Editor's note: This story has been updated with the Common Council vote and reaction from East Tosa BID supporters.
Three weeks ago, a campaign to create a new business improvement district along North Avenue in East Tosa appeared headed for failure as opposing property owners mobilized to block it.
Supporters of the East Tosa BID didn't give up. They continued to contact property owners to rally them behind the idea.
Now, in a dramatic turnaround, the plan appears to be back on track. The Wauwatosa Common Council has scheduled a final approval vote Oct. 28, after seven property owners reversed course at the last minute and withdrew their signatures from an opposition petition. [Update: The council voted 13-1 to approve the BID, with only Joseph Makhlouf of District 3 voting no.]
Business improvement districts, under Wisconsin statutes, are run as independent entities similar to nonprofit boards, but they require city approval because they are funded by a tax that is levied on participating businesses and collected by the city on behalf of the BID. Opposition from owners representing at least 40% of the assessed value of all contributing properties in the proposed BID would be enough to block formation of the district.
Opponents of the East Tosa BID filed their petition in early October with enough signatures to derail the plan. But documents attached to the agenda of the next Common Council meeting show that by persuading seven property owners to reverse their opposition, supporters of the BID succeeded in dropping overall opposition to 37%.
The following are the seven property owners who initially signed the opposition petition but then withdrew their signatures: Benjamin Bondow of 7106 W. North Ave., Geoff Trenholme of 6822 W. North Ave. (Rocket Baby Bakery), Timothy Olson of 7200 W. North Ave. (the former Chinese Pagoda), Chris Konicek of 6927 W. North Ave. (Mathnasium and others), Katie Poulous of 7001 W. North Ave. (Alfa Flower Shop), Andrew O'Neil of 6505 W. North Ave. (Little Village Play Cafe and others) and Robert Mueller of 6715 and 6731 W. North Ave. (Subway and others).
"This is a huge step forward for our community — the result of months of conversations, collaboration, and care from property owners, business owners, and neighbors who all share one goal: making North Avenue stronger, safer, and more vibrant for everyone," supporters said on social media Oct. 29.
Wauwatosa currently has only one Business Improvement District, in Tosa Village. Advocates of creating an East Tosa BID have said it would establish a sustainable model for growth and vitality in the district and allow businesses collectively to advocate for safety and physical improvements and to market North Avenue beyond the neighborhood.
Under the East Tosa district’s proposed operating plan, nonresidential properties on North Avenue from 60th Street to Wauwatosa Avenue would be taxed at $1.50 per $1,000 in assessed value, up to a maximum of $5,000 each, to fund an annual BID budget of about $140,000, including a paid part-time director. It would not tax homeowners.
Proponents tried to create an East Tosa BID in 2014 and again in 2015 but failed to rally enough support. After more than a decade of advocacy, businesses that favor a BID are ready to celebrate a long-delayed victory.
