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Hartford BID Reauthorized For New Term

By Andy Hart

July 18, 2013

Taxable property owners in Downtown and a portion of Asylum Hill recently voted in a city referendum to reauthorize the Hartford Business Improvement District (BID). Hartford Town and City Clerk John Bazzano announced the results early Thursday evening after the ballots were opened and counted. Support from more than 50% of the actual properties representing more than 50% of the assessed value was needed to pass the referendum. According to results released by Bazzano, 66% of the properties in the District voted in favor of renewing the BID. These properties represented more than 88% of the assessed value of the District. Of the 142 ballots returned, 138 properties voted ‘yes’ to support renewal and 4 properties voted ‘no.’

The Hartford BID is now reauthorized for a new term commencing with a general meeting of the property owners that will be held later this summer.

BID Executive Director Michael Zaleski thanked the taxable property owners of the District. Zaleski stated, “The property owners of Downtown Hartford and Asylum Hill showed in this vote that they are willing to make an additional investment in the city and in the BID. We received the endorsement of property owners large and small and are humbled by this overwhelming show of support.”

Zaleski noted that strong support from the City of Hartford, specifically Mayor Pedro E. Segarra and members of the Court of Common Council, made the successful referendum possible. He also cited the strong relationship that the BID has developed with the Hartford Police Department and Department of Public Works.

Business improvement districts are public/private partnerships that provide enhanced services within a defined commercial area. More than 1,000 cities nationwide have turned to the BID model to provide supplementary clean, safe and promotional programs in their business district. In Connecticut, Stamford, Danbury, New Haven, Bridgeport, New Britain, Manchester and Hartford’s Park Street all have viable business improvement districts.

Hartford Business Improvement District Mission Statement: The mission of the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID) is to bring about positive and lasting change by enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life within the District. Working collectively with the Mayor’s Office, Police Department and Public Works Department, as well as the more than 100 property owners and other organizations within the District, HBID will accomplish its mission through initiatives that will create a safer, cleaner and more attractive environment for employees, visitors and residents that frequent the District.

For more information on the Hartford Business Improvement District, please visit www.hartfordbid.com.