA Resident Card!


Guest 5

Guest on May 14, 2010, at 06:06PM – #11

Is initial sign-ups only for Historic Core residents? I'm currently in South Park. Also, what will the weekend hours be for sign-ups? :)


Guest 5

Guest on May 14, 2010, at 06:06PM – #12

Do we need to bring anything to verify we live in Downtown?


Guest 6

Guest on May 14, 2010, at 06:29PM – #13

I can only imagine the pretentiousness that is bound to ensue by including each resident's neighborhood on the card. "Look I'm a Historic Core hipster!" or "Oh I'm a wealthy suburbanite from South Park!" I'm behind the idea, but DTLA residents should be UNITED, not segregated.


Guest 7

Guest on May 14, 2010, at 07:19PM – #14

Your photo AND your building are printed on the card?

Hells no thanks. So much for privacy.


User_32

DawnC on May 14, 2010, at 10:41PM – #15

So what do you do with your driver's license guest #4.

This is awesome, I'm all for it and can't wait to get one.


Eric Richardson () on May 15, 2010, at 04:19PM – #16

Guest 11: Check the for signup times. The signups have been taking place in the Historic Core, but they're open to all Downtown residents.

Today and tomorrow they should be there 11am - 7pm.


Jamie DeFrisco on May 15, 2010, at 04:24PM – #17

The card sounds like a good idea. It's a great way to promote residents to visit local places.

Although if anyone dares to call me a hipster I will give them a piece of my mind.


Julie Rico on May 15, 2010, at 05:40PM – #18

Weeneez will be happy to honor this card for discounts to downtown residents. 10% off any lunch order works for us! Our breakfasts are soooo cheap already no need for a discount. Stop by Weeneez with your card and get a discount! Cool....:)


Guest 7

Guest on May 15, 2010, at 07:54PM – #19

There's no reason the issuers of these cards need to know the building and then print the building on the card once proof of residency has been established.


User_32

crystal on May 16, 2010, at 10:04AM – #20

I don't think it has bdg just neighborhood on the card. They use bdg to verify you live dtwn and deliver it that way.

Great idea! Can't wait.


Veronica Harrington-Myers on May 16, 2010, at 08:03PM – #21

Re: Jaime DeFrisco - Hipster!

j/k


Alex Brideau III on May 17, 2010, at 07:58PM – #22

My only beef is that as of tonight the website has not been updated for May 17 and onward. LA Cafe yesterday; but today ... where?


User_32

derblut on May 18, 2010, at 10:39PM – #23

I live in the Historic Core and I'm not a hipster and I still have love for South Park. Btw, I think this is a cool idea.

@Weeneez, I think it's time for some weekend or evening hours? The only time I've been able to have a hot dog there was during artwalk.


Guest 7

Guest on May 19, 2010, at 12:57AM – #24

Is Weeneez ever open? Seriously. Maybe they should be evicted so a good restaurant can go in there that has real hours. a restaurant not called Weeneez.

It's easy to dump on South Park, for so many reasons, but sometimes I get envious that's it's farther from the drugged out zombies of Broadway etc and the amateur drinkers up and down spring street. Then again, there is that whole purple walking mall disaster


Julie Rico on May 20, 2010, at 05:26PM – #25

Weeneez is open from 10am till 3pm mon-fri. Weeneez is contiguous with the Must Bar. Well if Weeneez did not exist neither would the Must, in that spot. Also, I am very involved with organizing things in the community of local artists. Recently, organizing a fundraiser for local artist Richard Godfrey. Also, I curate the MUST area with new artists rotating. I also help other artists communities in the area. I am working hard with the downtown community on various projects most of the time. So although Weeneez is not open all of the time. I am always working for the community in one way or another. I hope you enjoy Weeneez one day while we are there. We have excellent chili and gourmet hot dogs from New Jersey and Chicago. We make our own homemade chili. Its awesome!


Don Garza on May 20, 2010, at 09:10PM – #26

I eat the organic chili at weenez and Julie is kind enough to add olive oil on it for me. It is the best place to go to get good breakfasts and that organic chili is awesome...Now that I have my own iron skillet I will be doing most of my cooking now and then and have been fighting the urge to hit Weenez for the chili.

Thanks Julie for the Godfrey Fundraiser. I have been a part of fundraisers and Julie Rico did a great job on that one. It was very successful. I mean very. If you want to raise money for a god cause I would suggest asking Julie in as a consultant.

By the way Weenez was a catalyst for other businesses in the area. She opened when no one wanted to open downtown.


Don Garza on May 20, 2010, at 09:12PM – #27

oh yeah! the reason I am posting , sign me up! Too bad I am no longer technically living in skid row , would have loved to have had a card that had the SKID ROW moniker on it.


Guest 8

Guest on May 21, 2010, at 08:09AM – #28

Yo Yo Yo! A couple of us signed up on the first day you were giving out the cards...when do you deliver them to us? I never leave downtown and I would like to start reaping the benefits of the DTLARC!!!!!!!!!!!!


Eric Richardson () on May 21, 2010, at 08:20AM – #29

I saw Josh on Wednesday and he said that card deliveries were getting set to start within the next day or two.

He also thought the next card signups would be over in the Arts District. Expect to hear about that either today or over the weekend.


Guest 9

Guest on May 21, 2010, at 12:15PM – #30

Eric R = <3


User_32

LAofAnaheim on May 28, 2010, at 08:08PM – #31

I went to Starbucks in South Park at 4 pm today, and I didn't see the card signups. The lady at the Starbucks counter confirmed the person left earlier. The website said sign-ups would be between 11 am and 5 pm on Friday. Watsupwitdat? Hopefully, the hours are honored next time so I can register. I love the concept and look forward to getting my own card.


Guest 10

Guest on June 10, 2010, at 08:38PM – #32

WARNING

This card could be a scam. I have not gotten my card and I gave my info and took my picture now about 3 weeks ago at LA Cafe.

They keep saying they'll come but they never do. Plus they don't communicate.

Did we all get scammed?

Concerned Downtowner


Eric Richardson () on June 10, 2010, at 09:40PM – #33

Guest: I got my card this week. I'd say blame a healthy response and a lack of preparation for it, not anything nefarious.


Guest 10

Guest on June 15, 2010, at 08:53PM – #34

We got our cards today! They're pretty cool, other than the fact that they list our building, Santa Fe on 6th and Main, as a "Arts District".

But thanks guys, they're cool all the same.

Chad


User_32

on June 01, 2011, at 03:10PM – #35

It's been about a year since this program started; how's it working out? Is it useful for residents who got the card? Are the businesses using it?

I meant to get one then and kept missing them so never did, and now I'd like to know...



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