Diamond City Partnership

The Downtown Wilkes-Barre
Business Improvement District (DWBBID):
Creating a Better Downtown Together

On August 1, 2007, the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Improvement District (DWBBID) began providing supplementary cleaning and security services to the properties and businesses of Downtown Wilkes-Barre.

The DWBBID is administered, on a day-to-day basis, by the Manager of Business Improvement District (BID) who responds to ratepayers through their representatives on the Board of the Diamond City Partnership. Ratepayers receive a document fully outlining the scope of services, providing appropriate contact information, and describing how they can participate in – and be informed about – the full DWBBID plan of work.

DWBBID cleaning crews are working throughout the BID service area – from Academy Street in the south to North Street in the north. Additional police patrols dedicated to the BID service area are present every day and evening. Coverage of the BID service area, its routes and hours will be evaluated and adjusted regularly to ensure the highest level of service to DWBBID ratepayers.

Downtown Wilkes-Barre’s property and business owners are all partners in the DWBBID: their collective investment makes it possible to create a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant Downtown. An investment providing a better-marketed central city and one which will impact upon each property owner’s bottom line.

Background
The Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Improvement District (DWBBID) was created by an ordinance adopted by Wilkes-Barre City Council on March 22, 2007. Formed under the auspices of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood Improvement District Act (Act 73 of 2000), the BID was created following a year of discussion and planning by Downtown Wilkes-Barre’s property owners. This included a public hearing, held by City Council on December 20, 2006 to take public comment regarding the proposed BID. The process led to the mailing of the Final BID Plan to potential ratepayers within the proposed district, and the initiation of a 45-day voting period for potential ratepayers. 3% of those eligible property owners voted against the adoption of the BID plan during the posted voting period – well below the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 40% threshold, and the Ordinance was then advertised and adopted by Council vote.

The BID assessment is equal to 2.57% of a property’s County real estate tax assessment value. City Council has designated the Diamond City Partnership as the entity that will administer the Downtown Wilkes-Barre BID. The BID has been authorized for a five-year period; after that period expires, the BID must be reauthorized by the participating property owners for it to continue.

What is a Business Improvement District?

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a legal mechanism that allows property owners and businesses to pool resources to effectively address common concerns within a specific service area.
A BID is generally created in order to supplement basic municipal services within a business district.
Because a BID is based upon a multi-year commitment, it provides sustainable funding so development plans, budgets, and business strategies can be made on a multi-year basis.
The cost per business is low because all benefiting properties pay their fair share.
A BID is managed by the business people who pay the costs through a non-profit corporation.

Click here to download the PDF

The BID Planning Process: A Timeline

August 12, 2004: DCP brings together a cross-section of downtown property owners for a preliminary discussion regarding the creation of a BID in Downtown Wilkes-Barre.

2004-2005: A DCP working group conducts in-depth studies of the feasibility of a Downtown Wilkes-Barre BID.

February 21, 2006: DCP representatives make a presentation to Wilkes-Barre City Council. City Council votes unanimously to work with DCP and the Downtown business community to pursue the creation of a BID.

March 29, 2006: The owners of Downtown commercial property, tax-exempt property or a residential property with five or more residential units are invited to a special meeting at the Ramada Inn on Public Square. At that meeting, DCP representatives explain the BID concept, and the meeting participants review and refine an outline plan for a BID in Downtown Wilkes-Barre. Click here to view a PDF of the PowerPoint presented at the meeting.

April 4, 2006: A letter summarizing the key elements of the proposed BID plan is sent to all owners of commercial property, tax-exempt property or residential property with five or more residential units within the proposed BID service area.

April-October, 2006: DCP’s working group develops and refines a Preliminary BID Plan through feedback from the public meeting, the letter, and individual conversations with property and business owners.

October 26, 2007: The Preliminary BID Plan is sent to all potentially benefiting property owners.

December 20, 2006: Wilkes-Barre City Council holds a public hearing in Council Chambers to discuss the Preliminary Plan.

January 5, 2007: A Final BID Plan, drafted following the public hearing, is sent to all potential ratepayers. Click here to view a PDF of the final BID Plan.

January 11, 2007: Wilkes-Barre City Council enacts the start of the mandatory 45-day BID public comment period. The plan will be defeated if 40% or more of the rate-paying property owners object in writing during this period.

February 26, 2007: The 45-day public comment period ends; 3% of eligible property owners have registered objections to the BID in writing.

March 22, 2007: Wilkes-Barre City Council votes on second reading to approve the ordinance creating the Downtown Wilkes-Barre BID for a period of five years.

Do you have questions about the BID?

If you have any questions, please email info@wbdcp.com.