South City’s downtown may start to see more beautification and maintenance projects over the next couple years, as business owners and electeds work on designating the area a business improvement district.
Such districts “allow businesses or property owners to self-assess themselves and use those funds for various improvements and programs within the specific district boundary,” according to a recent staff report. They are also in place in San Mateo, Redwood City and Burlingame. South City has also been discussing creating a community facilities district in an area east of Highway 101 — which includes a substantial life science presence — where property owners may approve an additional tax to help fund transportation infrastructure efforts.
If approved, downtown business license holders, not property owners, could use the additional funds — ranging from a $200,000 to $300,000 budget per recent estimates — toward cleanup and safety efforts, as well as on marketing and events
“Really what this allows you to do is have a voice that can liaise with public agencies and partners but also more effectively improve property values, increase sales, reduce crime, enhance physical appearance and really start sprucing up the downtown for it to be more inviting,” said Nathan Ulsh, partner at Community Strong Strategies.
As currently proposed, the district would include Grand Avenue up to Spruce Avenue, as well as Linden Avenue in between Baden and Aspen avenues.
“It doesn’t mean that we are removing police officers and bringing in Allied Security … but as we have seen in many programs that we have initiated, we are essentially starting the pilot, we initiate and start the program but then we transfer it over to an entity, an agency, a nonprofit, that will then carry it on, as we have seen with the Economic Advancement Center,” Mayor Eddie Flores said.
Councilmember James Coleman said he could be in favor of eventually leaving part of the area closed to vehicles, similar to San Mateo’s downtown.
“Maybe we find some sort of medium where maybe one day a week we close a portion of Grand and Linden and open it up more to foot traffic. I think the business would really appreciate it,” he said.
Staff plans to finalize a draft by the end of the year and begin the public hearing process in 2026.
