Plans move forward on downtown Downey improvement district
DOWNEY – Plans for a potential community benefit district (CBD) are now in the hands of property owners, as the City Council gave staff the go-ahead on Tuesday to move forward with efforts that could further revitalize downtown.
Downey is considering a community benefit district to raise money for downtown improvements. Photo by Joan Anderson, DowneyDailyPhotos.com
According to a staff report presented to council members, there has been an increase in demand of services – including street sweeping, steam cleaning, security, and public art, – due to the rapid growth of Downtown Downey.
The creation of a CBD would in theory provide downtown property owners with finances to better control and fund special events, marketing, promotional activities, public space development, security, beautification, property enhancements, and a property owner led governance body for the administration of the services.
If approved, the CBD would raise over $253,000 annually for the downtown.
The district would consist of approximately 10 to 12 square blocks, consisting of 90 parcels and 59 property owners.
It would be generally bounded within parcels on the north side of Burns Avenue, parcels on the west side of La Reina Avenue, parcels on the west side of Brookshire Avenue, and parcels on the north side of 3rd Street / New Street / 4th Street and the parcels fronting the east side of Downey Avenue between 3rd and 4th Street, excluding the undeveloped parcels east of US Bank, but including City Hall.
The city owns property within the new district, which spurred concerns from Mayor Sean Ashton as to how the CBD might be perceived amongst other business owners within the area.
“We’re 18 percent of it technically, but I don’t think we’re doing this for us to control it,” said Ashton. “I want to make sure that if these people are volunteering to be part of this, they’re the ones that have the say as to how the money is spent. That’s my big concern…They’re going to have the say since it’s their money; they’re gonna have the say as to how it’s spent.”
Council member Alex Saab tried to quell the mayor’s worries by clarifying the intent of the CBD.
“The idea is not for the city to control this, because it defeats the whole purpose,” said Saab. “The idea of this is who knows more about the downtown district than the businesses themselves?”
In an interview Wednesday, former mayor and business owner Kirk Cartozian said that he “tends to trust” the process, saying that “it’s worked very well in a lot of cities.”
However, he emphasized that it must be done right. Cartozian is one of the owners of the former Avenue Theater property, which falls within the boundaries of the potential CBD.
“It has to be implemented properly,” said Cartozian. “You need a board or body to make decisions for the benefit of the businesses.”
Council members voted unanimously in favor of the district at Tuesday’s meeting, with Councilmember Fernando Vasquez abstaining. Vasquez owns property within the projected new district.
Staff will now mail out ballots to each property owner within the district, with votes cast returned to the City Clerk.
Votes will be tabulated at a public hearing that is scheduled for July 24.