Welcome to the planning site for Columbia, Missouri's downtown area.
When the Columbia Special Business District (SBD) was first formed in 1979, we only needed to worry about a small area around Ninth and Broadway. Likewise, the Central Columbia Association (CCA) could easily help promote the handful of retailers located in the area at the time.
Now The District has 43 blocks that are either just as vital as Ninth and Broadway or are well on the way to becoming so. Mixed-use residential development is planned and several catalytic development projects are in the works as well. Business recruitment and retention is becoming even more important as Columbia becomes a regional shopping, dining and entertainment destination.
We simply don´t have the resources—staff or financial—to keep up with this growth. After nearly three decades, it's time to restructure so we can better meet our members´ needs.
In early 2008, the SBD retained the services of the downtown consulting firm Progressive Urban Management Associates (P.U.M.A.) who conducted an organizational assessment of the SBD and the CCA. The consultants are considering a number of restructuring options including the possible formation of a Community Improvement District (CID), a district similar to an SBD but with the ability to pull in more revenues and offer a wider range of member services.
We invite all our members to read more about this restructuring process and take every opportunity to become involved along the way. By the end of this process, we hope to have a stronger organization that can not only do a better job at providing member services, but one that can be a stronger voice for our members as well.
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Draft CID Plan. Draft discussed at recent town hall meetings.
Administrative costs. Memo from our consultants with an overview of management and administration costs.
Recommended plan revisions. Based on town hall meetings, recommendations for a smaller district, elimination of a business recruitment staff position, and more funds for clean and safe programs.
Meeting Times. CID Steering Committee.
CID Newsletter. Read how CCA and SBD could increase programs and services for members.
SBD/CCA Newsletter. Read about our restructuring.
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.Carrie Gartner
