What might Washington look like in 2034? New merchants in currently vacant storefronts? Improvements to the Square and surrounding streetscapes? These are questions the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) is working to answer.
Under the guidance of Downtown Development Authority Director Brittany Buttrey, a 10-year plan is being hatched to chart a path of improvements to and development of the central business district.
At a morning public meeting December 5th, a group of mainly city property and business owners met for an information session at the Pope Center.
The BID area under discussion includes nearly 100 properties, including many businesses. In year one, BID hopes to fund a limited number of projects, including grants for facade improvements, landscaping and beautification, and public events. Already, grants for storefront improvements have been awarded to four businesses on the Square.
Goals for a second year might include a mobile stage for entertainment events on the Square, new holiday decorations, electronic billboards and a banner program to promote local activities, and a possible local arts program.
In years to come, the BID might propose installation of signage highlighting local points of interest and businesses, as well as organize and promote city-wide events, like a 5K run, art walks, and musical performances.Of course, all this comes at a cost. BID will be funded through a millage rate increase on property owners within the district of up to four mils on assessed value, as well as a possible surcharge on business licenses.
None of the funds will come from the City of Washington, and would be managed by the Downtown Development Authority. Initially those funds would be divided, with half going to economic development, another third to facade and signage improvement, and the remainder to management and administration fees.
One participant, downtown property owner Doug Abramson, pointed out that new taxes “might create a disincentive for new businesses to locate in downtown.”
A management plan has been formulated, and the path forward includes additional public input, presenting the BID proposal for City Council discussion and approval sometime during the first half of 2025; if approved, new tax assessments would go out to affected property owners late in the year.
Of course, as one participant chimed in, only half the City Council represents the portion of the city inside the BID boundaries, and “possibly don’t care” much about pursuing the project.
A second session is scheduled for 5:30 PM December 12 at the Pope Center, and is open to the public.
The Fitzpatrick is a milestone in the revitalization of the downtown business district.
Written by Richard Crabbe
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This been going on for years, a development plan with no results looks good on paper but never no results.
We have been discussing this since I was on and chaired the DDA. Notice all the “might” descriptions. Everyone seems to have ideas about what to do with our downtown, but this is the only way we have ever been able to figure out how to fund it. Even a mil or two increase could make a huge difference, and would be low enough not to make a huge problem for property owners.
For a downtown square like Washington that is on life support, a BID will contribute to pushing new retail and new businesses out. It is already hard enough for our businesses to survive ...they don't need new taxes to pay for signs or more parties on the square.
The "more than 1,000" BIDs aren't in rural communities like Washington. An experienced Economic Development professional would know this and that this is not a priority in economic development for a community like ours.
It's more Potemkin Village chatter by people who are not qualified for their positions.
Bruce Bailey has violated the laws of the State of Georgia and hired his political cronies who do not have experience for their jobs.
He is spending over $300,000 of taxpayer dollars to pay them.
He paid Jerry DeBin $60,000 in hush money and paid himself $25,000 for work he was not qualified to do at an hourly rate higher than what he makes as a nurse.
All of this is illegal, yet our City Councilmen sit in silence at meetings.
New signs and paint and parties won't fix our dying economy. A BID is another effort to mask real issues plaguing Washington.