Old Town Alexandria a Business District? Public Meetings Scheduled To Discuss Plans
Proposal focused on improving the experience of employees, residents, and visitors
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Old Town’s oldest business organization, Old Town Business (OTB) is leading the renewed efforts to establish a business improvement service district in Old Town Alexandria. The organization, which has been advocating and hosting programs and events that benefit the community and independent businesses for over 40 years, has been preparing a detailed plan for the business improvement service district, including the district’s boundaries, the service offerings and the governance mechanisms.
Business improvement service districts (BISD) are defined areas in a city or county in which property owners pay an additional, annual special tax (on top of the standard real property taxes) which is utilized to promote and improve the business environment within the BISD. BISD are typically governed by a dedicated board of directors and led by an executive director and key staff. BISDs organize and manage services, activities, and events in the BISD, as well as arrange amenities above and beyond what a city or county would typically provide.
The proposed BISD (to be named the Old Town Business – Business Improvement Service District, or OTB-BISD) focuses on improving the experience for employees, visitors and residents within the boundaries of the OTB-BISD and to protect and grow the economy of the OTB-BISD for the benefit of business owners, property owners and residents.
The proposed boundaries of the OTB-BISD create a limited district area running from the “river to the rails,” which would include parcels that (i) have frontage along King Street between the Potomac River and the King Street Metro; (ii) are east of Union Street, between Queen Street and Wolfe Street; (iii) have frontage on the west side of Union Street between Queen Street and Duke Street; (iv) have frontage along Diagonal Street between King Street and Duke Street or (v) have frontage along the streets which intersect with King Street, between Prince Street and Cameron Street (the north/south component of Cameron Street, at its western end, shall be considered a side street).
In 2017, efforts to form a BISD in Old Town lost steam, however, last year BISD advocates managed to get a new BISD concept and guidelines approved by the City as part of the current City Council’s “Economic Recovery” strategic priority.
Old Town Business is currently in the community engagement phase to inform about the BISD details and the action to sign the petition. OTB is holding a series of public forums (in person and virtual) in February with members of the community to further explain the plans and expected timeframe. Old Town Business plans to begin the formal approval process with Alexandria City Council in March, with the goal of having the OTB-BISD fully approved later this spring.
Members of the Alexandria community are encouraged to register here and attend one of the following public forum dates:
Wednesday, February 15
In Person
8:30 a.m – 9:30 a.m.
Lorien Hotel & Spa
1600 King Street, Alexandria
Virtual Zoom Meeting
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 22
In Person Meetings
8:30 a.m – 9:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m
Lorien Hotel & Spa
1600 King Street, Alexandria
Virtual Zoom Meeting
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
OTB encourages community members to sign the petition in support of the initiative, which you can find here. For more information about the Old Town BISD project visit www.oldtownbusiness.org.
