Business Improvement District Plans Detailed

At their Sept. 15 meeting, Springfield's Township Committee heard details about the plans to create a Special Improvement District for Springfield's downtown.

Under the terms of the Business Improvement District plan, businesses in the district collectively put forth resources for physical improvements and promotional work and other efforts as a sweeping effort to promote and attract business in Springfield's downtown.

After an initial investment from the government—which officials said will be recouped once its funding mechanism kicks in—the BID work will be funded by a tax assessment of the business and property owners in the improvement district.

In August, Springfield hired Beth Lippman, a business consultant who has established business improvements in municipalities like Livingston and Pompton Lakes, to oversee the non-profit SID for a $12,000 fee.

Along with an advisory board appointed by the Township Committee, Lippman will steer the public/private partnership in a not yet formulated strategic plan to turn around Springfield's beleaguered downtown shopping district.

The tax assessment funding the BID will be automatically assessed from property owners in the designated district; they would not have a choice of whether or not to pay it. The burden of payment should not be too onerous, though.

"In relative to what they're paying, it's a low assessment," Lippman told the Committee.

Littered with empty storefronts, Springfield's downtown has been a longstanding and visible issue. In addition to citing the general economic downturn's overall effect on businesses, officials have said that some downtown business and property owners have been slow to make the physical improvements to buildings necessary to attract customers and businesses.

Hearing Lippman's presentation, officials and members of the public expressed optimism about the possibilities presented by the BID.