Thank you to everyone who participated in the first South Side Business and Property Owners Survey this past summer. We heard your feedback loud and clear: like us, you are willing to invest in a better visitor and customer experience on our streets and to reintroduce the East Carson Street business district to the region as a first-choice destination.

Since August, the East Carson Street Business District Advisory Committee has reviewed the survey’s majority opinions and identified next steps. Three focused subcommittees—Programs & Services, Revenue & Assessment Methods, and Legal Formation Process—were formed to explore what it would look like to establish a Management Association for the corridor. The work of these subcommittees and the Advisory Committee will result in a first draft of a Plan for an Improvement District Management Association for the East Carson Street corridor.

Through this survey, we are seeking your feedback on the key points of the draft Plan we are working on, so we can refine our direction and priorities as this work moves forward.

If you have questions about this effort, the survey includes an opportunity to submit open-ended questions, and we will follow up with you individually.

To fellow property owners and businesses: this is about taking a business-minded approach to support a better business environment, stronger tenant demand, improved street conditions, and long-term economic growth for the corridor. We hope you will take this survey and be part of East Carson Street’s turnaround and growth.

Sincerely,


John DeMauro

Business Owner, The Urban Tap

Property Owner, 1209 East Carson Street

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* 1. Name

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* 3. Phone Number

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* 4. Property Information (Choose all that Apply)

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* 5. What is your property address or addresses?

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* 6. Which of the following uses apply to your property/properties? (Check all that apply.

The Proposed Boundaries for a Management Association are shown below.
1. The Proposed Boundaries for a Management Association are shown below
This includes:

The entire “Local Neighborhood Commercial” (LNC) zoning district, designated by the City of Pittsburgh for the East Carson Street corridor.

Due to Bedford Square being one of the District’s natural hubs for event programming, the two “Neighborhood Industrial Districts” (NDI) on the eastern side of Bedford Square are also included.

Due to 10th Street’s importance as a gateway to the District and its potential for improvement through gateway branding and placemaking investments, the commercial properties on the northern side of 10th St are also included.

Note: The paying properties within this Plan would be all commercial or commercial residential properties with a commercial purpose. All single-family, owner-occupied residential properties and tax-exempt properties within these boundaries would be exempt from paying.

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* 7. Do you agree that the proposed boundaries are appropriate for additional resources focused on Public Space Maintenance & Improvements, Branding & Image Development, Economic Vitality & Storefront Activation, and Events & Marketing?

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* 8. How important is each of the following Public Space Maintenance & Improvements services to you?
Please select one option for each item.

  Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important
Expanded daily litter removal on all streets within the map boundary with enhanced weekend service
Graffiti and sticker/tag removal on public-facing surfaces
Sidewalk and curb weed removal and light landscape maintenance
Enhanced seasonal décor and holiday lighting to elevate customer experience
Small-scale public realm improvements such as planters, public art, wayfinding, and placemaking elements that elevate customer experience

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* 9. To what extent do you agree with the following statement: Public Space Maintenance & Improvements is important for delivering an elevated customer and tenant experience in the District.

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* 10. How important is each of the following District Brand & Image Development services to you?
Please select one option for each item.

  Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important
Development of a refreshed district brand, messaging, and identity, to re-introduce the South Side to the region
Strategic PR campaign to promote the district’s progress, safety improvements, and business community
Ongoing perception-shift campaigns that reinforce responsible enjoyment and a welcoming environment

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* 11. To what extent do you agree with the following statement: District Brand & Image Development is important for reintroducing the South Side to our region's customers, resulting in higher foot traffic and increased revenue for businesses and properties within the district.

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* 12. How important is each of the following for Economic Vitality & Storefront Activation services?

  Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important
Temporary pop-ups and storefront activation projects
Financial support and technical assistance for window displays, artistic installations, and visual merchandising for vacant spaces
Recruitment outreach to entrepreneurs and targeted business sectors
Storefront business engagement for resource sharing and helping navigate state and local government
On-call assistance for brokers, storefront businesses and property owners

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* 13. To what extent do you agree with the following statement: Economic Vitality & Storefront Activation is important for reducing vacancy by highlighting storefront leasing opportunities, thereby attracting new business leasing activity.

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* 14. How important are each of the following Events & Marketing services?

  Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important
Creating and implementing signature and seasonal events
Promotions and campaigns that highlight local businesses and district events
Social media, newsletters, website updates, and district-wide communications
On-the-ground event coordination and logistics support through part-time staffing

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* 15. To what extent do you agree with the following statement: Events & Marketing is important for bringing new and returning visitors to the district, resulting in higher foot traffic and therefore increased revenue for businesses and properties within the district.

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* 16. Please rank the following in order of Importance.

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* 17. Do you think a $500,000 total budget for all programs would be enough to start?

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* 18. The proposed method of determining the Management Association fee and rate is based on the parcel's linear street frontage of the address side of properties that are within the proposed boundaries. Do you agree with using linear frontage or would you prefer another method?

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* 19. Across Pennsylvania, similarly sized, well-established improvement district management associations regularly leverage their baseline budget to raise an equal amount through sponsorships and grants, doubling their impact. Do you think the Management Association, if formed, should also actively seek philanthropic and government grants as well as private and corporate sponsorships?

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* 20. Do you think a pilot term of five (5) years for the Management Association is a:

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* 21. With a budget of $500,000, the average annual cost per property, based on the linear street frontage of the address side, would be around $100 per month. Among the more than 360 properties included within the boundaries, over 65% would pay less than $1,000 per year.

For the proposed services and cost, which of the following statements most reflects your thinking?

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* 22. Would you like someone on the Advisory Committee to reach out to you directly to discuss any questions you might have and the potential cost for your specific property? (Pick One: Yes, No, Unsure)

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* 23. Any other comments?

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