Downtown Cleveland property owners back renewal of special improvement district

Downtown Cleveland property owners back renewal of special improvement district

By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer

February 04, 2010, 4:45PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Property owners in downtown Cleveland have thrown their support --and their wallets -- behind renewed efforts to make the center city clean, safe and attractive to businesses.

Cleveland's City Council could begin voting this month on legislation to reauthorize a special improvement district, in which property owners pay to support street-cleaning crews, marketing programs and safety escorts for workers and residents. The district, created in 2005 and set to expire this year, runs from West 10th to East 18th streets and from Front to Carnegie avenues.

The Downtown Cleveland Alliance, a nonprofit group that reports to property owners, has been collecting more than $3 million a year from the district. The reauthorization would maintain the district from 2011 through 2015.

Despite the challenging economy, many owners are willing to keep paying. The fees, levied on all owners in the district, are based on property values and the length of property lines. They range from about $45 to $130,000 a year.

The renewal process requires backing from 60 percent of the district. Owners representing 66 percent of the district have responded since the alliance distributed support petitions in October, said Joe Marinucci, the group's president and chief executive.

The city is reviewing those petitions, and City Council could consider the first legislation for the district Feb. 22. The complicated legislative process could be finished by early June.

To prepare for the petition drive, the alliance surveyed property owners, downtown residents and employees. Their response: Keep cleaning up downtown, bring businesses to Euclid Avenue and find tenants for empty office buildings.

Marinucci said the alliance already is working to meet those demands. The group hopes to open a business-development center in the spring and is reviewing proposals from local firms to create a business-focused marketing strategy for downtown.