Lagos joined about 20 people at a Center City Association forum Wednesday, March 31, on the organization’s proposal to create a special improvement district downtown.
A special improvement district — or an SID — would bring together property owners who agree to tax themselves. That revenue is then spent on improvements and projects in the district, such as on cleaning, litter and graffiti removal, security and streetscapes.
A suggested budget calls for spending $200,000 on clean-and-safe programs, $108,000 on stakeholder services such as facade improvement grants and $80,000 on promotions.
At least 60 percent of front footage or 75 percent of all property owners must agree, followed by city commission approval, to create the district.
The boundaries aren’t set, but could extend from Buck Creek to the railroad tracks and from Spring Street to Center Street, although property owners on the edges of those areas have expressed interest about joining.
Lagos said he is a strong supporter of an SID.
“Together we’re all smarter than we are individually and together we’re all stronger financially than we are individually,” he said.
Kyle Koehler of K.K. Tool Co., a downtown business, is against the district.
He takes care of his property, he said, and the proposed services are what owners and the city should already be doing.
Koehler wants to decide how to spend his money, he said.
“What’s going to help downtown Springfield is to create more jobs,” he said. “When you take my money, I can’t create jobs.”
Center City has two more forums scheduled — 7:30 a.m. April 7 at the Bushnell Building Wren Room and 11 a.m. April 15 in the Commerce Pointe community room.
The forums are designed to gather input, Center City Executive Director Maureen Fagans said. “We really want to understand what’s important to you,” she said.
Craig Dillon, an architect and downtown property owner, said he generally is a proponent of the district. But he would rather see less money spent on clean-and-safe programs and more on marketing and stakeholder benefits such as facade improvement grants.
“It does come down to the services offered,” he said.
State Rep. Ross McGregor lives downtown. He said it’s quiet and safe, but the perception is that it’s not. So he sees value in the safety programs.
“That would go a long way,” he said.
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