Sentinel staff report–
Votes from property owners in the business improvement district encompassing Sunrise Mall and surrounding areas were counted during a City Council meeting on Thursday, adding up to a total of 96.84% in support of renewing the district and its related tax assessment on property owners for three years.
“Thank God!” said Councilman Bret Daniels, after hearing the results of the vote. “This is the businesses on the one-square-mile area around Sunrise Mall… that agree to tax themselves so that the Sunrise MarketPlace can make that area nicer, safer and whatnot.”
He also said there was “zero doubt” that without the PBID in place for the past two decades, “we would not see the success of the Sunrise MarketPlace area today.”
Other council members also chimed in to express gratitude for the Sunrise MarketPlace, which is a Property-based Business Improvement District representing 400-plus businesses in the Sunrise-Greenback commercial district. The district was formed in 1999 and plays a supportive and marketing role for businesses, along with hosting events and providing funding for a dedicated patrol officer to increase security in the district.
Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins commented on the challenges faced by the district in renewing this year, which at one point looked like it might not have enough support to pass. One challenge was trying to renew the district without the support of the mall’s majority owner, Namdar Realty Group, which is based in New York.
Since votes were weighted by assessed value of each property, Namdar’s vote would have carried significant weight. However, according to vote totals released by the district on Friday, Namdar did not end up submitting a ballot either in favor or against the renewal effort — leaving the decision up to the remaining property owners.
Kathilynn Carpenter, who has served as executive director for the Sunrise MarketPlace since its formation, said the votes of support show “the property owners appreciate and understand the importance of Sunrise MarketPlace to the overall economic viability of the District.”
She said over the next the next three years the district will “continue our programs of marketing, special events, economic development, security and maintenance.” She also said the district will be hosting some fall events this year and will be working with “Wide Open Walls” to bring more art to the district later this year.
Funding for the district comes from a property tax assessment paid by each of the roughly 80 property owners in the district, rather than being paid directly by business owners or coming from the city’s General Fund. Similar to a homeowners association, each property owner helps fund the PBID and likewise has a say in how that money will be spent to benefit their specific area.
The arrangement has made PBIDs increasingly popular among cities as a way to enhance commercial areas while not raising taxes on residents. However, property owners can be harder to convince, as it means increased taxes on their properties, which can also be passed down in the form of increased rent for the businesses occupying the properties.
In order for the tax to be levied, a majority of property owners in the district have to vote in favor of paying the assessment, with renewal votes historically coming up every five to seven years. Property owners were asked to renew again this year for a three-year term, otherwise the Sunrise MarketPlace PBID would have expired on Dec. 31, 2021.
Following the vote count from property owners, the City Council also voted in favor of renewing the district, with a 5-0 vote.
