Broadway property owners
to vote on improvement district

By Rosanna Herber
Viewpoint Staff Writer

An important vote is taking place over the summer that will impact the future of Broadway-a key commercial corridor adjacent to Curtis Park. The Greater Broadway Partnership has spearheaded the formation of a Property Business Improvement District that would stretch along Broadway from the marina to Highway 99.

The improvement district, to include 345 parcels and 141 property owners, would raise almost $220,000 annually for what would become the Broadway Business Improvement District. Property owners will vote on whether they want this special improvement district, which will assess them five cents per square foot of each parcel.

"If property owners approve the improvement district, you will see more emphasis on revitalizing the business district on Broadway," said Teresa Rocha, a member of the Greater Broadway Partnership board.

Money raised will be spent on more security, cleaning up the area, stricter code enforcement, removing graffiti and advocating on behalf of the property owners located on the Broadway Corridor, according to Rocha. If approved, a governing board of property owners will decide how the funds raised will be spent. The dollars collected from the assessment are intended to augment rather than replace existing city services.

"This is a great opportunity for the businesses on Broadway, but also for the Curtis Park, Land Park and Southside Park neighborhoods that are contiguous to the improvement district," said Rocha. "We are very excited about the opportunity to make Broadway a destination. This will be good not only for the neighborhood customer base, but also for the employees who work in the area."

The expectation is that the effort will revitalize existing businesses and also attract new services that neighbors would like to see closer to their homes. If the improvement district is approved, the Greater Broadway Partnership will continue its mission to assist and represent businesses and citizens in the Broadway corridor.

Many of the Broadway businesses are tenants, not property owners. While the district will be a voice to represent property owners, the two organizations-the new improvement district and Broadway Partnership-will collaborate on projects of mutual interest. Both organizations will also focus attention on parking issues and traffic concerns along Broadway.

"The creation of the new district would represent a significant investment by the property owners in the future of Broadway," said Rocha, who is confident the improvement district will pass.

"When the improvement district becomes a reality, we will have the opportunity to build on the character of the Broadway corridor and make it more appealing to its neighborhood customer base," she added. The outcome of the vote is expected by summer's end.

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