Struggles to form business improvement districts (BIDs) in Los Angeles

Abstract

Autonomous efforts to improve local business environments have become an increasingly important impetus for economic development. Business improvement districts (BIDs), as one of such autonomous organisations, have clearly demonstrated benefits for promoting commercial areas over the last two decades. When BIDs spread over a city, however, not every commercial district succeeds in establishing BIDs despite some initial efforts. This research examines the types of challenges that these neighbourhoods experience in order to form BIDs. This study is based on census data analyses and in-depth interviews with city employees, BID consultants, executive directors of BIDs and community stakeholders in Los Angeles. The results show that the areas with unsuccessful attempts of BID formation in Los Angeles are relatively low-income immigrant neighbourhoods. Some of these neighbourhoods have struggled with disengaged property owners, spatial conflicts among diverse ethnic groups, immigrants’ skepticism towards government and the chronic presence of informal economic activities. These findings suggest that some disadvantaged neighbourhoods are not adequately informed or organised to form BIDs. Public officials and community workers can support these neighbourhoods by providing direct assistance for the development of collective vision and action among community stakeholders.

Can US Metropolitan Areas Use Large Commercial Airports as Tools to Bolster Regional Economic Growth?

“…However, Cidell (2015) finds that airports are not necessarily stronger generators of economic development compared to other major municipal infrastructures. Airport investments may simply hasten growth that would have occurred anyways rather than generating new growth, similar to local business incentives (Wassmer 1994; Lee 2015).…”

Business Improvement Districts: A Systematic Review of an Urban Governance Model towards City Center Revitalization

“…The importance of the characteristics of each area is to be seen, not only in the international transfer. To this matter, Lee [105] argues that BIDs may not work in all areas. For instance, in some areas, businesses may not be in decline and, consequently, their owners may not think it is necessary to run a BID project in the area.…”

Business Improvement Districts and Contemporary Local Governance

“…Lewis (2010) observed that BIDs can be successful in promoting urban revitalization, however they concurrently pose concerns that include intensifying socioeconomic and spatial inequalities, weakening municipal government, and restricting democratic accountability. It has also been shown that there is particular difficulty establishing BIDs in economically challenged areas and neighborhoods with large immigrant populations (Lee 2016), reflecting how wealthier neighborhoods may be at a particular advantage for successfully implementing the BID model.…”