South Side residents vocal on proposed 'improvement district'
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Tempers flared Tuesday night as a group of South Side residents and business owners discussed the possibility of creating a Neighborhood Improvement District.
People shouted over one another and exchanged insults as proponents touted the ways they believe a new annual fee could be used to improve public safety and parking and to clean litter and power wash some areas in their city neighborhood.
Skeptics said they thought people were being mislead into thinking the South Side, known for its weekend bar scene and the crime that comes along with it, is in worse shape than it actually is. Some also said they couldn't afford another tax during unsteady economic times.
"What you're seeing here is democracy in action," said city Councilman Bruce Kraus, who attended Tuesday night's meeting to hear about the proposal but did not share his opinion on it. "It isn't pretty. It gets ugly sometimes."
Details of the proposed Neighborhood Improvement District were outlined at a public meeting, moderated by the South Side Planning Forum, that took place at the Brashear Center on Sarah Street Tuesday night.
If the improvement district receives approval, most residents and business owners would pay an annual fee based on their property values in exchange for services provided by the district.
As currently proposed, senior citizens and other people who qualify for Act 77 benefits would receive the district's services but would not have to pay an annual fee.
Residents who qualify for the homestead exclusion would pay $20 for every $10,000 of property they own, and residents who do not qualify for the exclusion would pay $30 per $10,000. Business owners who are not on East Carson Street would pay $40 per $10,000 worth of property and people who own businesses on East Carson between 10th and 25th streets would pay $50 per $10,000. Some caps would be in place for most of those categories.
Rob Frank, who lives on 13th Street, said he worried the proposed fee would place the burden of improving the South Side on the wrong people -- saying that perhaps bar owners should pay for the damage done by their patrons.
First Published February 15, 2012 12:39 am
