SSA / Bid Projects
PLACE has assisted numerous Chicago business districts with the process of creating and reconstituting their Business Improvement Districts, known as Special Service Areas (SSAs) in Chicago. By designing a consistent process that meets City of Chicago submittal requirements, we are able to accomplish multiple objectives: submit successful creation/reconstitution applications, build capacity of local organizations to manage their business districts, and generate support and knowledge within the community for this powerful community economic development tool.
Our initial step with these projects is to assist, as needed, with the creation of an Advisory Committee of stakeholders to guide deliberations on the specifics of the SSA (boundaries, tax rate, tax rate cap, budget, services provided, etc.) and to take the results of their discussions to the larger community in the form of recommendations. We advise our clients to include both champions of the SSA concept on their advisory committees as well as naysayers who will help be a barometer for skeptics in the community.
By analyzing PIN information on all properties, PLACE helps clients project potential revenue scenarios and calculate necessary tax levies to accomplish their work plan objectives. By the end of the process, the advisory committees are well-versed regarding in the specifics of an SSA as a tool, having developed a vision for the SSA, been familiarized with property data and EAV analysis, explored boundary options, reviewed the results of needs assessment surveys distributed throughout the community, prepared a budget and work plan, and identified key metrics to track the effectiveness of the SSA. In order to move forward with approvals from the City, PLACE assists clients with the collection of signatures of support in a variety of ways from strategizing on meeting the 20% City policy requirement, to designing online and other tools for collecting signatures, and, in some cases, assisting with door-to-door visits to obtain declarations of support.
Partial List of Projects since 2006:
- Chinatown SSA, Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, new SSA constitution
- Roscoe Village SSA, Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce, new SSA constitution
- Lincoln Square SSA #21, Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce, SSA reconstitution
- Lincoln Avenue SSA #35, Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, SSA reconstitution
- Roseland SSA #40 and #41, Calumet Area Industrial Commission, SSA reconstitutions
- State Street SSA #1, Chicago Loop Alliance, reconstitution
- Michigan Avenue SSA, Magnificent Mile Association, new SSA constitution
- West Town SSA #29, West Town Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Lincoln Avenue SSA #35, Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Devon Avenue SSA #43, West Ridge Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Greektown SSA #16, West Central Association, reconstitution
- Hyde Park SSA #61, South East Chicago Commission, new SSA constitution
- Albany Park SSA # 60, North River Commission, new SSA constitution
- Marquette Park SSA #14, Lithuanian Human Services, SSA reconstitution
- Western Avenue SSA #20, Morgan Park/Beverly Hills Business Association, SSA reconstitution
- Walden SSA #64, Morgan Park/Beverly Hills Business Association, new SSA constitution
- Clark/Morse/Glenwood SSA #24, Rogers Park Business Alliance, SSA reconstitution
- Greater Pilsen SSA, The Resurrection Project, new SSA constitution
- Irving Park SSA, Northwest Community Corporation, new SSA constitution
- South Chicago SSA #5, South Chicago Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Andersonville SSA #22, Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Edgewater SSA #26, Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Mt. Greenwood SSA #55, Mt. Greenwood Community and Business Association, new SSA constitution
- Bronzeville SSA #56, Quad Communities Development Corporation, new SSA constitution
- West Town SSA #29, West Town Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Central Lakeview SSA #17, Central Lakeview Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Lakeview SSA #27, Lakeview Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Lakeview East SSA #8, Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Sheridan Road SSA #54, Rogers Park Business Alliance, new SSA constitution
- Bronzeville SSA #47, Quad Communities Development Corporation, SSA program management, project consulting and demographic analysis
- South Shore/Exchange SSA #49, Southeast Chicago Chamber of Commerce, new SSA constitution
- Avalon/Calumet SSA #50, Southeast Chicago Chamber of Commerce, new SSA constitution
- Old Town SSA #48, Old Town Merchants and Residents Association, new SSA constitution
- Northalsted SSA #18, Northalsted Business Alliance, new SSA reconstitution
- Marquette Park SSA #14, Lithuanian Human Services, reconstitution
- Little Village SSA #25, Little Village Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Clark Street SSA #23, Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, reconstitution
- Lincoln Avenue SSA #35, Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, PIN analysis
- Sauganash Area, Sauganash Chamber of Commerce, PIN analysis
- Roseland SSA #40, Regional Redevelopment Corporation, new SSA constitution
- Roseland SSA #41, Regional Redevelopment Corporation, new SSA constitution