NORTH CENTER — North Center's Special Service Area — a local tax district that funds services like snow removal and trash pickup — is up for renewal, and residents are being asked to provide feedback on the SSA's value and a proposed expansion of the district's boundaries.
Preliminary results of a community survey show that North Center neighbors are satisfied with current services, including the SSA's beautification efforts and snow plowing, but would like to see the addition of graffiti removal, in particular, and the development of public spaces such as Town Square.
Town Square, at 4100 N. Damen Ave., was, not coincidentally, the location for the first of two community meetings held recently to explain to residents why the SSA is needed.
A proposed budget for 2015 was also presented, as was a recommendation to expand the SSA's boundaries to include a stretch of Irving Park Road from Western Avenue to the Chicago River in order to better align with a new streetscape, along with Town Square, which would make the space eligible for improvement funds.
SSA #38 was established in 2006 and is managed by the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce, with oversight provided by an SSA commission made up of volunteers from the neighborhood.
"The current SSA is a 'clean and green' SSA. It exists because there are no other city funds to do that," said Michael McCallum, a member of the advisory committee that's shepherding the renewal process.
In addition to snow and trash removal, the SSA maintains flower planters and community "identifiers" — banners and obelisks — and has played a role in connecting entrepreneurs to vacant properties in the neighborhood, according to Lindsay Eanet, associate director of the Northcenter Chamber.
"We want to attract new businesses, new residents and new visitors," she said.
SSAs, more commonly known as "business improvement districts" outside of Illinois, collect an additional tax from property owners who live directly along the SSA's boundaries. In the case of North Center, the current boundaries are Irving Park Road between Ravenswood and Campbell avenues, Lincoln Avenue between Addison Street and Montrose Avenue, and Western Avenue between Belmont and Montrose avenues.
"The funds stay local and are administered locally," said Warren Silver, chairman of the SSA #38 commission.
According to representatives from PLACE Consulting, which is working with the advisory committee on its renewal applications, there are 1,363 properties within the SSA's boundaries, including the expansion. The SSA's current tax rate of .164 percent nets nearly $244,000 annually.
Data provided by PLACE show that while commercial properties account for just 24 percent of the Property Identification Numbers within the SSA, they contribute 60 percent of the Equalized Assessed Value.
Some residential property owners — there are 946 total, and of that 713 are condos — said they're bearing an unfair burden that should be spread among everyone who lives in North Center if the entire neighborhood is benefiting.
Kimberly Bares, president of PLACE Consulting, explained that an Illinois state statute dictates the way SSA funds are generated.
The proposed budget for 2015 shows $146,000 allocated toward public way aesthetics, with the next largest line item of $44,000 going toward personnel.
Residents have a second opportunity to provide feedback on the SSA, its priorities and budget at a community meeting scheduled for 9 a.m., Friday, at St. Benedict's School, secondary school library, 3911 N. Bell Ave.
The survey regarding the SSA's current and potential services is available online.
Next steps in the renewal process: an application will be submitted to the Chicago Department of Planning and Development on Aug. 15; a public hearing will be conducted by City Council in the fall; and the SSA would receive its renewal in January 2015, which would be good for 15 years.
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