Election Opportunity

Property Poll Hosting

By Erica Rascón on Oct 20, 2016 in News

Voter registration and polling facilities are a hotbed of activity this fall. With slight additions to your active or vacant real estate property, you can benefit from the buzz.

When it comes to transforming a property into a voter registration or polling center, nowhere has done it up like the hotels of Los Angeles. Several news outlets reported on luxury voting facilities popping up across the city. Among them is Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard.

The hotel offered valet parking to make arrivals and departures easier for voters. Once inside, the soothing melodies of a harpist took the edge off of the commute. The elegant ambiance undoubtedly made the lamb chops and Chinese chicken salad taste even better. Those treats appeased voters while they waited in line. On their way home, voters picked up their “I voted” stickers at the dessert table loaded with delicacies.

The stunning property (pictured, right) made a mark on the minds of guests.  Though the voters live locally, the social exposure makes the hotel a forerunning for voters’ future guests.

Tim Miklaucic has voted at the Luxe Hotel twice now. “It’s unbelievable. It looks like a Beverly Hills spa resort,” he says. “You can’t even compare other polling places.”

If you have a potential site, perhaps a vacant piece of real estate or an interesting space at an active site, there are companies that can transform it into a one-of-a-kind experience.

Made in Lower East Side and Space in the Raw transform available real estate into satisfying, short-term commitments. Such companies facilitate permits, licenses, vendor contracts, event management, security—everything needed to host an event from start to finish.

Though sites like the Luxe hotel have their own appeal, the presence of vendors is what sets the event apart. From musicians, artesian pastry chefs to additional valet and wait staff, the vendors are what make the event.

The same holds true outside of Los Angeles. The Democratic Party office of Denver County experimented with a different approach this season. Rather than simply opening the doors to business as usual, leadership embraced a creative opportunity:

First, City Councilman Paul Lopez coordinated with Mestizos food truck owner Jose Gonzalez in an effort to boost voter registration.  Lopez encouraged Gonzalez to park his food truck at the corner of East 18th Avenue and North Clarkson Street—across the street from the Republican campaign office in Uptown Denver. The position holds political relevance for the city.

Gonzalez and his team encouraged passers-by to vote. And of course, they sold tacos.

The food truck then relocated to the county’s Democratic Party headquarters. Staff continued to encourage voter registration while selling tacos to pedestrians and those waiting in line to register.

The strategy invoked mixed feedback. Mestizos had a presence at sites on both sides of the aisle, which prompted praise from supporters. The company also received death threats.

Gonzalez arrived to work the following day to find that his food truck had been vandalized.

Property damage is a risk that both property owners and vendors must consider in the current political climate.

Gonzalez recalls, “It was the act of it that rattled us a bit. There was some significant damage to the body and in the interior and our equipment. But in terms of preventing us from going on anymore, it certainly wasn’t that severe. We’re going to stay active in the community.”

Mestizos raised enough money to repair the truck and donated the rest to Denver Red Shield.

In spite of the property damage, Gonzalez says the benefits of getting involved in the elections have outweighed the disadvantages.

“One, on the business side, there is the exposure. That’s always going to be a factor. On the other side, there is the opportunity of it,” Gonzalez says. “For us, creating that atmosphere of having a good time, getting involved, and letting our voices be heard is priceless.”

For Gonzalez, the presence of food vendors near registration and polling centers creates an atmosphere that is welcoming, uniting, and supportive. Besides, long lines are more bearable when there is food involved.

“We pick a neutral location or locations to park, where anyone can come to and show unity. If we can do that through food and a positive environment, it will show what we are capable of doing together. That’s the message that we want to deliver.”

Properties of all shapes and sizes may meet local guidelines for polling and registration sites. By collaborating with passionate local vendors the property is transformed from a place to an experience.

Gonzalez explains, “It’s all about the atmosphere that’s created. That is what’s going to keep people interested. That’s what will remind them to stay involved.”