ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the changing nature of retail and service activity in Canada’s downtowns and examines the role and effectiveness of business improvement districts (BID) in promoting downtown vitality. It explains the Canadian urban retail context with data on population and retail sales trends over time. The chapter provides the development, structure, and function of BIDs in the Province of Ontario; examples of typical activities undertaken by BIDs. It examines the role of strategic planning within downtown revitalization. In the case of BIDs, these strategic initiatives need to be developed, supported, and coordinated at the city, regional, provincial, and national levels to formulate “city building” policies that promote downtowns as places to work, live, and spend leisure time. The availability of data in geographically referenced format allows the BID to focus on areas within the BID, for example, comparing the retail strips within the BID with the three enclosed malls. These are Eaton Center, College Park, and the Atrium.
