Business improvement districts (BIDs) have become popular commercial revitalization tools. To date, the literature has focused on the experiences of large BIDs in the wealthiest parts of the city. The author offers qualitative and quantitative data on 41 of New York City’s BIDs in an effort to reveal differences in the form, function, and operating practices of large and small BIDs and the roles they play in urban development processes. Her key findings suggest that large and small BIDs fulfill different development functions. Small BIDs attend to the physical maintenance of an area. Midsized BIDs concentrate on marketing and promotional activities. Large BIDs, in addition to maintenance and promotion, engage in capital improvement activities. BID behavior appears to vary in relation to its resource base, type of commercial property represented, the composition and balance of power among key stakeholders, and the wealth of the community in which it is located.
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