Old Town Alexandria is considering creating a business improvement district (BID) with the support of 60% of properties within the designated zone. However, a recent change may exclude property owners who do not participate from this requirement. City Council member John Chapman noted that after reaching out to over 200 property owners about the Old Town BID, many did not respond either in favor or against the proposal.
Chapman explained that property owners who do not participate in the voting process may not be counted towards the required 60% in favor of the BID. The intention is to allow those who have not expressed their opinion on the matter to have another chance to do so before being excluded. By not counting unresponsive property owners, the proposed BID stands a better chance of gaining approval.
Although past attempts to establish the BID have met opposition from the community, many City Council members expressed their support for this new change. Chapman emphasized the importance of engaging with property owners who have not yet weighed in on the proposal to ensure that their voices are heard. The goal is to eliminate any negative impact from those who do not participate in the approval process for the BID.
City Council member Sarah Bagley shared that she has received feedback from businesses supporting
