FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Downtown Property Owners Petition City Council to Create Boston’s First BID
Mayor Menino and Hundreds of Property Owners Support Historic Effort to Revitalize and Reinvigorate Downtown Boston
BOSTON–June 29, 2010: Downtown Boston property owners today formally petitioned the Boston City Council to create Boston’s first Business Improvement District (BID). Supported by Mayor Menino and hundreds of downtown business owners, the BID will strengthen the Downtown Boston business area, set new standards for physical improvements, create a welcoming atmosphere and heighten marketing, promotion and special events.
“I am very proud of the Steering Committee’s efforts in creating Boston’s first BID,” said Mayor Menino. “A Business Improvement District has proven to be successful in other areas across the nation, and I know that Downtown Boston will soon benefit from its establishment in the city.”
After a multi-year effort, which has drawn on numerous interactions with area business owners, non-profit leaders, residents and government officials, petitions were submitted to the City Clerk of Boston on the behalf of the Downtown Boston community. Over the past 25 years, Business Improvement Districts have proven successful in over 1200 large and small communities across the United States. Now, for the first time ever, Boston’s Downtown will benefit from physical improvements, social services and economic developments by creating a BID.
“For over two years our group has been working to harness the energy of property owners, businesses and residents in the Downtown district to stand together and improve our neighborhood,” said John Rattigan, a partner at DLA Piper and co-chair of the BID Steering Committee.
Upon approval by the Boston City Council, the BID will serve to invigorate Downtown Boston by providing the neighborhood with supplemental services including uniformed ambassadors, street cleaning teams, beautification and promotional initiatives, and collaboration and advocacy efforts with municipal agencies and social service organizations. As in other cities across the country, the BID will seek to improve the experience for everyone who works, lives, visits, or goes to school downtown, to attract new business to the area, and to increase the value of all property types in the neighborhood.
“Today marks a crucial milestone in our effort. We now look forward to working with the Boston City Council to consider our petition and take the historic step of creating Boston’s first BID,” said Rosemarie Sansone, BID Campaign Director and President of the Downtown Crossing Partnership.
Additional information regarding the Downtown Boston BID can be found at http://www.bostonbid.org ###
