Hey, everyone, the DowntownDC BID’s charter has been renewed for another five years (fiscal years 2013 through 2017), and this is something to celebrate! Earlier this month, Mayor Vincent C. Gray issued an order extending the term of the Downtown Business Improvement District—set to expire on September 30, 2012—until September 30, 2017.
The city law establishing business improvement districts requires a renewal process every five years. Formed in 1997, the DowntownDC BID was renewed in 2002, 2007, and now 2012. A major step in the latest renewal process began in March when the Board of Directors of the Downtown Business Improvement District Corporation voted to extend the organization’s status as a registered BID and approved a new five-year business plan.
Since its inception, the BID has delivered a high level of daily cleaning, maintenance, safety and hospitality services that property owners, tenants, residents and visitors have come to expect. Our Homeless Services program has moved about 250 homeless persons from Downtown streets since 2008, when we adopted the Housing First model. We work continuously toward upgrading street amenities, promoting sustainability in Downtown building operations and management, growing and diversifying the Downtown economy and bringing investors and consumers to Downtown through branding, events, promotions and communications.
In addition, the BID partners with the DC and federal government, as well as other organizations, to provide premier services to our Downtown members and to support programs that retain and expand businesses. We also provide management services to several affiliated organizations, including the National Cherry Blossom Festival, DC Surface Transit, Inc. (DCST), the Developers’ Roundtable, and the DC BID Council.
In the ensuing years since the BID’s inception, Downtown DC has re-emerged as the cultural and entertainment center of the region. It is once again a place that creates remarkable urban experiences because of its unique role and character. Always looking toward the future, the BID has identified 47 goals and proposed 100 project initiatives for its major program areas—Operations; Public Space Management; Infrastructure & Sustainability; Communications and Special Events; Economic Development; and Finance and Administration—for FY13 through FY17.
The goals are multifaceted and include reducing Downtown crime; shifting maintenance deployment levels as the nighttime economy evolves; establishing new surveillance system standards for buildings and public space; addressing homeless shelter inadequacies; improving communication with, and among, BID members, particularly property owners; enhancing the experience and ease of parking; reducing energy use and costs; and maintaining and attracting new Downtown tenants.
The challenges facing Downtown over the next five years reflect changing contexts and new realities. With this latest renewal, we will be able to maintain competitiveness, continue to add value, and provide private sector leadership, forming and sustaining partnerships with the public sector.
The BID is extremely grateful for the support that we’ve received from the Downtown community over the past 14 years. We look forward to growing our relationships and partnerships and ask that you join us in keeping Downtown DC both successful and relevant.