City of Poughkeepsie Works With Key Stakeholders

POUGHKEEPSIE – In an effort to further enhance the downtown corridor of the City of Poughkeepsie and fortify the business climate along Main Street, the Mayor and Common Council supported a resolution authorizing the establishment of a Business Improvement District (BID). Funded by a special assessment on property owners within the district boundaries, a BID establishes a geographic area where local property owners, business tenants, and residents directly oversee key parts of the maintenance, improvement and promotion of the commercial district.

Across the state, more than 100 BIDs deliver a range of services to improve business climate and quality of life. Over the past year, the Downtown Poughkeepsie BID Steering Committee has developed a funding structure and BID plan that identifies four main areas of need: maintaining clean and beautiful streets; supporting a safe and secure downtown; developing a district identity through marketing and special events; and fostering a business climate that will attract new development and commercial tenants.

“BIDs have been successful in other parts of the state, and we unquestionably have to keep trying new ideas and strategies to improve the downtown area,” said Mayor Yvonne Flowers. “I appreciate the commitment of the Steering Committee to explore this opportunity and to see if a BID will meet with the level of support needed to bring this idea to fruition.”

The community is invited to visit www.dtpk.org to learn more about the proposed BID boundaries, how the assessment would be calculated, the organization’s preliminary budget, and what the BID revenue would accomplish. The Steering Committee invites feedback sent todtpkbid@gmail.com, and has scheduled its first public meeting for Monday, July 22 at 6 p.m. at The Chance Theater, 6 Crannell St. in Poughkeepsie.

The committee consists of commercial and residential property owners, business tenants and community stakeholders. Approximately 240 parcels in the city’s downtown area would be included in the BID. The initiative needs the approval of the Common Council following a public comment period.

“BIDs facilitate networking among merchants and provide a collective voice for the neighborhood, making the sum greater than its parts,” said City Administrator Joseph Donat. “In Downtown Poughkeepsie, this means supporting clean and safe streets, attracting new commercial tenants to reduce vacancy, increasing foot traffic, improving public perception through collective marketing and events, and creating a higher quality of life for residents and visitors.”

If established, the leadership of the Downtown Poughkeepsie BID would act as a liaison for property owners, commercial tenants, and residents in advocating for the district with elected officials and city agencies.

Beautification efforts could include on-street garbage pickup, adding additional litter receptacles to the district, planting new trees and maintaining current trees/tree pits, hanging baskets of flowers and blooming planters throughout the district, and offering power washing/graffiti removal services.

Safety and security concerns could focus on purchasing and installing additional on street cameras and lights, forming a downtown ambassador corps, and advocating for additional walking patrols from city police.

Improving the business climate could include advocating for ordinance enforcement and changes to parking, working to attract commercial real estate tenants and fill vacant storefronts, organizing community volunteer days, monitoring, and improving Civic Center Plaza parking deck, finding a partner to establish trolley service downtown, and working with community stakeholders to provide additional support services for the unhoused.

The BID also could enhance downtown identity by establishing and hosting signature events, installing light pole banners and other branding throughout the downtown, and commissioning additional public art and murals.

” Forming a business improvement district is an important step to accelerate the growth of downtown Poughkeepsie,” said Steering Committee member Jillian Grano, co-owner of 27 Garden Street and co-operator of Canvas and Clothier. “With so much excitement and investment pouring into our city, this is the perfect moment to band together and take an active role in shaping our future. I believe so strongly in the potential of our historic, walkable urban core and am proud to be part of the movement to bring a BID to this community.”