Business owners wonder what proposed improvement district might do to, for them

Although it's a project that's been in the works since 2011, the creation of a downtown community improvement district still raises questions for local business- and property owners.

The idea to create the district goes back even further. It was proposed as one of the goals of the Downtown Strategic Plan created through the DREAM Initiative in 2009.

A Special Business District created in 1983 already exists in the riverfront area along portions of Spanish, Main and Water streets, and generates revenue through a property tax. The district will dissolve if the CID is approved by voters.

The property tax proposed under the current CID is $0.6708, which is equal to that of the Special Business District, so most downtown property owners likely won't notice a difference, said Jim Maurer of the CID steering committee. It will be an increase for other businesses, such as those along Broadway, that fall under the proposed CID but not the Special Business District. The CID also would impose a half-cent sales tax within its boundaries.

The problem with the existing district and part of the reason for the new one is restricted-spending options. By law, the tax revenue generated by the Special Business District can be spent only on capital improvements, meaning no funds are set aside for maintenance.

Customers at Cup ‘N Cork, 46N. Main St., on Friday in Cape Girardeau. The downtown restaurant is one of the business that may be affected if voters approve the creation of a downtown community improvement district. (Adam Vogler)

In its 30 years, the tax from the district helped fund the iconic clock at Themis and Main streets, planters, benches and parking lot improvements, as well as the lights in the downtown area.

The Downtown Redevelopment Corp. is the entity that oversees how Special Business District tax revenue is spent, and Maurer said when it receives that money, "they hold on to it and when they have enough they buy something. People think it's the city, but guess where it's coming from?"

But now the clock needs to be repaired and weeds need to be removed from the planters, but he said funding for that work is not available. The area also struggles to keep the streets free of trash.

"A lot of people say they thought the city should be paying for this stuff already. But when you want more services, when you want to enhance those services and do more for the area than what the city is able to provide, then you have to find a way of doing it yourself," said Maurer. "And that's the whole concept [of the CID]."

Among the main services the CID would provide is additional patrolling security, either from private security or off-duty police officers, and trash pick up.

Customers at Cup ‘N Cork, 46N. Main St., on Friday in Cape Girardeau. The downtown restaurant is one of the business that may be affected if voters approve the creation of a downtown community improvement district. (Adam Vogler)

Laurie Everett is a business owner and resident within the proposed CID boundaries. She said she feels a personal responsibility to make the community a better place, which is why she's been a longtime supporter of the CID.

"I live, work, breathe downtown, and if I didn't think it was going to benefit me and other businesses down here, it would not have been something I would have got on board to do," she said.

She regularly walks in front of her store, Annie Laurie's Antiques, at the intersection of Broadway and North Frederick Street and picks up trash. She even picks it up in front of surrounding businesses so visitors coming down the street get a good impression as they enter the downtown area. But Everett said she knows there are still plenty of other properties with littered lawns.

Maurer said Old Town Cape pays for a once-a-week trash pickup from Teen Challenge, but as the area becomes "busier" it needs to become a daily service. Graffiti and weed removal also need to be addressed.

"We want to make the best first impression we can for people that are coming into Cape Girardeau so it's a place they want to come back to," Everett said. "I know if I'm going to another place, I would want it to be clean, attractive and safe."

But Linda Deimund, owner of Great Looks Hair Designs, 1022 Broadway, said she doesn't believe any of those components are an issue.

"I don't see how any of this is going to benefit us when we're already attractive, safe and clean up here," she said of businesses farther west on Broadway near the edge of the CID's boundaries. "We don't have the problems the downtown area has. If you drive up and down this street, very seldom will you ever find trash along here."

As the owner of a business and two apartments nearly a mile from the downtown area, Deimund said she's concerned she will be paying taxes for services that won't actually reach her area.

Maurer said the CID will have a board of directors responsible for seeing services carried out across the entire district. Lindy Lysell, Dave Hutson, Sheila Saur, Kent Zickfield, James Stapleton, Daniel Statler and Southeast Missourian publisher Jon K. Rust are the board members proposed under the CID petition approved earlier this month by the Cape Girardeau City Council. The CID is a separate political body independent of city government.

Another concern of Deimund's is possible beautification projects this board might approve. When the Broadway Corridor project was done, many businesses lost parking, something that's already scarce around her beauty shop. She's also not interested in having benches, planters or any other beautification items placed around her business.

"[The CID] is not as simple as other people in town see," Deimund said. "They don't live here, they don't have a business here and they don't understand ... what having a CID is, and, No. 2, the tax that will affect only a few of us."

Deimund said she's not much concerned about the sales tax, but worries about the property tax, which affects current property owners and anyone who may purchase property within the district in the future.

While many business owners, such as Everett and Deimund, have taken a clear stance on the CID, others remain unsure of the district and what it will do for -- or to -- their businesses.

Among those uncertain of their views on the complicated issue is Tina Abbott, who owns Cup 'n Cork, 46 N. Main St., with her husband, Patrick.

"I've tried to read up on it and I've heard people discuss different things, but I'm still not 100 percent clear on what it is and what it means to me as a business owner, a downtown business owner," she said.

Abbott said she hopes to continue to learn more about the CID through more research and discussion from people knowledgeable about the issue.

Before the property or sales tax can take effect or services can be funded, the registered voters within the CID's boundaries must approve the measure via mail-in ballot. Maurer said there are about 150 registered voters in the proposed district and efforts will be made to reach each of them to answer questions and encourage them to mail their ballots. These efforts will begin in coming months after the CID board of directors petitions the Cape Girardeau County Clerk's office to call the election.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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