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Business & Tech

EP's Business Improvement District: Surviving Cuts in City Services

Council member Eric Garcetti helped create momentum behind an Echo Park "business improvement district." Where do things stand now?

A campaign headed by the Echo Park Chamber of Commerce in 2009 helped Council District 13 rep Eric Garcetti push through a motion to create a business improvement district in Echo Park.

That happened in 2010. What's going on now?

For the past three months, consultant Lorena Parker and her team have been surveying the streets of Echo Park: They have been talking with business owners, attending general meetings, “identifying district boundaries” and assessing the “quality of life” issues.

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As far as that “quality of life” is concerned, the district's goal is to improve it. Parker cites “graffiti removal, trash removal, sidewalk cleaning, beautification” and removal of the posters that “cause blight in the area” as  part the district's agenda, as well as procuring “additional security in the area.”

Parker brings with her a team of three professionals from Sacramento, at an estimated price tag of at least $80,000--paid for through city funds as well as Chamber of Commerce monies.

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As far as the business improvement district's boundaries are concerned, Parker cites the "commercial areas along Glendale Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Alvarado Street" as the "major areas." 

Parker explains that she and her team are currently assessing the cost of all these possible services. Once that is finished, they will take the figures back to the business owners of Echo Park.

“We’re going to look to see what the cost of all of those services are together and see if that’s what the actual group wants.' she said.

"The majority of them need to sign the petition and agree to them. Once the district is formed, the assessment will get paid through their property tax bill.”

“The outreach will be ongoing for the next several months,” said Parker. "The Echo Park Chamber of Commerce has been very active in facilitating this whole process.”

Mitchell Frank, president of the Chamber, says that “years ago” he was approached by “members of the Neighborhood Council, Eric Garcetti, District 13, and members of the LAPD's Northeast Divisionos to form a BID.”

Frank notes that the city is cutting its budget from three or four years ago.

"We're trying to find out what actual property owners are interested in pick up where the city services leave off and bring up quality of life issues,” he said.

To learn more about Echo Park's propsed business improvement district, you can attend the upcoming Chamber of Commerce meeting, which will be held on July 21 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at It's Thai Hometaurant 1311 N. Glendale Blvd. 90026.

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