Re: Uptown plan raises too many questions, In My Opinion, The Record, Jan. 31.
It is unfortunate that in his recent opinion piece in this newspaper, Mr. Crosty finds it necessary to spread misinformation about the uptown business community's plan to create a BIA.
The Uptown Business Association is a duly organized and registered society formed to promote business in the uptown area. It is led by a diverse group of business owners and managers. Membership is open to all business and property owners in the uptown area. Our meetings are open to members and follow a democratic format. If Mr. Crosty questions the validity of the organization, he is welcome to attend our meetings. His letter to the editor shows he is rather misinformed about this organization.
The steering group that completed the work behind the BIA proposal consists of representatives of four retail businesses and two property owners. We thoroughly reviewed and discussed options for establishing the most effective mechanism to undertake and fund common initiates to promote the uptown area. The BIA proposal was discussed at two subsequent meetings of the Uptown Business Association last fall, and the membership voted unanimously in favour of creating the BIA.
Detailed information concerning the proposed BIA is contained in the information package that was part of the council report. This information was available to Mr. Crosty for his perusal and illustrates the work of many hard-working individuals.
The proposed BIA area consists of the commercial properties in the uptown area from Fifth Avenue to Eighth Avenue, and from Fifth Street to Eighth Street. The area along Sixth Street from Royal
Avenue to Fifth Avenue is not included at this time.
With Mr. Crosty's business located at 239 Sixth St. he is not included in the BIA area. It is ironic that he feels it necessary to criticize the BIA proposal and make unfounded and defamatory accusations toward one individual.
The proposed BIA levy will fund a number of initiatives that can be grouped in four program pillars. Street beautification includes street banners, hanging baskets, and Christmas street lights and decor. Street activation includes funding for events such as Uptown Live. Promotion and marketing will fund common marketing initiatives to attract visitors to the uptown area. And under outreach, we will partner with community groups to fund initiatives that are mutually beneficial.
No administration office will be set up, no staff hired. Instead, with the exception of the mandatory expenses to meet the requirements under the Society Act and the city (like annual audit and filing fees), all proceeds will go to directly fund the programs.
The BIA budget of $117,600 was arrived at after pricing out the cost to properly fund the four program pillars. Spread out over the entire BIA area, this works out to a levy of $32 per month per storefront. That's pretty good value. And yes, Mr. Crosty, Royal City Centre and Westminster Centre, the largest properties in the BIA area, will pay the lion's share of the total budget.
The BIA will accomplish what individual businesses cannot do alone.
The board of directors of the Uptown Business Association of New Westminster: Bart Slotman, Susan Cartwright Coates, Amy Fraser, Curtis Hughes, Marivic Cregan, Laura Veevers
