Taunton business owners gear up for downtown improvement district

TAUNTON – Downtown business owners will meet this month to discuss a new Business Improvement District.
David DeSantis, chairman of the district’s steering committee, said he wants to hear business owners’ top goals for the organization. The City Council unanimously approved the district on Aug. 4 after a group of downtown commercial property owners petitioned for it.
DeSantis said he expects business owners will call for an organization focused on improving the cleanliness and security of downtown and filling vacant storefronts.
“We want to get everyone together make sure that is the focus,” DeSantis told Providence Business News.
DeSantis said just under 70 owners have opted into the district. They will pay a membership fee equal to one-half of 1 percent of their property’s assessment. Residential, government and nonprofit properties will not be assessed.
About 10 property owners have opted out of the district, but DeSantis said he expects they will join if the organization proves successful.
“What a lot of these people realize in a very short period of time is their business declines because these 60 or 70 people [who are members] want to spend their money with other BID people,” DeSantis said.
Initially, he expects the organization to have a $120,000 to $130,000 budget and employ a full-time maintenance person to spruce up downtown, including removing graffiti and cleaning storefront windows. DeSantis said he hopes the organization can also afford to hire an executive director to focus on marketing and reducing the 10 to 15 percent vacancy rate.
The planning meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13 at 8 a.m. at the Sandbar Grill at 64 Weir St. in Taunton.