Downtown Revitalization Inc. [DRI], in partnership with a growing number of local entities including the VI Territorial Association of Realtors, the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce and the India Association, seeks to launch a new Private Sector Project for the benefit of a full cross-section of the community.
A Town Meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Monday, April 3, at St. Thomas Reformed Church, Nye Gade (one block north of Main Street).
For those interested in helping to stop the downward spiral of the Virgin Islands economy and its quality of life, DRI is proposing the use of a new approach to a private sector controlled and directed development program. The concept is based on the use of the BID [Business Improvement District] model. A BID is an organization of property and business owners in a commercial district that engages in neighborhood improvement.
The BID movement is one of the most important developments in local governance in the last two decades. It is a supplement to public government functions. There are anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 such districts nationwide, and the number grows monthly. BIDs have unleashed an enormous amount of private sector creativity with a goal of changing public problems in new ways.
The following links are examples of effective BIDs: https://www.oldpasadena.org/renewal/2015FEB25_OPMD%20PBID%20Renewal%20Management%20Plan.pdf and their annual report Old Pasadena : About Old Pasadena. Philadelphia’s http://www.oldcitydistrict.org/about-old-city-district and a New York Times article:
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/nyregion/nyc-business-improvement-districts.html.
DRI wants to introduce the St. Thomas community to this concept. It needs community feedback and engagement in order to go forward with planning for the concept. The town meeting will be an opportunity for each member of the private sector (businesses, property owners, realtors, churches/synagogue/mosque, community and charitable organizations and individuals) to learn about the BID concept and provide a buy-in decision to proceed and learn how each person can help.
People are asked to come out and learn what they can do to make this a reality on Monday, April 3, at St. Thomas Reformed Church.
For more information, contact David Bornn at 774-2501.
“Revitalization occurs one step at a time. Your expertise or passion can make the next step possible.”
