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Structure and Governance
The Old East Village BIA is a local board of the municipality of the City of London consisting of local merchants, business and property owners, arts and culture groups and agency representatives. The Municipal Council and The City of London Planning Division are also represented on the board.
Traditional Role
The traditional mandate of the BIA is to beautify, improve, and promote the Old East Village shopping district on Dundas Street between Adelaide Street and Charlotte Street. Some of the examples of how the BIA encourages business improvement and promotes the Old East Village commercial corridor as a good place to shop, visit and do business include the installation of street banners, flower baskets, benches and seasonal decorations to enhance the image of a family oriented shopping district.
However, the multifaceted range of issues needed to be addressed in order to fulfill our traditional mandate required a broader strategy and an expanded role for the BIA.
Expanded Old East Village BIA Role
In order to initiate the revitalization of the commercial corridor the Old East Village BIA, starting in 2003, partnered with the Old East Village Community Association and the municipality of the City of London. Together the BIA and its partners have been implementing a broad based revitalization plan called “Re-Establishing Value: A Plan for the Old East Village.” In 2005 this plan became a Community Improvement Plan for the area from Dundas St. and Adelaide St. to Dundas St. and Charlotte St. The BIA worked for five years from 2000 to 2005 to identify community capacity, build partnerships and set the conditions to deliver the revitalization plan for the area. As well as delivering the plan the BIA has expanded its role to include:
- Implementing a broad range of municipal incentives programs to upgrade buildings and encourage new development.
- Research and development of a local economic development plan to attract new businesses and further develop the Old East Village Arts District and create the Old East Village Food District.
In order to implement the plan the BIA has assumed the roles of coordinator, fundraiser, incubator, community liaison, business developer and capacity developer. The BIA works closely with the business community, local residents through the Old East Village Community Association, and a broad range of networks to implement the revitalization initiative.
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