What did BIDS emerge?
Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) represent a newer organizational response to the changing dynamics of metropolitan areas over the last 20 years, a period of decline of many downtown districts. Since the 1970’s suburban commercial centers and highways have lured shoppers and businesses away from city centers to the suburbs, causing municipal governments to loose crucial tax revenues. In many cases this loss was reflected in the deterioration of the urban landscape due to lack of funds for maintenance and improvements. The competitive advantages of downtown shopping areas- history, unique stores and human-scale infrastructure – were no longer enough to draw auto-dependent suburban residents away from malls that offer one stop shopping convenience. Shoppers came to expect the amenities provided by these new shopping centers, such as parking, climate control, visible security and entertainment. Since most public agencies continue to lack funds or the political will to improve the com
