After years of smooth operation, NOTO looks to establish a Business Improvement District

Alexander Edwards, Topeka Capital-Journal
·2 min read
A map of the proposed BID in NOTO. Businesses in tier 1 will be required to pay a higher service fee than those located in tier 2.
A map of the proposed BID in NOTO. Businesses in tier 1 will be required to pay a higher service fee than those located in tier 2.

The NOTO Arts District, and greater community of NOTO is no stranger to hosting small businesses. But a new proposal brought to the city council will see the establishment of a business improvement district.

It is hoped the BID will foster more growth and investment in the district by opening another revenue stream for the betterment of the area. The action item, which the city council will vote on Tuesday, was introduced by District 1 representative Christina Valdivia Alcala.

According to Thomas Underwood, the NOTO arts district executive director, establishing a BID is an "equitable" practice where all businesses contribute to needs and services not provided by the city.

"The BID is equitable in that all businesses are asked to contribute," he said. "As new businesses move in to the area they too will contribute to the maintenance and betterment of the area."

Business district service fees would scale with size, location

The text of the ordinance establishing the service fee. Tier 1 businesses will have to pay a higher service fee than tier two. Both fees are based on business type and square footage.
The text of the ordinance establishing the service fee. Tier 1 businesses will have to pay a higher service fee than tier two. Both fees are based on business type and square footage.

According to the ordinance, businesses will be expected to pay a service fee that scales with size of the business and location. There are two tiers of business specified within the ordinance, and funds gathered from the service fee will be used for maintenance, safety and security and promotion according to Underwood.

"The business improvement district is an opportunity for all businesses in NOTO to equitably contribute to the maintenance and betterment of the area," Underwood said.

Topeka already has two BIDs: The downtown BID and the tourism BID. The downtown BID is made up of three "cores" and covers a large area that includes most of central Topeka.

The Tourism BID doesn't have any specific boundaries, instead charging a $1 per night, per room fee on hotel bills. Money gathered from the Tourism BID goes to tourism related activities according to the City's webpage.

NOTO businesses advocated for district status

Businesses in NOTO have been regularly informed of the progress this proposal has made. The proposal was brought forward at their behest, Underwood said.

"The NOTO BID proposal was developed at the urging of NOTO businesses," He said. "As the district has become more established, businesses also see the value in developing and growing the district."

Alex Edwards is the local politics reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached via email at aedwards@gannett.com, or via twitter @AMEdwards21.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka City Council seeks to establish BID in NOTO for area betterment