Examples
One of the highest profile BIDs happens to be located at the "Crossroads of the World" -- Times Square. Formed in 1990, the Times Square BID has an annual budget of $7 million and has been largely credited with revitalizing the Times Square neighborhood. Times Square is probably one of the best examples of how a BID can transform the aesthetics of a neighborhood.
The BID works in collaboration with city agencies, private businesses, community boards and other non-profit organizations in the area.
Times Square BID's major activities include:
Before the BID formed, Times Square was a mecca for all kinds of entertainment, but it was most notably known for being the center of the theater district as well as adult oriented businesses, such as strip bars. One of the BID's first activities was to work with New York City to pass new zoning regulations that would deconcentrate the number of adult-oriented businesses in the neighborhood. As a result, Times Square’s redevelopment has fostered significant private investment in the neighborhood, which has raised property values and created new economic opportunities for small business owners.
Also established in 1990, the Center City District in Philadelphia includes over 2,000 property owners who joined together to establish the CCD. CCD is committed to making downtown Philadelphia safe, clean and attractive. Property owners voted to fund the CCD through mandatory assessments, approximately 6%, paid directly to the CCD in order to help maintain Center City's competitive edge as a regional employment center, a quality place to live, and as a primary visitor destination.
The CCD serves a 100 block area at the center of Philadelphia's business district, from the Liberty Bell to Amtrak's 30th Street Station, that is frequented daily by half a million employees, residents, tourists and shoppers. The CCD supplements municipal services by providing maintenance, public safety, hospitality and promotional programs and capital improvements. The CCD's main activities include:
In addition to its core services, the CCD publishes numerous reports analyzing changes in economic and demographic indicators in the center city area, useful information for existing and prospective businesses. Guides explaining the complex permitting and regulatory processes required for business creation and facade changes are also very useful for downtown business owners.
Association for Portland Progress
APP was founded in 1979 by a group of business leaders who were frustrated that no formal organization existed to focus on the needs of downtown. The founders recognized that any successful metropolitan area needs a strong downtown as its hub, and created an organization that would act as a steward of downtown's growth and vitality.
APP works in partnership with other public and private-sector organizations and businesses to manage issues that impact the central city. APP expecially tries to find solutions to challenges for which there is no clear public or private champion.
Two unique programs which APP conceived have been studied and implemented by many other BIDs across the country. The programs are:
Project Respond
Project Respond is a partnership between APP's Downtown Clean & Safe Program and Mental Health Services West that employs humane, holistic approaches to resolving chronic mental health problems on the streets of the downtown core. Specially-trained counselors assist mentally ill individuals at street-level to access available treatment services and housing options.
Downtown District Attorney
APP began a partnership with the Portland Police Bureau, the District Attorney's office and other partners to create a program to deal with downtown crime and public safety issues. The Downtown D.A. is different from other prosecutors in that the primary emphasis is on crime prevention strategies and community-based problem-solving, as well as prosecution of criminals. The Downtown D.A. works with local law enforcement agencies, community organizations, citizens, businesses and other entities to control crime through trainings, education and networking. A major accomplishment of the Downtown D.A's office has been the expansion of the Drug Free Zone in downtown, a means to legally exclude repeat offenders from public areas by charging them with criminal trespass.