Mon. May 31, 2010
The Downtown BID’s Annual Report shows that the organization relied on its strengths—visioning, stimulating discussions and building coalitions and consensus—to support endeavors that improved street vitality and rejuvenated and spurred economic activity.
“Although the past year was tough, it was productive,” said Richard Bradley, executive director of the Downtown BID. “We worked to get short-term federal assistance for stimulus projects and leveraged partner relationships to encourage plans for long-term projects that would enhance the quality of life. Our overall goal was simple—to continue creating new jobs and opportunities for businesses and residents and enhancing Downtown’s unique identity through exceptional placemaking.”
Among the report’s highlights:
- Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance workers, known as SAMs, continued to perform critical roles, with maintenance teams collecting, on average, 16,579 bags of litter and trash monthly and safety/hospitality teams assisting 345,105 citizens.
- The Downtown BID helped develop a comprehensive $5.5 million streetscape plan that is being implemented in 2010.
- The BID partnered with the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Avenue) to produce the New York Avenue Sculpture Project.
- The Downtown BID worked with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to garner public support for a city streetcar network.
- Working through the District of Columbia Surface Transit, Inc. (DCST), the Downtown BID helped coordinate the DC Circulator’s expansion into more neighborhoods and improve connections to Downtown.
- The Downtown BID identified more than 150 homeless individuals for immediate placement into permanent housing.
- On Inauguration Day, the Downtown SAMs helped greet and guide nearly 2 million visitors; then returned the area to normalcy after the festivities.
The Annual Report is available for download at www.downtowndc.org/annualreport. Hard copies are also available via this link.