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Downtown BID Unveils On-Street Services

May 23-30, 2007
By The Hartford News

Last Thursday, the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID) unveiled its recently created on-street services for Downtown Hartford and Asylum Hill.

HBID’s Safe and Clean Teams, which will officially hit the streets today, May 23, are expected to create a safer, cleaner and more attractive environment for employees, visitors and residents who frequent the Downtown and Asylum Hill areas. The unveiling was heralded as an “important step in Hartford’s revitalization” by several local officials and luminaries, including Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez and Lawrence R. Gottesdiener, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Northland Investment Corporation, one of HBID’s largest property owners.

“The Hartford BID is an integral piece of the puzzle that will help Hartford continue its reemergence as a great place to live, work and visit,” said Michael Zaleski, Executive Director of HBID. “When our ‘Safe and Clean Team’ hits the streets next Wednesday, property owners, workers, residents, and visitors to Downtown and Asylum Hill will begin to see the kinds of quality of life improvements that entice people and businesses to come to and stay in the city.”

Beginning May 23rd, nine uniformed security ambassadors and six cleaning ambassadors – collectively called the ‘Safe and Clean Team’ – will be working seven days a week on the streets of Downtown and Asylum Hill. Security ambassadors will work in partnership with the Hartford Police Department to provide an additional assuring presence on the streets of the district and serve as additional ‘eyes and ears’ on the street. The cleaning ambassadors will be charged with picking up litter, pulling weeds, painting light poles, removing graffiti and other tasks to clean and beautify the district’s streets. In addition, 200 brand new flower planters will be placed throughout the district.

“The Business Improvement District model has worked successfully in hundreds of cities across the country, and we’re confident that same success will be seen here in Hartford,” said Bert Kaplowitz, Chairwoman of the HBID Board of Commissioners. “In the short term, our investment will pay off in terms of safer, cleaner streets for our employees, business owners, and visitors to the district. In the long run, we expect the services provided by the district will help create an atmosphere and a buzz that will attract more businesses and people to Downtown and Asylum Hill.”

HBID was formed in October 2006 when taxable property owners in Downtown and Asylum Hill voted overwhelmingly in favor of an ordinance to establish the district and have an additional 1 mill tax assessed to all taxable properties within the district in order to fund its efforts. In addition to the assessment, the ordinance allows for a monetary contribution to HBID from the City of Hartford, creating a true public-private partnership.

Further information on the Hartford Business Improvement District is available on the web at www.hartfordbid.com.