The need for structural forms of organisation and financing is present almost everywhere in the field of district management. The implementation of initiatives in this field is difficult or has even stagnated in many places because of lack of financing and the weak organisation of trade and industry in the districts concerned.

On an international level, an instrument has already been available for decades that can provide a solution: the Business Improvement District (BID). A BID is a preferably private organisation sanctioned by the government, which provides collective services to complement the tasks carried out by the government. Together with joint marketing, the main focal point of BID is improving the quality of the public spaces in a district and thus improving the functioning of the established enterprises. Because all property owners and/or the businesses in the district take majority decisions on the measures required, they can then be required by the local authority to contribute to the financing of the measures. Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have been active in Canada and subsequently in the USA since the nineteen sixties. This exploratory study examines this system.

In connection with the safety policy in the Rotterdam inner city area, the question arose of whether a structural form of organisation for the district-based cooperation between businesses and local authority was possible. This would link safety to the other aspects of policy for public spaces and would strengthen the contribution of the businesses, both financially and in other ways. A means is also needed for tackling free riders, as otherwise the good business initiatives will die an early death.

The study leads to a number of conclusions. The most important are: 

City of Rotterdam
Ms Marlou van Beek, tel. +31 10 4400738

01/11/2005

research

Urban Policy > Transport and infrastructure > Services & amenities

Public space