City Looking to Resuscitate BID Project

BOSTON-The business community’s fight for a Business Improvement District here in Downtown Crossing is being taken up by Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s administration. The BID would be similar to those operated in other cities, such as New York. Susan Elsbree, spokeswoman for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, did not return calls by presstime but she reportedly says that administration officials are developing a proposal they hope will win over BID opponents.

The BID process began back in 1997 when businesses started fighting to establish the district in the heart of the city between Court, Tremont, Devonshire and Kneeland streets. The Boston City Council approved of the BID here two years later but it ran into trouble shortly thereafter among local property owners who objected to the way it would be funded. The Boston Police Union also objected because the private security personnel the BID would hire could cost police jobs.

A BID has to originate from state law because property owners in the district need to be legally compelled to pay for BID services. Massachusetts has a BID law but currently only two cities–Springfield and Hyannis–have established BIDs. A certain number of businesses in the district have to agree to its creation and Massachusetts has an opt-out clause that allows businesses within the BID not to be part of the district if they so choose.