What are Business Improvement Districts?

Business Improvement Districts lies under the example of partnerships that are formed with the main aim of the provision of additional services to businesses under a selected geographic region. This businesses act as a means through which the local businesses are involved in activities that aim at improving the quality of their business environment and benefiting the business community at large. In most cases, the Business Improvement District do form an alliance with the local authorities, working together to achieve an optimal working environment in the local trading environment that is free from all sort of distraction that can discourage regular and potential customers from buying in the business district (Houstoun 2003).

The partnership is mainly established by a business ratepayer, the local authority or a firm which aims at developing the district area through which several businesses operate. For a successful establishment of Business Improvement District, there has to be a proposer whose primary role is to come up with a proposal for the business district and submit it to the local authorities (Ward 2006).  Other than the proposal the proposed need also to deliver a plan of activities for the district and show clearly how his proposal with bringing more benefit to the district as compared to its current situation. The proposed will achieve this by setting out the services that are to be provided. They should also give a clear definition of the scope and size of the business district. The proposal should also clarify who is liable for the levy to be charged in an attempt to fund the upcoming project and services, the total amount of levy that is to be collected and means of how it will be calculated (McCann and Ward 2011).

This will call for a vote to determine whether the scheme is valid enough to be put forward. Every business is entitled to a single vote. The local authorities are the one tasked with managing the ballot process. There are instances where the local authorities are not of the idea presented by the proposed and lies with the opinion that the proposal presented by the Business Improvement District may cause chaos and does conflict with existing set policies such as the proposal placing a huge financial burden to the taxpayers or maybe the set levy rate is exorbitant and unjust, the local authorities may decide to veto the proposal. However, if it feels that the proposed Business Improvement District proposal will bear in more benefits that hard and it is viable for the development of the business region, it gives a got a head for the voting process (Sandford 2013).  In the event of voting a successful vote means that majority of the cast votes were for the proposed proposal. On the event where the Business Improvement District is set and running levy is charged on every business that lies within its jurisdiction and this is regardless of whether the businesses vote in the ballot or did vote against the proposal put forward by the proposed. In the case where a significant breach of rules was noted in the voting process, the proposer has the mandate to request the balloting process void and submits this to the local government and the community secretary of state.

Process of Formation

Business Improvement District operates in a selected geographical region, in which all forms of businesses be its marketing and selling, servicing business, manufacturing, and processing pay a certain amount of levy as per the stipulated rate payments. This levy is charged in addition to the normal rate bills that the business is liable for and in most cases the business pays the whole amount as a whole with no clear distinction between the two. However, some business prefers paying the two forms of charges separately as they help in documented preparation of the business’s annual account. This levy charged is mainly used to bring in new development and to improve on the ongoing ones in the stipulated district where these businesses are geographically positioned (Poulida and Constantinou 2012). A major characteristic of the development under carried arising from the levy is that the is no limit on the number and size of the project or services that are to be achieved in the selected business district through the Business Improvement District. However, not just any project or service provision could be undertaken in the district. They mainly focus on those that have an additional value say in the service created, or a project develops that is going to benefit positively all those falling under the selected business district. This by itself seems like a mean of an alliance with the local authorities which is aimed at improving the quality of life and the business environment as a whole in the business district (Schaller and Modan 2005).  This improvement can be of various forms for example the buffing up of security say by purchasing of more advanced security alert technology to ensure a peaceful business environment to both the buyers and the sellers, cleaning of the environment say by purchasing of more garbage collecting trucks and increasing the number of cleaning personnel to create a conducive business environment free of bad odor and trash everywhere. The effort can also be attributed to environmental measure where they may decide to decorate the business district by vegetating the environment to provide an attractive site to buyers (Peel et al., 2009).

Business Improvement District partnerships have been involved in some controversies that surround them. Various factors have been involved in these controversies. Some have been overcome while other have remained a disturbing problem to most of the businesses. These include aspects such as:

Some Business Improvement Districts donor live up to their expectation. They do not operate in providing a better business environment, the one they stated in the proposal and have turned out to be a business venture to the proposed and of course with association with the local authorities. They have accomplished this by increasing the size of the BID hence increasing the number of professionals such as analysts, planners, and managers. In an attempt to gain even more they introduce ghost professional so that they gain much more from the levy they get from businesses (Justice and Skelcher 2009).

Voting Process

This is in fact where there is unequal residential representation in the board and majority of the board members come from a specific business location. When important matters that require representation from the unrepresented business location will go unnoticed and thus deterioration of the business environment leading to poor business activities. This will lead to a reduction in buying and selling of commodities which may lead to losses and reduced profitability income and yet they are included when it comes to levy payment. The board can turn a blind eye on the issue when the issue of representation has not been formulated properly by the proposed in their proposal (Osseo-Asare et al., 2007).

This contradiction arises when there is an inherent contradiction in the Business Improvement Development phenomenon. The voting in of the proposal or the board members can be viewed differently by different business people. Some can say the voting process was undemocratic and only favor certain types of businesses or maybe businesses in the specific region only. These group may protest for reform in the board governing the Business Improvement Development so that they can accept the equity of profitability the organization is going to give them. Some may have a varied opinion on the voting schemes and decide that if the weighted voting scheme is not put into practice, they will be disadvantaged as it will diminish incentive owned by big property owners. The lack of incentive has posed a challenge to the formation of various Business Improvement Development projects as there is no co-relation among the business members (Ward 2007).

The BID faces controversies regarding its historical development and economic and political grounds.  This is seen when more question than answers has been raised regarding its purpose. Whether or not it will have a significant economic advantage. Issues have been raised regarding its accountability, democracy and the measures taken in the regulation of the available space. Political influence has also been inducing in the corporation where there are aspects of favors based on political grounds (Wang et al., 2008).  The issue of governance has also brought up some controversies when it comes to the association management, specialization and the sharing of power among the committee members. This often results when it comes to sharing of powers where different committee members may have divided believed pertaining certain position and its roles, duties, and powers (Morcol et al., 2008).

Controversies

The impact of Sunderland BID has been noted worldwide by many. To get a glimpse of the impact special background information is crucial. Sunderland BID has conducted its campaign successfully with members exercising democracy till the ballot day. The board has also commissioned a teamwork to work for five years over the specified boundary. To foster their effectiveness in business administration, Sunderland BID has created their brand and identity over the town. Governed by a board of eighteen members the corporation puts forward arrangements that are within the legal framework as it exercises its governance (Brooks 2008).

The impacts of Sunderland BID are:

The BID has been working with the city’s central police to reduce crime rates in the city. They have done this by contributing to a high visibility policing. Since its launch three years ago the city has reported a reduction in crime rate by ten percent. Sunderland BID also introduced radio system which provided convenient access to the police department. They also beefed up security by introducing more CCTV cameras. To ensure the security of business goods BID has introduced SelectaDNA system of marking for valuable goods in an attempt to reduce domestic burglary. BID also has commissioned several BID rapid response lines that deal with unacceptable behavior in their community. The organization has also improved on street lighting as a precautionary measure.

The Corporation has devoted its effort to working with the city’s wholesalers and retailers in an attempt to uphold calendar of events aimed at raising the city’s profile and increase the number of visitors who intern turn to be potential buyers. For example, in Preston alone, there were over two hundred and thirty visitors who visited the city an event organized by BID between the year 2009 to 2012 (Cook 2008).  To achieve this Sunderland BID organized food and drink festivals, organizing themed markets that are aimed at increasing the retailer sales, holding of Christmas campaign in the city center that attracted potential customers among others. The BID also did conduct meeting to ensure that the promotion that they are carrying out have hit a significant mark and discussion on any form of improvements that could be done to improve on the success of events. The BID also did go online through the advertisement of their businesses over their website. They included a current update of the city event and fun activities that the visitors will form part of. To ensure loyalty Sunderland BID created a city square brand that was used on each BID projects. This was aimed at maximizing the media presence and proved valuable in the marketing campaign to buyers lying on the city and its outskirts. The corporation also came up with their BID app that will have all the updated knowledge of any promotional campaign, event, products, sales and much more that helped in spreading and marketing its products. They also created creative materials used in marketing such as taking advantage of the media through promotion and advertisement, coming up with brochures, online marketing on their website. By so doing they were sure they had captured the attention of almost all buyers

Unequal Residential Representation

Sunderland BID indulged in cleaning exercises within the city. Aspects such as removing fly posters and cleaning graffiti that is with this a short distance to their business premises. They also conducted greening exercise within its CBD in an attempt to create an attractive environment that is homely to all. Their efforts were also noted in furniture there within the streets. They also took a step in covering ‘empty’ places with graphical designs thus making the streets even more attractive to their visitors. They also indulged in ground maintenance activities by weeding out the unwanted and tiding the litter (Grossman 2008).

Sunderland BID took advantage of the evening hours where most shops are closing. They did this by opening up an after work sale from five in the evening to late midnight with live music. They also carried out promotion in live clubs and pubs. This majorly attracted the youth as they are actively involved in restaurants and bars, and there is in fact increased sale of commodities when compared to when there were not night sales.

The BID Corporation did make their city know and defined its potential through holding up on activities and events all through summer and winter, activities such as sponsoring minister sanctuary with fantastic food and drink events accompanied by music did attract many to the city. Holding on festivals such as the African festivals such as the marking of the arrival of the king lion. Street at was to an even that was highly commemorated in the city and masses of the crowd arrived to witness the spectacular talents as well (Hoyt 2004).  Taking of photos and videos also attracted multitude to the graffiti and art sites. Taking advantage of the local VIBE magazine was also a brilliant move by BID as it created awareness and put the city on the map. Most of the event were made known to those within and outside the city through a popular magazine in addition to the home website, media and promotional campaigns (Grossman 2010).

The Sunderland BID worked hand in hand with the UNITED kingdom’s champion group having consulted with their design audit to campaign for changes to be made in matters regarding to the way the street scenes and design matters of the city hold this was successfully adopted as we can now see that there are a number of adjustments made to bridge shopping centres since their ease of access has been tremendously improved. This is an advantage especially for the old and the sick who require using the least amount of effort to reach these shopping malls. BID has also engaged in the creation of street scene guidance and an improvement in the technical standards in the city with a perfect example being signage. There was also the plan to change the design setting of Keel Squire to make it more spacious in the time of events so as to accommodate an even larger crowd (Beatham 2003).

Contradiction in the Business Improvement Development Phenomenon

For long historical building have been a famous tourist attraction site. Mostly because it gives a clue of the ancient technology used in the construction and maintenance of building structures of the times. Its acts as a yardstick to measure the scientific and technological advancement over the years. However, despite their numerous benefits, there are also some drawbacks associated with this old and historical building that has been known to discourage tourism attraction to them. This historic site has for one been known to act as the among the main site that gives a description of culture and the passage of heritage through building construction. The historic buildings have been used to attract great masses of tourists who have turned the place into fantastic resting points (Lourenço et al., 2010).  Business has been able to thrive around these historical building especially the service industry that is there ready to serve the tourists who have to find comfort in their leisure time to relax in these historical sites. Taking the European Grand Take for example is an ideal example of a historical point that has attracted a huge population of tourists to witness and learn about the culture of their great grandparents.

The huge population of tourists attracted to these historical building has attracted industries especially those in the service department. The government earns a substantial amount of revenue by charging taxes to the individual firms engaging in the provision of goods and services. The government also earns revenue through the fee it charges during gate passes to access the historical building premises. This revenue is by far used by the government to ensure economic grow of the country by engaging in developmental activities or the provision of social utilities to its citizens. Taking, for example, the historic Greek building like the castle of Mytilene has by far been considered among the best historic building that has helped the town in the generation of revenue (Bramwell 2011).

Most of the historic building, from the very aspect of their design and the types of tools and equipment that is safely guarded into the building, have given a clue on the cultural practices of the people living in the community at the time the building was constructed. Since most of the historic building have been preserved in their natural environment, they further give clues on the uses of these tools given the environment that was in existence at the time. Giving an example of Hylton Castle a lot can be learned from the cultural practices of the community living in the area given the building design by itself. This has attracted so many tourists who have a curiosity of how our culture is evolving and helps answer them what did we engage in and why and relating this fact to the present cultural practice they can predict the future form of culture.

Historical Development and Economic and Political Grounds

Historic buildings have been known to improve a town’s profile to the next level. In fact, some town has developed as a result of tourism activities which have come to view the historical sites and buildings. They have transformed these towns to leisure points where they can relax and enjoy their leisure. Events have also been purposefully held in these historic sites in the commemoration of past achievements. The rise of service industries such as foods and beverage motels in the historic site has also been noted. These are so especially if the building is receiving massive tourism visits to the town. The city of Abilene has greatly benefited from this due to the presence of much historical building within and around the city.

The historic building that has had massive visits have been associated with economic development around the historic site. The rise of town as a consequential emergence of industries such as the food and beverage, hotel and catering and marketing spots forms the essential base through which the exchange of goods and service takes pace. These economic activities around the historic building are the basis through which economic prosperity cherish. Provision of social and infrastructural service like the building of roads, electricity provision and improvement of communication technology by the government and the area will be considered more economically developed (Hjalager and Flagestad 2012).

All of these events happening around the historic building ensures that the historical site has been put to good use. Tourism, leisure and event organization has led to the emergence of social, service and production industries around the historic building that has created more jobs opportunities thus reducing the unemployment rate around the historic building, led to the provision of social services and infrastructural facilities by the government around the region in an attempt to raise tourism attraction rate around the historic building.

Not all activities happening on these historic building and sites have been considered good and harmless. Some of them have brought in more harm than good to the economic, social and cultural preservation of the communities leaving around these historical points. Others have even caused environmental degradation and pollution in this regions. Some of these effects are;

This is a major drawback that historic building tourism has had on the community around the historical region. The interaction between the local community and tourists leads to the exchange of ideas which in result will lead to a change in their way of thinking and then their way of practice (Nuryanti 1996).  Take Africa for example; tourism has eroded their culture and way of life. Communities where they were well groomed now wear like their tourist visitors. An exchange of ideas among this two culture has led to female African to fight for their rights and place in a culture with male chauvinism and dominance in the community for example. The aspect of culture is also seen when the expected growth stages are interfered with where children get to work in town other than staying back with their parent so that they can inherit their properties (Murphy 2013).

Governance

These historic buildings have attracted much more than just tourism. Towns have developed in areas where these historic buildings are. These are due to the improvement of social amenities by the government and its effort in the provision of infrastructural facilities such as communication and road. For the development of the town, there is environmental degradation where the vegetation has to be cut down literally to provide room for the construction process. In most case, this has led to a change in climatic condition as there is no more vegetation to stabilize the environmental condition. These towns have also resulted in increased waste production in the region. Since there is the rise of several service industries such as hotel and catering, there will be increased waste production, such of which are environmentally hazard since they are not biodegradable (Amore 2010). Air pollution around these historical building is evident in cases where manufacturing and service industries that have been established around the town engage in the production of good and services with an enormous emission of hazard gasses to the environment around the historic site. Water pollution too does happen where wastes from these industries may be channeled to water bodies around the historic site. All this is a form of environmental degradation that has been brought about by these historic building sites. A perfect example of this scenario is the Taj Mahal that has been known to have been town to experience the worst air pollution levels in the world.

Since most of these historic sites are buried way deep in remote areas. The government spent a lot more money in the provision of social amenities and infrastructure to the historic building institute in an attempt to attract tourism. However, some of these efforts may go unrewarded as the historic building may not attract as much tourist who would bring in cash compared to the one spent in the provision of these services (Zima 2011).

Taking historical buildings that are buried deep in remote areas. They may be highly inaccessible despite the government efforts. Aspects such as bad roads especially when affected by bad weather, poor communication signals and no major airports may discourage tourism in the area. In some instances, these tourists may opt to stay far away in the town with adequate social amenities such as security as these remote areas may not be the most secure place yet the government may have spent a fortune in buffing up security in the historic building.

Impact of Sunderland BID

St. Andrew Church is presently a Sunderland Anglican parish church. Located in the north of Roker. The church’s first idea of its construction was aired in 1903. The church was meant to serve to take care of the spiritual needs and requirements of local Anglican Christian believers. However, getting this message to the public, they failed to raise the required amount of money to construct the church according to its design. However, a local Sunderland shipbuilder John Priestman and his family decide to contribute to the construction of the church. They promised a substantial amount and lay conditions that the church should be able to accommodate seven hundred sited people who would have a good view of the altar (Dodds 1994).

Edward Schroeder designed the church. He was a University of Cambridge graduate and had joined amount the leading architectural offices of the time. Dating from the 1180s, there were some art and craft movements. These artists had their particular design of the church. However, a number share some common ideas about the design of the church an example being the need to create an architecture whereby the building constructions would blend with the local surrounding environment together with the church resembling the features of the areas’ landscape. However, the real construction work commenced in 1906. The consecration of the building happened in July of 1907. The finished church mainly built of magnesium limestone and the church looks much older that it is supposed to. An attractive feature is its towering reminiscent that resembles the castle keep. Inside the church it is spacious and there is a notable light nave. This is as a result of the great elliptical arches responsible for the nave spanning.

The most attractive part of the church is the sanctuary which is located on the eastern side of the building. The sanctuary is ornate and sumptuous unlike the rest of the church. The east window is magnificent with its glass stained. There is a lovely painted upper stage of the walls together with the doom-shaped ceiling. There is a portray of Adam and Eve, land and sea creatures that make the building more attractive. The ceiling portrays the stars and the moon as if looking up to the heavens (Donaldson 1985). 

At the center of it all is the sun, depicted by the hemispherical fitting of light which displays long colorful rays. The church is considered one of the best in all the English churches given its design and attractive art and craft. 

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