In recent weeks, the Phinney Neighborhood Association introduced the PhinneyWood Business Initiative, an effort focused on supporting the long-term vitality of the PhinneyWood business district.
As weโve begun sharing more information, one of the most common questions weโve heard from the community is simple: what exactly is a Business Improvement Area and how can it help PhinneyWood?
Across Seattle, 11 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) help support local business districts, including neighborhoods such as Ballard and West Seattle. Each district operates a little differently, but they share a common structure: a locally guided committee made up of property owners and business owners who work together to identify priorities for their district.
If the PhinneyWood Business Initiative moves forward, a similar committee would help guide decisions for the district here.
Because the PhinneyWood Business Initiative is still in its early phase, specific programs or projects have not yet been determined. Those priorities would be shaped by the districtโs governing committee once a BIA is established.
To better understand how BIAs operate in practice, we spoke with Chris Mackay, Executive Director of the West Seattle Junction Association, which manages the West Seattle Business Improvement Area. His experience reflects how one district has approached this work.
โWe help merchants connect with SPD for security assessments, city representatives for advocacy, and the Office of Economic Development to connect them with resources.โ
โItโs night and day. Itโs easy to see the vibrancy of a place that has a BIA.โ
BIAs can also help local districts advocate more effectively with city departments and leadership.
โThe BIAs are supported by the City and its offices which makes it much easier to have their ear. They know we represent hundreds of merchants, and they pay attention when we speak because we speak for so many. It truly makes a difference.โ
โAll the events we do bring in tens of thousands to have fun and celebrate community together. BIAs make a huge difference.โ
Every district is different, and the priorities of a Business Improvement Area are determined locally by the committee that oversees it.
The Phinney Neighborhood Association is leading the exploration of the PhinneyWood Business Initiative, and we are still in the early phase of this process. The district has not yet been formed, but we are committed to bringing our community along as we share information and provide visibility into how this initiative could take shape.
If established, the PhinneyWood Business Initiative would be designed to support our neighborhoodโs small businesses and commercial properties, helping strengthen the business district and the community that surrounds it for years to come.
You can learn more about Business Improvement Areas in Seattle through the City of Seattle:
Links can be found HERE and HERE
We will continue sharing updates and information about the PhinneyWood Business Initiative in the coming weeks.
Questions? Reach out to us directly at [email protected]