Q & A: JOE HONESCKO, DOWNTOWN ANAHEIM ASSN.

Where is downtown Anaheim and what does it have to offer? Joe Honescko, the new executive director of the Downtown Anaheim Assn., hopes to answer that question. Honescko, 58, a 20-year Anaheim resident, will lead efforts to promote the redeveloped downtown as a place residents and tourists can shop, dine and visit. Honescko has had a varied career, from overseeing a portfolio of office buildings in Century City to liquidating the assets of savings and loans. He recently spoke to correspondent Debra Cano about his newest challenge: to draw people downtown, off Center Street Promenade south of Lincoln Avenue, where vacant parcels remain and retailers and eateries yearn for a broader customer base.

Q: What is the downtown association?

A: The association was formed by this group of business and property owners to replace the Anaheim Center Assn., put together when the Koll company was involved with development. It’s a nonprofit organization and a private-public partnership. We’re responsible for creating, promoting, and developing and maintaining downtown as a vibrant and diverse center encompassing commercial, cultural, educational, recreational and government uses.

Q: What will be your responsibilities?

A: My job is to enhance the atmosphere that is here now and attract people to the area. I’m also responsible for the maintenance of the common areas. If there’s dirty sidewalks, that’s my problem. My job is to make sure this place doesn’t look sloppy.

Q: What are your ideas to bring people downtown?

A: We need to get the word out that there’s more here than just office buildings. My goal is to develop an atmosphere where the people in the community and surrounding areas would come to an event and would like to return for a future event because they had a good feeling. . . . I can’t tell you how many people have come up and said, ‘I didn’t know this was here.’ That’s what we want to change.

Q: In addition to the farmers market on Thursdays and Saturdays, and free concerts, what are some other coming events?

A: There’s a chili cook-off Sept. 25, the Anaheim Fall Festival and Parade on Oct. 25, and . . . a two-day car sale Nov. 1 and 2. We’re going to be bringing in dealers and cars. It’s going to be a big event and bring in 600 to 800 people a day. We’ve also got some preliminary discussions for next year. We’re talking about doing a farmers market and a street fair in the evening. I’d also like to do a computer fair, almost like a swap meet but with new equipment. Other ideas are antique and collectible sales and a classic car and motorcycle show. It’s easy to put on an event, but the trick is to get people to come to the party.