In Old Town Alexandria, there is a proposed business improvement district (BID) that requires the support of 60% of properties within the designated zone in order to be approved. However, a recent change may exclude property owners who do not participate from this requirement. City Council member John Chapman noted that after reaching out to over 200 property owners about the Old Town BID, many did not respond either in favor or against the proposal.
The intention is to allow those who have not expressed their opinion on the matter to have another chance to do so before being excluded. By not counting unresponsive property owners, the proposed BID stands a better chance of gaining approval. This change comes after many City Council members expressed their support for it, emphasizing the importance of engaging with property owners who have not yet weighed in on the proposal. The goal is to eliminate any negative impact from those who do not participate in the approval process for the BID.
Although past attempts to establish the BID have met opposition from the community, many council members shared that they have received feedback from businesses supporting the idea but facing challenges due to absentee property owners who do not provide their input. To address this issue and ensure all relevant stakeholders are given an opportunity to contribute to decision-making regarding the BID in Old Town Alexandria, city council members are enhancing outreach efforts.
