Support Us Button Widget

Asheville City Council approves a downtown BID

At the latest meeting the council made its final vote on a Business Improvement District in downtown — here’s what that means for the neighborhood.

A view of the asheville city skyline

A feasibility study was conducted and recommendations made in spring of last year.

Photo by AVLtoday

A Business Improvement District (BID) is officially making its way downtown. At the Tuesday, June 11 meeting, Asheville City Council approved the establishment of a downtown BID in a 6-1 vote. The plan, proposed by the Asheville Downtown Association + Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, moved through state-statute-mandated steps for some months and has garnered both widespread support and opposition.

But now that the BID has begun, we’re breaking down what this means for downtown.

Basics of a BID

Simply put, a BID is a defined city area where property owners pay a special tax to fund and control additional services or improvement projects. BIDs are managed by a nonprofit organization and a board of directors.

Within three months, the City of Asheville will put out a request for proposals for a managing organization; a public hearing will be held before a contract is executed. There will also be a call for board applications, and voting members will include commercial property owners and renters, residential property owners and renters, and community representatives.

The city will approve the annual BID budget, which was set initially at $1.25 million, and determine the yearly tax rate, which was approved at 0.0877 cents per $100 of taxable value. Assessments will be levied for the 2025 tax year. For small businesses and low-income residents, consultants suggested an application for fee relief.

A map of the bid area of downtown asheville

I-240, Knoxville Place, Hilliard Avenue, Asheland Avenue, South Charlotte Street, and College Place make up the BID’s boundaries.

Map via City of Asheville

The direction for downtown

The BID board will decide what services are provided and projects supported, but the city’s resolution laid out initial general categories under which they’ll fall:

  • Safety and hospitality services will initially be a group of unarmed community stewards who will receive training to engage with the public, provide assistance, and connect people who are unhoused with community services.
  • Cleaning services include litter removal, pressure washing, weed removal, and graffiti abatement.
  • Special projects may include landscaping, events, business retention services, and holiday decor.
  • Administration will include overhead and management.

Public input and feedback will be sought annually (or more), annual reports to the city will be required, and a formal evaluation will be conducted in year four.

Dive into more details in the city’s resolution.

More from AVLtoday
Check out these yoga studios around the Land of the Sky, which offer beginner classes, memberships, hot yoga, and more.
Over the years, the Land of the Sky has been on the receiving end of some truly special gestures that reflect the heart and soul of the community. We’re reflecting on three unique gifts given to Asheville.
During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, make sure to take some time to support your own mental health with the help of these local resources.
Share your questions with us, and we’ll do our best to answer them throughout the year.
From dustings to blizzards, we have a long relationship with snow here in the mountains.
Whether pastries or breads, cupcakes or cookies — turn to the experts, and you’ll get the treats down in no time.
These Asheville restaurants will be serving up delicious dining over the holidays.
Winter is coming — and so are winter sports.
The Third Room is part live music venue and part art gallery, but brings digital art to the forefront throughout the entire space.
Sponsored