On a hazy day in early June, Downtown Cleveland was entering another summer of special events, activities and programming, plus the usual living, learning, working and nights out on the town, all of which are supported by Clean & Safe services provided by Downtown Cleveland Inc. and funded by downtown property owners (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
City, county join downtown program for first time
Downtown Cleveland, Inc. today announced Cleveland City Council’s approval of the reauthorization of the Downtown Cleveland Improvement District, raising about $43.5 million in dedicated funding through 2032.
The renewal ensures continuation of Downtown Cleveland, Inc.’s (DCI) Clean & Safe program, a service intended to enhance the daily experience for workers, residents and visitors, DCI officials said.
For the first time in its 23-year history, both the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County have opted into the district as funding partners, joining private property owners to sustain and strengthen Greater Cleveland’s urban core.
“Cleveland is at its best when our downtown is thriving, and this reauthorization of the improvement district will only accelerate that progress,” said Mayor Justin Bibb in a written statement.
“The city is proud to partner with Downtown Cleveland, Inc. to deliver real results,” Bibb continued. “We are committed to building a downtown that’s more welcoming, more vibrant and a place where people and businesses want to invest their time and money.”
In addition to lights during the holidays, Public Square features an ice rink (when cold enough), vendors, performers and other things to do from Thanksgiving to New Years (NEOtrans).
Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne said that ensuring Downtown Cleveland remains a hub of opportunity, innovation and vitality for the entire region sustains the entire county and the metro area.
“A strong downtown drives growth throughout Cuyahoga County,” Ronayne added. “That’s why Cuyahoga County is proud to support the reauthorization of the Downtown Improvement District, which has been vital to keeping downtown clean, safe and welcoming for residents, workers and visitors.”
“I want to thank the property owners in the district for their continued support and the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County for their leadership,” said DCI President and CEO Michael Deemer. “This funding and collaboration will enhance safety, help us drive growth and build a more resilient, dynamic Downtown Cleveland.”
He said Cleveland City Council and Cuyahoga County Council played a critical role in the reauthorization process. By examining the proposal with care and asking detailed questions, council members helped the community understand how the district operates and how public and private dollars work together.
Their diligence ensured a clear path forward and gave residents and stakeholders confidence in the district’s continued impact through the Clean & Safe program, Deemer added. That program is carried out by Downtown Ambassadors.
The North Coast Yard was a pop-up park created by Downtown Cleveland Inc. on city-owned land this summer at North Coast Harbor (Jones Drones).
The Ambassadors are provided by a Louisville, KY-based company called Block By Block. The company is paid about $4 million per year by DCI, according to a recent media report.
The special improvement district charged all private property owners in Downtown Cleveland an annual assessment based on the number of feet among their street frontage. Under Ohio law, a special improvement district must get owners of at least 60 percent of properties to approve it.
The city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, both major property owners downtown, signed on for the first time since the special improvement district was created in 2006 and will each pay nearly $200,000 each year.
County Councilmember Michael Gallagher of Strongsville was the lone voice of dissent in the county’s decision to join the district earlier this year. He questioned whether enough private property owners would have supported the renewal of the special improvement district if the county hadn’t joined it. He also questioned why the county was paying for services the city of Cleveland should be doing.
Last year, DCI took over management of Public Square from the city. That included maintenance, landscaping, programming and marketing. That followed DCI securing $750,000 from Ohio’s Strategic Community Investment Fund.
Providing clean and safe streets in the central business district is a routine but essential service by the Downtown Ambassadors, hired by Downtown Cleveland Inc That service will now continue until at least 2032 (Google).
But about 80 percent of the special improvement district funding will go to the Clean & Safe program. DCI officials said that program has improved over the past three years through the management of the Downtown Cleveland Improvement Corp., DCI’s property owner engagement arm.
One way it has improved, they said, is that the Downtown Ambassadors’ training program now emphasizes conflict de-escalation. Plus, a Court Watch program was launched to ensure effective communication between the courts, prosecutors and victims.
Furthermore, the Ambassadors are Investing in technology and equipment to deliver more efficient safety, cleaning and beautification services. And, looking ahead, work for the next seven years will focus on delivering high-quality place management services.
That will be achieved by enhancing safety through a continued visible, uniformed presence of Downtown Ambassadors, leveraging smart camera technology to further enhance safety, expanding DCI’s Public Realm Quality Assurance program, and providing concierge-level public safety, economic development and community event services.
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