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St
Clair West BIA - Questions & Answers
What
is a BIA and what are the benefits?
Where
is the St Clair West BIA?
What
other BIAs are on St Clair?
What
do residents in the area think?
Is
there a cost to becoming part of a BIA?
Why
join the St Clair West BIA?
What
does the BIA expansion have to do with the streetcar issue?
If
we join, when would we become a part of the plans and programs being developed
for St Clair?
What
would the expanded BIA be called?
What
needs to happen to make this possible?
Why
now?
What
is a BIA and what are the benefits?
A
Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of local business
people and property owners who work in partnership with the City to
enhance their business area. This is accomplished through street and
sidewalk beautification, marketing and promotional campaigns, street
festivals and implementation of crime prevention strategies. BIAs also
act as a unified voice on behalf of its membership.
For additional information please refer to the booklet ‘Business Improvement
Areas – Strengthening local neighbourhoods’ published by Toronto Economic
Development.
You can also visit the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas
(TABIA) website for additional information (www.toronto-bia.com) as
well as refer to the information provided.
There are now 47 BIAs in Toronto and more on the way.
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Where is the St Clair West BIA?
The St Clair West BIA was formed 5 years ago and runs along St Clair
from Westmount to Glenholme. There are approximately 50 member businesses.
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What other BIAs are on St Clair?
Including St Clair West, there are five BIAs on St Clair:
Wychwood Heights BIA, which was formed last year, runs from the Loblaws
just east of Bathurst to Christie.
Hillcrest Village BIA runs from Christie to Winona
St Clair West BIA runs from Glenholme to Westmount
Corso Italia BIA runs from Westmount to Caledonia
St Clair Gardens BIA runs from Caledonia to Old Weston Rd.
The St Clair Gardens BIA is expanding this year to include the other side
of Old Weston Rd and the Delta Bingo.
The St Clair West, Corso Italia and St Clair Gardens BIAs are also part
of the St Clair Revitalization Committee (SWRC) which is pursuing broader
economic and social development initiatives.
Hillcrest Village and Wychwood Heights have also started a revitalization
effort – and there is discussion of having the two efforts join up.
There is also the Forest Hill Village BIA on Spadina Road just north
of St Clair – the first area in Canada to offer free wireless Internet
throughout the area.
The area between Winona and Glenholme is now the only area along the
main commercial area of St Clair that is not included in a BIA.
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What
do residents in the area think?
Residents and residents’ group have continually expressed concern about
the area and would like to see improvements which would encourage more
active local shopping. They have even taken active measures to help make
this come about, such as funding street lighting.
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Is there a cost to becoming part of a BIA?
Yes, but it is up to you to decide how much. The BIA establishes a
budget at their Annual General Meeting, which is then sent to City Council
for approval. The amount is then pro-rated for each business based on
their tax assessment and collected and administered by the City. We are
currently working on a levy schedule based on different budget levels
so that you will have a better idea of the numbers.
It should be noted that the City helps supplement the BIA levy with
capital funding programs (where they match the funds paid out by the BIA
for streetscape improvements) as well as other grant programs, such as
the Façade Improvement Program (see BIA booklet for more information).
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Why join the St Clair West BIA?
It is simpler to expand the BIA then to start a new one and the St
Clair West BIA has taken the initiative to have you join them. This would
also mean the newly expanded BIA would all be in one City Ward (Ward 17
– Davenport) which starts at Winona.
Councillor Cesar Palacio supports the expansion effort and his office
is working to facilitate its success.
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What does the BIA expansion have to
do with the streetcar issue?
As an organized body, the BIA has a voice in the discussions and the
opportunity to lobby the City to ensure its interests are addressed, such
as advocating for more parking.
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If we join, when would we become a part
of the plans and programs being developed for St Clair?
There are a few other steps that will have to be taken before the expanded
area could become part of SWRC or other revitalization plans and programs,
such as the Façade Improvement Program. The first step is to become part
of the BIA.
However, as part of the BIA, the expanded area would immediately have
the opportunity to participate in BIA initiatives such as the capital-funding
program.
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What would the expanded BIA be called?
That is up to the members of the expanded BIA. If there is interest
in changing the name then steps can be taken to bring that about.
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What needs to happen to make this possible?
There is a lengthy process involved and we need to move as quickly
as possible to ensure the expansion can take effect for 2005. However,
we will only proceed if there is strong support for this initiative.
The first step is to form a BIA Expansion Steering Committee (BESC).
By joining the committee you indicate your support for the initiative
and that you are prepared to encourage others to support it as well. We
are working to have a meeting of interested parties some time next week.
If you would like to join please let us know by contacting Tony Bolla
(416-876-6908 – tony@mystclair.com
)
The next step is to organize a Public Meeting at which business owners/operators
and property owners will have an opportunity to discuss the issue more
fully. The City will prepare a report of that meeting and if they feel
there is sufficient support will recommend to City Council that the expansion
be pursued. City Council will then request that the City Clerk’s office
conduct a formal poll. The results of the poll are then included in a
report to City Council where it is decided whether the expansion will
be granted. The expansion would then be formalized at an Annual General
Meeting, which would be held in late October, at which time the budget
for 2005 would also be presented for approval.
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There are a lot of things happening
on St Clair in the next few years, starting with the streetcar track
re-construction in 2005 and the associated implications for streetscape
changes and parking. The areas on either side of the ‘gap’ will see
continual improvements to streetscapes, involvement in festivals and
other activities and so this area will gradually fall further and further
behind. If not now, then when?
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