BID Annual Report Available

Check out the DowntownDC BID’s 2012 Annual Report. It underscores a year of many accomplishments, including the successful renewal of our legislative charter for a new, five-year term through September 2017. The report, covering October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012, highlights BID achievements and goals in key program areas: operations, public space management, infrastructure and sustainability, communications and special events, economic development, and finance and administration.

What the BID accomplished, among other things:

• Collected 180,955 bags of litter and trash and assisted 316,402 citizens with the help of our Downtown Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance employees (SAMs)
• Developed a field asset management mobile app and desktop tool to better identify, assess and track conditions and activity in public space
• Held the first Building Energy Summit to provide property managers and owners with the tools to significantly reduce energy consumption and costs
• Developed and implemented a property manager outreach program
• Welcomed more than 1.5 million people to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the gift of trees from Japan
• Partnered with the DC government on multiple planning/strategy initiatives, including the Five-Year Economic Development Strategy, DC StreetcarFinancing, the Comprehensive Housing Strategy Task Force and the DC Tax Revision Commission
• Established contact with 409 people experiencing homelessness in Downtown, many of whom were engaged several times—an average of 4.5 visits per person

“Once again, because of the dedicated work of our SAMs, other BID staff, partner organizations and agencies, 2012 was a productive year,” said DowntownDC BID Executive Director Richard Bradley.

For the second consecutive year, the Annual Report is available for the iPad as an app which will provide the report in a digital format. The app will be available by the end of this month in the iTunes App Store or at www.downtowndc.org/annualreport.

Among some BID goals going forward:

• Develop improved deployment for SAMs commensurate with Downtown’s expanding nighttime economy, residential housing and emergency management focus
• Continue to enhance the physical environment and pedestrian experience with GIS mapping assistance
• Complete the DC Smarter Business Challenge to include 55 BID businesses that share and commit to smart, sustainable business practices
• Develop an action plan to mitigate congestion in Chinatown.