The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved new outreach guidelines for the potential creation of a Business Improvement District (BIDs) in Old Town on Tuesday night.
Without buy-in from 60% of impacted property owners, previous efforts to get BIDs started in Old Town failed. Consequently, City Council on Tuesday night approved the amended rules stipulating that property owners will now be sent petitions via certified mail, and that their non-response within 30 days will be counted just as if they vote in opposition.
According to the City:
Despite a lengthy petition campaign, OTBA (Old Town Business Association) has noted that a large proportion of the property owners have not responded to the petition. It has also been noted that while some business tenants who will absorb the additional assessment given the nature of their leases have been supportive of a BID, they have absentee property owners who have been unresponsive. City Council directed staff to propose amendments to the Guidelines to allow for additional outreach to such unresponsive property owners in order to encourage them to engage in the petition process. The results from this additional outreach could then be a factor in making a determination as to whether a BID goes forward.
A number of neighborhoods in Alexandria have expressed interest in creating BIDs, including Old Town, the Landmark/West End area and Potomac Yard, according to a city staff report. Once approved, the businesses within that area would see a tax increase to pay for an organized business improvement district with an executive director and staff to promote the area.
Mayor Justin Wilson said that the amended guidelines won’t necessarily impact other future BID efforts, such as at the former home of Landmark Mall.
“If we have a situation in the future in another area where it is obvious that the entity that comes in has unanimous support, like a signature from every single property owner, we don’t need to waste time going through an elaborate process,” Wilson said. “I just I think this is designed to deal with a situation where we’re in, essentially, where we have some doubts.”
Vice Mayor Amy Jackson said she supports BIDs, but that the city needs to improve its communication efforts to increase turnout from participating property owners.
“It would it would be helpful, I would think, to promote what we’re doing instead of trying to (rely on) snail mail as it is,” Jackson said.
Brandon Byrd, owner of Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats (200 Commerce Street), is against the BID and the legislation.
“Imagine if newly elected officials wanted similar amendments and your property was included,” Byrd wrote to City Council. “As a property owner, we should not be required to respond out of fear of retaliation. These seem like a mob tactic under the authoritarian regime of Russia.”
According to the city, the guidelines provide clarity on:
- The legal process by which City Council can put a BID in place
- What materials must be presented by the BID proponent group for City Council consideration
- What assistance the City will provide to a BID proponent group preparing a proposal
- How proposals for BIDs are considered by City Council including timing and other policy thresholds
