Business & Tech

Business Improvement District Makes a Presentation to Borough Council

Downtown Manager Malcolm Johnstone gives a run down on the health of the downtown district.

The West Chester Business Improvement District made its annual presentation to borough council during Tuesday night’s work session meeting.

Downtown Manager Malcolm Johnstone explained that the Business Improvement District is vital to the borough’s future financial success.

“We raise interest in people investing in downtown West Chester,” Johnstone said.  “Are job is to get investors into downtown, but also visitors.”

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Johnstone went on to say that the borough was actually the biggest retailer in West Chester.

“The Borough is the largest retail outfit in the borough,” Johnstone said.  “You rent out parking to everyone that comes into town.”

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Johnstone also acknowledged that he had work to do to meet the borough’s high goals for parking revenue.

“The borough has asked that parking be enhanced.  It wants an increase of $500,000 this year in parking revenue.  So the B.I.D. has to work harder to get people into town that want to park,” Johnstone said.

Johnstone also added that when he started in 2001 parking revenue in the borough was $821,000, in 2009 the borough raked in $2.6 million in parking fees. 

According to Johnstone, since the B.I.D was created property values in downtown have doubled twice, and they are ready to double again.

Johnstone also said that in the last year 33 new business opened in the borough and 24 closed or moved.

“So it was a net gain,” Johnstone said.


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