NID Could Cost Some Residents Less

Everybody loves the Easton Ambassadors.

But not everyone loves the idea that's being floated to help fund the program.

That much was clear from Wednesday night's city council meeting, where Easton held its second hearing on the proposed Neighborhood Improvement District (NID). There's still skepticism about the plan, even with some proposed changes.

The city is debating whether to implement the NID -- which would assess a fee on property owners in the district -- as a way of funding the Ambassadors and the Main Street Initiative.

Since the , the Greater Easton Development Partnership -- which would run the program -- has gotten feedback from residents, and adjusted accordingly.

Among the changes:

• Property owners would be assessed at a lower rate. Under the original proposal, all property owners would pay 6.95 mills, or $6.95 for every $1,000 of assessed value. Under the new proposal, single family residential property owners would pay just one mill. The GEDP is still working on what the assessment would be for other property owners, according to Donna Taggart, the consultant working on the NID.
• The GEDP says it will also provide more detailed information about the NID's inner workings, budget, etc. 
• The NID would have an administrative board, made up of one residential property owner, one commercial property owner, one mixed use property owner, a business owner, a representative from an institution, the mayor, and a member of city council.

"I think some of the changes are really good. And I don’t think anyone’s saying these programs aren’t valuable," said Laini Abraham, an Easton-based writer/publisher who lives and works Downtown.

In both cases, Abraham rents, and that's one of her issues with the NID: she has no say in what happens with it.

(A later speaker suggested having a long-time renter on the advisory board, as well as someone who could speak for Easton's homeless population.)

Abraham also bristled at the notion of hearing support for the NID from people who don't live in the city.

"I think the biggest problem Downtown Easton has is we need more residents," she said. "If you really want to help Downtown Easton, move here."

The city's most famous resident also objected to the NID. Larry Holmes said the fee -- his riverside property would be one of the hardest hit -- would force him to sell his building. He said people couldn't afford to pay another fee.

"People are still walking around not having anywhere to sleep, not having enough to eat," Holmes said.

The NID had some supporters as well. Mark Mulligan, a New Jersey developer and is revamping the Pomeroy's property, said it's not important how the city funds the NID, as much as it is simply to do it.

"What’s really important to me is that you guys decide to actually do a NID," said Mulligan, who chairs a Business Improvement District in New Jersey. "It shows you guys get it."

On a related note, council also heard Wednesday from Dennis Lieb, a member of the city planning commission who's proposed something called a Parking Benefits District, which -- as the name implies -- would allow property owners downtown to use revenues from parking.

He said the program has been successful in other cities, and told the story of a section of Pasadena, where the downtown used meter revenue to pay for improvements. 

Wednesday's hearing drew only about a third of the number of people who packed the Crayola Factory auditorium for the first hearing. And a few people apparently arrived at the meeting but found the doors locked, and thus left. 

The next public hearing on the NID is scheduled for October. The NID won't be approved by acclamation. Rather, if 40 percent file an objection to it, then it won't go forward. If it does go forward, city council will approve it in November or December.

If you have questions/comments about the NID, you can email glongenbach@easton-pa.gov or donna@taggartassociates.com. A copy of the proposed changes will be posted at the GEDP website.