Crescent Heights Village Business Improvement Area
Expansion
Growing our community. Growing our voice.
Crescent Heights Village Business Improvement Area
Expansion
Growing our community. Growing our voice.
Growing our community. Growing our voice.
About Crescent Heights Village BIA
Formed via Bylaw 32M2019 on January 1, 2020, the Crescent Heights Village BIA is a community of about 115 businesses on Centre St. N between 8th and 14th Avenues.
In the first three years of operation, the BIA helped businesses navigate the pandemic, add tens of thousands of dollars of grants and sponsorships, developed security, streetscape, marketing, events and community initiatives and advocated for the businesses of the area with the City and Province in matters of transportation, parking, Covid relief and, perhaps most significantly, the Green Line LRT project – the construction of which has had a major impact on our community.
Growing our community. Growing our voice.
About Crescent Heights Village BIA
Formed via Bylaw 32M2019 on January 1, 2020, the Crescent Heights Village BIA is a community of about 115 businesses on Centre St. N between 8th and 14th Avenues.
In the first three years of operation, the BIA helped businesses navigate the pandemic, add tens of thousands of dollars of grants and sponsorships, developed security, streetscape, marketing, events and community initiatives and advocated for the businesses of the area with the City and Province in matters of transportation, parking, Covid relief and, perhaps most significantly, the Green Line LRT project – the construction of which has had a major impact on our community.
Growing our community. Growing our voice.
The Proposed Expansion
Marked in blue, our current footprint encompasses Centre St. N. from 8th Ave. to 14th Ave. The proposed expansion takes the BIA footprint:
- North to the intersection of Centre St. N and 20th Avenue West to the intersection of 16th Avenue and 4th St. N.W.
- East to the intersection of 16th Avenue and Edmonton Tr. N.E.
- And South on Edmonton Tr. to the intersection of 6th Avenue and Edmonton Tr. N.E.
Growing our community. Growing our voice.
The Proposed Expansion
Marked in blue, our current footprint encompasses Centre St. N. from 8th Ave. to 14th Ave. The proposed expansion takes the BIA footprint:
- North to the intersection of Centre St. N and 20th Avenue West to the intersection of 16th Avenue and 4th St. N.W.
- East to the intersection of 16th Avenue and Edmonton Tr. N.E.
- And South on Edmonton Tr. to the intersection of 6th Avenue and Edmonton Tr. N.E.
01.
The Map
Get a closer look at the proposed expansion map here. More detailed maps will soon be available.
02.
The Motion
Read the motion approved by the Crescent Heights Village BIA board of directors.
03.
The Letter of Intent
Read the letter of intent submitted to the City of Calgary
Growing our Community. Growing our Voice.
Why Expand?
01.
Resources
We’re a little BIA up to big things. An expanded footprint will make us a bigger BIA and allow us to do huge things.
The proposed expansion would grow our financial resources, while alleviating some of the burden on businesses in our existing footprint.
That means resources for events, marketing programs, public art, public spaces, clean and safe initiatives and more.
02.
Influence
As Green Line construction north of the river remains uncertain, your voice at City Hall is more important than ever.
By growing our footprint to include hundreds of additional business owners with the same concerns, our voice becomes more powerful and more influential with decision-makers.
03.
Community
A Business Improvement Area is a community of businesses working together to achieve goals that benefit everyone. Knowing your neighbours and being connected to the business-owners around you creates opportunities to grow everyone’s businesses…and the bigger the community, the bigger the opporutnities.
Growing our Community. Growing our Voice.
Why Expand?
01.
Resources
We’re a little BIA up to big things. An expanded footprint will make us a bigger BIA and allow us to do huge things.
The proposed expansion would grow our financial resources, while alleviating some of the burden on businesses in our existing footprint.
That means resources for events, marketing programs, public art, public spaces, clean and safe initiatives and more.
02.
Influence
As Green Line construction north of the river remains uncertain, your voice at City Hall is more important than ever.
By growing our footprint to include hundreds of additional business owners with the same concerns, our voice becomes more powerful and more influential with decision-makers.
03.
Community
A Business Improvement Area is a community of businesses working together to achieve goals that benefit everyone. Knowing your neighbours and being connected to the business-owners around you creates opportunities to grow everyone’s businesses…and the bigger the community, the bigger the opporutnities.
What does this mean for my business?
Businesses in existing footprint:
Expanded Activities, Decreased Tax Rate
A small number of businesses currently carry the operations of the BIA including staff, events, marketing, streetscape, public art, advocacy and more. The result is a tax rate that is at the higher end compared to other BIAs. Expanding the BIA will allow us to bring our tax rate down while significantly expanding our activities.
Better Visibility
Including 16th Avenue in our BIA, allows us to create highly visible gateways into our community at Centre St. and Edmonton Tr.
Diversity of Businesses
The expanded area creates more diversity in the types and sizes of businesses in our community. That means more opportunity for partnerships, collaborations and cross marketing with your neighbours.
Economies of Scale
The BIA will be able to negotiate better pricing on all of our marketing, streetscape, event and other expenses with larger numbers.
Businesses in expansion area:
A Voice at City Hall
Today, you are one voice out there in the world trying to advocate for your business among tens of thousands of other voices doing the same thing. Belonging to a BIA makes you a part of a large, influential group of business owners who already have relationships, knowledge and influence with the people who make decisions that impact your business.
Big Impact for your Small Business
Creating a customer-friendly streetscape, running major marketing campaigns, hosting events that bring new customers to your business, making storefront improvements to boost your curb appeal are all initiatives that are: 1. Important for growing your business, and 2. Nearly impossible to afford on your own. Pooling your resources with your neighbours allows you to have a much larger impact than you could have on your own.
A New Tax
BIAs are organizations that allow businesses with the same interests in the same geographical area to pool their resources in a way that helps everyone accomplish things they couldn’t do on their own such as marketing, events, pageantry, security and more. Currently, these activities are funded by a tax to the business owner based on the assessed value of the real estate from which your business operates. Learn more about BIA taxes here.
What does this mean for my business?
Businesses in existing footprint:
Expanded Activities, Decreased Tax Rate
A small number of businesses currently carry the operations of the BIA including staff, events, marketing, streetscape, public art, advocacy and more. The result is a tax rate that is at the higher end compared to other BIAs. Expanding the BIA will allow us to bring our tax rate down while significantly expanding our activities.
Better Visibility
Including 16th Avenue in our BIA, allows us to create highly visible gateways into our community at Centre St. and Edmonton Tr.
Diversity of Businesses
The expanded area creates more diversity in the types and sizes of businesses in our community. That means more opportunity for partnerships, collaborations and cross marketing with your neighbours.
Economies of Scale
The BIA will be able to negotiate better pricing on all of our marketing, streetscape, event and other expenses with larger numbers.
Businesses in expansion area:
A New Tax
BIAs are organizations that allow businesses with the same interests in the same geographical area to pool their resources in a way that helps everyone accomplish things they couldn’t do on their own such as marketing, events, pageantry, security and more. Currently, these activities are funded by a tax to the business owner based on the assessed value of the real estate from which your business operates. Learn more about BIA taxes here.
A Voice at City Hall
Today, you are one voice out there in the world trying to advocate for your business among tens of thousands of other voices doing the same thing. Belonging to a BIA makes you a part of a large, influential group of business owners who already have relationships, knowledge and influence with the people who make decisions that impact your business.
Big Impact for your Small Business
Creating a customer-friendly streetscape, running major marketing campaigns, hosting events that bring new customers to your business, making storefront improvements to boost your curb appeal are all initiatives that are: 1. Important for growing your business, and 2. Nearly impossible to afford on your own. Pooling your resources with your neighbours allows you to have a much larger impact than you could have on your own.
Fast Facts
Fast Facts
Boundaries
The expansion would grow the footprint to include Centre St. up to 20th Ave., 16th Ave. from 4th St. NW to EdmontonTr. and Edmonton Tr. from 16th Ave. to 6th Ave. NE.
Number of Businesses
The expansion would increase the number of businesses in the BIA from 120 to 290, which is the average size of a BIA in Calgary.
Levy Rate
With more businesses contributing, we’ll be able to lower the current levy rate (0.02734%) bringing it more in line with the average (0.0205%).
Timing
If approved, the new boundaries, levy rate and budget would be in effect for 2024.
Annual Budget
The expansion would increase our annual budget from $120,000 to one that is more in line with similar-sized BIAs while still remaining below the 2023 average of $278,000.
What ratepayers are saying
What ratepayers are saying
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will my BIA tax be?
Each business’ tax is different depending on the assessed value of the real estate from which it operates. Contact the BIA office for an estimate based on your current location.
What is the process of expanding the BIA?
The BIA has submitted a letter of intent to the City of Calgary regarding the expansion. Over the spring and summer of 2023, the BIA will be engaging with the community, asking questions, answering questions and gathering feedback from existing ratepayers, potential ratepayers and other stakeholders.
In the fall of 2023, the BIA will submit a report of our engagement activities and the feedback we received. Based on this report, a final proposed footprint will be submitted for approval and then put to Council for a vote.
What if I don't want to be a part of the BIA?
A Business Improvement Area includes all of the businesses within the approved footprint, so we want to make sure we have the support of as many as possible. The community engagement process mentioned above is your opportunity to ask questions, express concerns and communicate with the BIA, the City and other stakeholders. There are a number of ways to do this, which will be outlined below.
How do I ask questions or provide my feedback?
There are a number of ways to engage in the process, including:
- Bookmarking this page to stay up-to-date on the process and opportunities for engagement.
- Submitting this form with your questions and/or feedback.
- Contacting the BIA office by phone, text or email at (403) 701-7686 or info@crescentheightsvillage.ca
- Attending an information session or event. Dates will be posted on this web page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will my BIA tax be?
Each business’ tax is different depending on the assessed value of the real estate from which it operates. Contact the BIA office for an estimate based on your current location.
What is the process of expanding the BIA?
The BIA has submitted a letter of intent to the City of Calgary regarding the expansion. Over the spring and summer of 2023, the BIA will be engaging with the community, asking questions, answering questions and gathering feedback from existing ratepayers, potential ratepayers and other stakeholders.
In the fall of 2023, the BIA will submit a report of our engagement activities and the feedback we received. Based on this report, a final proposed footprint will be submitted for approval and then put to Council for a vote.
What if I don't want to be a part of the BIA?
A Business Improvement Area includes all of the businesses within the approved footprint, so we want to make sure we have the support of as many as possible. The community engagement process mentioned above is your opportunity to ask questions, express concerns and communicate with the BIA, the City and other stakeholders. There are a number of ways to do this, which will be outlined below.
How do I ask questions or provide my feedback?
There are a number of ways to engage in the process, including:
- Bookmarking this page to stay up-to-date on the process and opportunities for engagement.
- Submitting this form with your questions and/or feedback.
- Contacting the BIA office by phone, text or email at (403) 701-7686 or info@crescentheightsvillage.ca
- Attending an information session or event. Dates will be posted on this web page.
How do I ask questions or provide my feedback?
There are a number of ways to engage in the process, including:
- Bookmarking this page to stay up-to-date on the process and opportunities for engagement.
- Submitting this form with your questions and/or feedback.
- Contacting the BIA office by phone, text or email at (403) 701-7686 or info@crescentheightsvillage.ca
- Attending an information session or event. Dates will be posted on this web page.
Expansion Timeline
SUBMIT LETTER OF INTENT
MARCH 2023
INFORMATION & ENGAGEMENT
SPRING/SUMMER 2023
ADJUST AND REPORT
SEPTEMBER 2023
SUMBIT TO COUNCIL
FALL 2023
COUNCIL MEETING
TBD
APPROVAL
TBD
Expansion Timeline
SUBMIT LETTER OF INTENT
MARCH 2023
INFORMATION & ENGAGEMENT
SPRING/SUMMER 2023
ADJUST AND REPORT
SEPTEMBER 2023
SUMBIT TO COUNCIL
FALL 2023
COUNCIL MEETING
TBD
APPROVAL
TBD
Author: Crescent Heights Village BIA
Crescent Heights Village is a diverse and inclusive community that gathers all people to live, work, eat, play and explore together.