Downtown development is at an all-time high. With more and more people and businesses moving downtown, cities are struggling to manage the steady influx.
In order to advocate for the wellbeing of each business, many neighbourhoods in Centretown have their own Business Improvement Area. BIAs work with the city in order to promote improvements within their specific area.
One of the challenges for BIAs on a daily basis is promoting their district, while collectively advocating for the strength of the entire region. BIAs need a united voice in order to do this.
In 2012, The Ottawa BIAs came together and formed the Council of Business Improvement Areas. This volunteer-run council works to create a stronger voice for BIAs.
Although the council was developed three years ago, the organization hasn’t done much to unite the various BIAs.
A different BIA director becomes the council chair each year, giving each BIA a chance to lead. The current chair is John Philips – also the chair of the Carp Road Corridor BIA Board of Management.
The council meets regularly to discuss various issues such as planning, policy, transportation and economic development. However, it is unclear when these meetings are and what progress or changes are made as a result of them.
According to Kevin McHale, the current acting executive director for the Sparks Street BIA – which is currently under government review – the organization is gaining momentum now.
“Each BIA is still finding its own role within the council . . . It’s only been in the last few months that it has really started to come into its own,” says McHale.
The council is a good step for uniting Ottawa businesses, but in order for it to actually help BIAs handle the steady increase in urban population it will have to increase its role within the BIA community.
BIAs in Centretown, include – but are not limited to – the Bank St. BIA, Sparks St. BIA, Preston St. BIA and Somerset St. BIA.
With multiple BIAs functioning in such close proximity to each other, one wonders how different each area could possibly be.
Though each BIA differs in demographics, they are close in proximity to collaborate and create “one loud voice” says Christine Leadman, the executive director of the Bank Street BIA.
However, it’s not always easy working with other BIAs and obstacles sometimes get in the way says Leadman. For example, the bridge connecting the Glebe and Bank Street makes it difficult to unify the areas simply because it acts as a physical barrier says the BIA director.
Another element that makes BIA collaboration difficult is the differing geographical space each area is in. The mall structure of Sparks Street makes it more difficult to relate to businesses on Bank Street says Leadman.
However, despite their differences, Ottawa’s BIAs need to work together to strengthen and diversify the city’s business sector and keep up with the changing economy. The good news is a BIA council does exist, and with the help of each member, it has the power to bring Ottawa’s business quarters together.