Seattle’s Mayor Bruce Harrell enacted a law renewing and expanding the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) last week, a key component of his Downtown Activation Plan. Councilmembers Andrew Lewis and Sara Nelson, the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA), the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED), and leaders from various sectors were present to celebrate the unanimous approval of this legislation by the Seattle City Council.
The new legislation extends MID’s existence by ten years, enlarges its service boundaries to include the stadium district, and enhances an investment in cleaning services, downtown ambassadors, security, and more. The expanded MID will continue to bolster the downtown environment with cleaning and beautification efforts, safety and hospitality services, art installations, events, economic development, transportation and commuting services, and increased security. The MID, established in 1999, is one of 11 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) in Seattle, managed by the DSA, and now extends its services to additional areas, including part of the stadium region, due to the new legislation.
Mayor Harrell expressed, “When something works, we embrace it, we recommit to it, and we expand it – and that’s what this effort is about and why it’s a key element of our Downtown Activation Plan. The expanded MID will support workers and small businesses, uplift vibrant events and dynamic activities for all ages, create a clean and beautified urban setting, and showcase what makes this neighborhood special – reconfirming that our downtown is a place for everyone.”
The renewed legislation will increase cleaning services, provide more funding for unarmed security and downtown ambassador wages, and sustain crucial existing services. The MID plans to gather $18 million in ratepayer assessments for funding downtown services.
As one of the BIAs serving downtown areas, services offered through MID directly support the Mayor’s Downtown Activation Plan’s main objectives to ensure downtown remains a welcoming, safe, and vibrant place for all.
