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Mt. Lebanon merchants to consider plan
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Bill Fontana, executive director of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, will meet with property owners and merchants of the 41 properties in Mt. Lebanon's central business district to explain the concept of a Neighborhood Improvement District. Property owners in such a district pay a fee that covers a variety of activities, such as sidewalk maintenance, seasonal decorations, promotional campaigns, security, signs and trash receptacles.
"It offers the potential of allowing property owners to make improvements and offer services that would not otherwise be done by the municipality," Mt. Lebanon manager Stephen Feller said. "For that reason, it's probably something they should consider."
Fontana will explain the legislation and assessment methods for forming an improvement district. Property owners and merchants decide whether to proceed.
Improvement districts have helped revitalize areas such as the South Side and Downtown, Fontana said.
Fontana said an improvement district provides a reliable source of money for economic development beyond services by the municipality.
"For many years, in a traditional business improvement district, the members would ask for contributions -- maybe $20 here, $50 there," he said. "It would get to the point where they would nickel and dime you and only a certain percentage would participate even though everyone benefits. This would ensure participation by everyone."
After two public hearings to review specifics of the plan, 40 percent of affected property owners could defeat the designation. If fewer than 40 percent oppose the plan, the municipality could pass an ordinance forming the improvement district. The money raised by the improvement district fee could be used only for activities specified in the plan.
Mame Bradley, Mt. Lebanon's municipal commercial district manager, said an improvement district would be managed by property owners under the umbrella of the Mt. Lebanon Partnership.
Commissioner Dale Colby, who represents the municipality on the Economic Development Council, said improvements to the business district could make neighborhoods more valuable as well.
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