Decorative lighting and clean sidewalks credited with giving Main Street unity
Landlords of this down-home commercial area narrowly approved the formation of an assessment district on Tuesday, pledging to contribute to a pot of money that will pay for enhanced sidewalk maintenance and ornamental tree lighting.
Approximately half of the 157 property owners that line Main Street from Pico Boulevard to the southern city limits replied to the ballot question that was mailed out in June, roughly 57 percent of whom voted in favor. The passage of the bid, which was backed by the Main Street Business Improvement Association (MSBIA), will lead to the formation of a sidewalk and lighting improvement fund to which all landlords will have to contribute a combined total of more than $88,000 a year.
While nearly 60 percent of property owners supported the assessment, the election was tighter than indicated by the number of yes votes, their total assessment accounting for just $260 more than the opposition. Among the proponents of the district were City Hall and the Santa Monica City Parking Authority, whose portion represents about $7,800.
Main Street became the second commercial area in as many weeks to see its own assessment district approved, the first coming earlier this month when landlords in Downtown gave the nod to a new property based assessment district, a considerably larger enterprise that will use more than $3.6 million to cover enhanced maintenance and customer service.
39A,“This means we’ll be able to have an improved sidewalk cleaning program,” Gary Gordon, the executive director of the MSBIA, said. “It means that the festoon lighting program will continue and ultimately be improved.”
The added charges from the new district will be reflected in the next property tax bill issued by the county. The assessments will be levied according to the benefit the property receives.
The fund will maintain the current level of sidewalk and tree lighting care along Main Street, both of which are currently made possible through a grant the association received from City Hall last year. The estimated $85,000 grant was used to pay for the decorative lights, extra sidewalk sweeping in addition to the biannual cleanings provided by City Hall every year, and a consultant who studied the feasibility of an assessment district. The MSBIA paid for the enhanced services before it received the grant.
“I think our biggest challenge is to brand Main Street as a shopping district, as a cohesive neighborhood,” Olivia Brown, the owner of day spa Bey’s Garden and association board member, said. “Part of what helps us do that from the visual perspective is the lighting.”
Some property owners remained skeptical about some of the benefits that would be reaped from the formation of an assessment district.
Lee Johnson, the owner of a mixed-use building off Pacific Street, said that while he enjoyed the festoon lights, he opted against the district because of the sidewalk cleaning element, noting that he has hardly seen any sweepers on his block the past few years.
“I’m always having them cleaned,” Johnson said. “I see them spend a lot more attention down by the Farmers’ Market (at Ocean Park Boulevard).”
Johnson said his building is located in a more “sleepy” area of Main Street where there is considerably less retail. Had the bid only included the lighting, Johnson said he would’ve been more inclined to vote yes.
The lights are meant to evoke a sense of unity on the street, creating a warmer and friendly environment, Gordon said.
During two community outreach meetings earlier this year in which property owners learned about the assessment district, the association shut off the festoon bulbs, showing the differences, which Gordon described as being “stark.”
“Unless a particular store has a large storefront and keeps the lights on, a large portion of the block could be dark and you lose any kind of effect of overall warmth or unity you have when the lights are on,” Gordon said.
Jump hedline: Tree lighting and clean sidewalks credited with giving Main Street unity
Suggested pullquote: “I think our biggest challenge is to brand Main Street as a shopping district, as a cohesive neighborhood.”
Olivia Brown
Lucida Grande 40, 4 0 400 0¬ 1 0 40, Minion 40, 4 0 231A 0¬ 1 0
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 24, 2008. Read the original PDF.