Mt. Airy BID prepares for next step in renewal process

Now that the Mt. Airy Business Improvement District (BID) has introduced legislation before City Council for its charter renewal, board members are preparing for the next step in the renewal process. BID successfully completed a mailing of the resolution with a notification letter to affected property owners and is gearing up for a hearing before City Council’s Rules Committee. The Rules Committee hearing will be held June 12 at 10 a.m. in Council chambers where members will hear testimony in favor and in opposition of BID’s renewal. BID is seeking a five year renewal term.

“As as far as I know, we don’t have any naysayers but we won’t know for sure until that day,” said BID Executive Director, Hollie Malamud-Price.

BID board members agreed to skip the association’s monthly meeting for June to focus attendance on the hearing. BID will hold its next monthly meeting on July 10.

After the hearing, a second mailing will go out to property owners in August and BID will face another hearing before the Rules Committee in September.

 

Spring Flowers

BID will again be beautifying Germantown Avenue between Washington Lane and Cresheim Valley Drive with spring flower plantings starting this Friday. Malamud-Price noted that original timeline and strategy for the project have changed. “It can’t be done the way we envisioned it to be done,” she remarked.  The threat of rain was one of the issues involved in the date change. BID will begin planting this Friday, May 11 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and then resume planting on Monday, May 14 during those same hours.

In addition to some professional assistance from Awbury Arboretum, Malamud-Price said ten neighborhood volunteers have stepped forward and offered to help. The process will take longer than originally thought due to some logistics concerns. “We’re still looking for volunteers,” stressed BID’s Chair Ken Weinstein.

 

Graffiti And Other Matters Discussed

A recent rash of graffiti which has plagued Mt. Airy is high on BID’s priority list. “We’re going to get more involved,” stated Weinstein. Malamud-Price said that graffiti is being seen in numerous locations. BID’s street cleaning crew is removing most of the vandals’ marks along the commercial corridor and Malamud-Price is continuing to submit photos of the tags to 14th District Police. BID is also working together with a concerned neighbor, Kelly O’Day, who has been keeping an unofficial log of incidents. Malamud-Price stated that BID will talk about initiating a community gathering between other neighborhood organizations to address the problem at its next Clean and Safe Committee meeting. Witnesses to any graffiti are encouraged to notify BID. “If you see graffiti, let me know,” implored Malamud-Price.

Malamud-Price stated that BID received a “great response” from Mt. Airy Arts Garage for its rain barrel decoration project. The response has been so enthusiastic that Weinstein said he will be requesting five more barrels from the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), making a total of 20 rain barrels to be placed along Germantown Avenue. The collected rain will be used to water BID’s hanging flower baskets and planters as well as reduce storm water run-off. BID plans to install the barrels along the avenue in June, once they have been finished being painted.

BID approved a request from the 6300 Block Alliance to assist with purchasing costs for fencing screens to block the view of unkempt lots on the 6300 block of Germantown Avenue for its upcoming Juneteenth Celebration. BID agreed to pay the $160 price for one of the two screens desired.

It was also noted that BID’s treasurer, Gerard McCabe has given notice to vacate position and will no longer serve as a member of the board. BID is looking for a volunteer treasurer among its board members.