Downtown Fargo Businesses Onboard with Assessments

- Photo Gallery
- Community Calendar

Downtown Fargo Businesses Onboard with Assessments

Posted: Updated:

Downtown businesses are looking at spending another 215 thousand dollars to keep the area clean. The Downtown Business Improvement District is looking to businesses there for the go ahead to pay for improvements.

Downtown businesses will likely be paying for upgrades that they're banking on will bring more folks in.

"Basically the property owners are getting together and self assessing themselves to do things that are above and beyond what we would call base line city services." Says Mike Hahn the President of the Downtown Community Partnership.

Businesses like Zandbroz Variety say they'll pay about an extra 20 percent on top of their current assessment. It's all based on the size, location, and value of the commercial property businesses own.

"This is a new way of doing it where we're going to increase the ante a little bit so that not only can we preserve what we've done but also hopefully keep adding some small incremental improvements." Explains Zandbroz Variety owner Greg Danz who has been in the same downtown location for 21 years.

Downtown businesses have always paid for things like sidewalk repair, new lights, even the plants you see hanging in the summer on the boulevard. But this new assessment is going to get folks stretching what many consider downtown. It isn't just Broadway and this new assessment will work to change attitudes about where the lines are drawn.

"Feeding off of Broadway whether it's 1st Ave., 2nd Ave., or NP Ave. A lot of great new businesses are along these streets too and we want to bring them into the program and make sure people realize downtown is more than just Broadway." Says Danz who is excited about the expansion.

Those fees will help pay for new trees, recycle bins, holiday lights, and even more frequent street cleanings. It won't change the face of downtown overnight, but it could over time.

If it's approved by downtown businesses this will be the first business improvement district in North Dakota.

Local NewsMore>>
Moorhead May Stop Making Sandbags
Moorhead May Stop Making Sandbags
The city of Moorhead is considering getting out of the sandbag business. City Manager Michael Redlinger says the city spent nearly half a million dollars preparing for potential flooding for this spring,
Mayor Mark Voxland says paying for sandbags should fall to homeowners who have declined flood buyouts.
Death Toll Revised to 24 in Oklahoma Tornado
Death Toll Revised to 24 in Oklahoma Tornado
(CNN) Moore, Oklahoma -- Even for a city toughened by massive tornadoes, Moore has never seen this kind of devastation. The vicious tornado that ripped across central Oklahoma on Monday killed at least
MOORE, Okla. (AP) - The state medical examiner's office has revised the death toll from a tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb to 24 people, including seven children.
John's Jobs: Air Traffic Controller
John's Jobs: Air Traffic Controller
It's often referred to as one of the most stressful jobs, has recently made headlines, and keeps millions of people safe everyday. It's the job of an air traffic controller and it's at the University of
It's often referred to as one of the most stressful jobs, has recently made headlines, and keeps millions of people safe everyday. It's the job of an air traffic controller and it's at the University of
Rain Not Stopping Moorhead Construction
Rain Not Stopping Moorhead Construction
If you thought this continued rain could buy you some construction free time, think again. Crews in Moorhead worked through the rain yesterday cutting concrete and plan to continue work again today. The
If you thought this continued rain could buy you some construction free time, think again. Crews in Moorhead worked through the rain yesterday cutting concrete and plan to continue work again today. The
Emergency Action Plan for Renwick Dam Near Cavalier
Emergency Action Plan for Renwick Dam Near Cavalier
Emergency officials in northeast North Dakota are keeping a close watch on the Renwick dam and have told people downstream to prepare for a possible evacuation. Crews worked through the night Tuesday
Crews worked through the night Tuesday to support a spillway under construction.
Prosecutors Want Mental Health Notes on Rodriguez
Prosecutors Want Mental Health Notes on Rodriguez
Federal prosecutors want the notes of mental health professionals who examined a man convicted of killing of a University of North Dakota student more than nine years ago. Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., of Crookston,
Federal prosecutors want the notes of mental health professionals who examined a man convicted of killing of UND student Dru Sjodin more than nine years ago.
Tornado Blasts School near Oklahoma City
Tornado Blasts School near Oklahoma City
Authorities say an elementary school in an Oklahoma City suburb took a direct hit from a mile-wide tornado. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department says there is no word of injuries from
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office says 51 people have been killed in an Oklahoma City suburb after a massive tornado ripped through. An elementary school took a direct hit.
Fargo Emergency Crews Stand-by for Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
Fargo Emergency Crews Stand-by for Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
The devastation in Oklahoma is so widespread Oklahoma emergency responders are asking for help from around the country, and Fargo is preparing to make the trip. Valley News Team's Hope Hanselman spoke
The devastation in Oklahoma is so widespread Oklahoma emergency responders are asking for help from around the country, and Fargo is preparing to make the trip. Valley News Team's Hope Hanselman spoke
Crystal, N.D., Residents in Major Flood Fight Monday Night
Crystal, N.D., Residents in Major Flood Fight Monday Night
Resident in the northeastern North Dakota town of Crystal have a major flood battle on their hands Monday night. The 138 residents of that town, along with folks from neighboring towns have been battling
Resident in the northeastern North Dakota town of Crystal have a major flood battle on their hands Monday night. The 138 residents of that town, along with folks from neighboring towns have been battling
Minn. House Passes Daycare Union Bill
Minn. House Passes Daycare Union Bill
The Minnesota House has passed a bill that allows a union drive among home daycare providers and personal care attendants after about 10 hours of debate strung out over more than two days. The final vote
The Minnesota House has passed a bill that allows a union drive among home daycare providers and personal care attendants after about 10 hours of debate strung out over more than two days.

Downtown Fargo Businesses Onboard with Assessments - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Downtown Fargo Businesses Onboard with Assessments

Local NewsMore>>