9th Street Business Improvement District proposal to be presented at meeting on Thursday

Earlier this year a study was being conducted to see exactly what the community believes needs to be improved on 9th Street and the surrounding areas, including a portion of Washington Avenue.

A meeting is being held on Thursday to present some of the findings, along with a proposal to create a Business Improvement District for this area.

The purpose of creating a BID is to improve the quality of the neighborhood through many different facets. They work to address issues regarding safety and cleanliness and things like the offering of more services and incentives to customers. Property owners receive more support in securing and keeping tenants, and through the BID, their property values will gradually rise with the continuation of improvements. A prime example of another BID is on East Passyunk Avenue, where they work to better the community in the area through events and other changes.

So what exactly does creating a BID cost? According to their studies, they’re proposing a first-year budget of $244,000. Property owners would be required to pay an annual fee of 0.2% of the assessed value of their property, as determined by the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Property Assessment. This includes commercial properties, residential properties with two or more units, vacant lots zoned for commercial or industrial use and 9th Street curb stand owners. Non-profits and schools will also be encouraged to pay in exchange for services through BID.

The $244,000 budget would then go to a variety of different services. This current plan proposes $80,000 in cleaning services, including a newly-hired crew who will assist with litter removal, new trash cans, daily cleaning under curb stands, graffiti removal, power washing and more. $5,000 is budgeted for parking services and $8,000 is for safety improvements like cameras and lighting.

In addition to improving the overall appearance of the area, $20,000 will be going towards promotional costs to bring more customers to the stores and increase foot traffic in the area. This would include a district-wide shopping and dining map for visitors. The remainder of the budget is sectioned off for communication services, district services, outreach support and BID administrative expenses.

The community meeting to present the BID proposal is being held on Thursday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Maron’s Church Hall, 10th & Ellsworth Street. Another meeting will be held in January to present the final proposal for the BID. 

You can read more about the 9th Street and Washington Avenue BID study here.