Central Patrol Police Office James Schriever voiced support for the renewal and expansion of the Main Street CID today.
The city began the process of considering the renewal of the Main Street CID today at a city council business session.
Executive Director Diane Burnette, board members and community supporters urged the council to approve the renewal of the Community Improvement District, including an expansion of its boundaries.
The Main Street CID, now in its eighth year, relies on a special tax assessment to supplement city-provided services such as policing, infrastructure improvements and maintenance of public spaces. It is financed by a property tax. MainCor has spent the past two years gathering the signatures of property owners for the renewal, Burnette said.
Jason Kralicek, managing director of the Unicorn Theater, told the council his organization supports the renewal. He said the theater recently bought its building and committed to staying on Main Street, in part because of the presence of the CID and the services it provides.
Also speaking in favor of the renewal was Master Patrol Officer James Schriever of Central Patrol, who called the CID, “one of our most rock solid community partners.”
Chip Walsh, a member of Sustainable Development Partners, a group that is redeveloping Westport High School and is hoping to redevelop Westport Middle School, told the council the CID has been a positive influence on the Main Street area.
Several property owners from the Old Hyde Park neighborhood told the council that they had not been aware the CID was being expanded to include their multi-family property until several weeks ago. Sally Schwenk, president of the Baltimore Place Condo Association, said her association had not been contacted until two weeks ago and called the renewal “a form of taxation without representation.”
Councilman Ed Ford urged the CID to meet with concerned property owners before the proposal goes to the council’s Planning and Zoning committee on Oct. 22. The full council will vote on the renewal on Oct. 23.
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