A sign marking the businesses of Little Italy is found under a bridge on Preston Street. The Preston Street BIA wants to maintain its independence from the Greater Ottawa Business Improvement Area.
A Centretown-based BIA has decided not to join the proposed Greater Ottawa Business Improvement Area, saying the alliance of business groups will add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy that benefits the city more than independent BIAs.
Lori Mellor, executive director of the Preston Street BIA, says her board decided that it wouldn’t take part in the project as it prevents BIAs from independently advocating for its members.
“We believe we’re the best people to speak on behalf of our own issues,” she says. “But any concerns we had would have to go through GOBIA. That was a real eye-opener.”
In October, Mayor Jim Watson and economic development officials met with representatives from the city’s 17 business groups – including five in Centretown – to set in motion the mayor’s campaign promise of creating a city-wide BIA aiming to improve collective communication with city hall.
But some BIAs say the initiative only sounds good in theory.
Mellor says the purpose and benefits of GOBIA have been very unclear over the past four months.
“We can see how it will make life simpler for the city to deal with BIAs because instead of having to deal with 17 different boards, they just look to GOBIA,” she says. “But we don’t see how the BIAs are truly going to benefit from this.”
Mellor says people don’t realize BIAs have voluntarily collaborated to share information and fight unfavourable policies in the past, like when parking prices increased.
Mellor says the difference with GOBIA is it will require members to dedicate more volunteer time and pay a “membership fee” as a result of incorporating the organization. The fee varies by business group but the Preston Street BIA would have to cough up an extra $1,500 per year above and beyond their regular BIA costs, she says.
“The city benefits but the BIAs pay the costs and get no benefit in terms of manpower, autonomy or receiving information in a more timely matter.”
Alex Lewis, executive director of Bells Corner BIA, disagrees and says the system is “mutually beneficial.”
“There’s no doubt it’s going to make it easier for BIAs to deal with the city as well, especially when it comes to big issues that affect all businesses across the city.”
Lewis says BIAs can also approach their city councillor to assist them in dealing with specific, minor business issues. But in general, the city isn’t greatly involved in GOBIA’s development, he says.
Jocelyne Turner, a spokesperson for the City of Ottawa, says the city is mostly in the dark about the development of GOBIA.
“At this time, the City of Ottawa is not currently privy to the plans,” she says. “The formation of GOBIA is currently being led by the BIAs themselves.”
But Christine Leadman, executive director of the Glebe BIA, says the city needs to be more active in GOBIA’s development.
“There are a lot of questions outstanding that need to be directed to the city,” she says. “The mission of the GOBIA model needs to be very clear and well-articulated so that it doesn’t undermine the independent voice of BIAs themselves.”
Leadman says last month’s meeting was positive. There, members discussed and drafted a constitution and agreed upon an executive board and committees.
The next GOBIA meeting is set for the end of February.
Leadman says there is still no set date for GOBIA’s formation and only about four BIAs are definitely “on board” with the BIA union.
“We’re cautiously moving forward,” she says. “It’s certainly not a slam-dunk.”