Richmond's Carytown could become a business district

Richmond is starting the process of seeing whether Carytown could become a business district.

Why it matters: The change would create a funding stream that puts money toward beautifying the area, promoting its businesses and potentially adding public bathrooms.

• And it'd serve as the blueprint for doing the same in more neglected parts of the city like Brookland Park and Hull Street.

Driving the news: On Monday night, City Council gave Richmond the go-ahead to work with a consultant to establish a "Business Improvement and Recruitment District" (BIRD) in Carytown.

• This happened through a resolution that names potential future business district sites, like East Main in Shockoe, East Broad Street and Midlo Turnpike.
• It also gives the city until December to submit an ordinance to the council on how they're going to do it.

How it works: Becoming a BIRD would require Carytown business or property owners to pay an agreed-upon fee that will be used for certain projects like maintenance or marketing.

• Virginia law states that any businesses that might benefit from a BIRD have to submit what's basically a 12-point plan to the city.
• This is where the consultant comes in.
• "The complexities of establishing this district is not in our wheelhouse," said Kelley Banks, a Carytown business owner and city liaison for the Carytown Merchants Association (CMA).

Between the lines: Some council members hesitated over having Carytown considered as a business district before other areas in worse conditions and in need of attention.

• But Carytown is only up first because the CMA began the work of trying to bring hundreds of businesses on board years ago, said 5th District Councilmember Stephanie Lynch, who represents Carytown.

The latest: The CMA, which has a local committee looking at what the impact and benefits to businesses would be, told Axios they've had one intro meeting with the consultant so far.

• That means it's too early in the process to know how much businesses will have to chip in.
• "There is so much flux right now as we assess and think it through," they added.

Among the possibilities discussed, per the CMA:

• Having all 230 businesses chip in a small amount instead of just the 70 CMA members.
• Tackling a different project each year with the funding.
• Creating side street areas with benches and music.
• Adding public bathrooms.

What's next: The CMA is putting out a survey for businesses to share their priorities on where the money should go.