Politicians give early support to big expansion of Hyde Park merchants group

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City politicians on Tuesday gave the initial OK to exploring a massive expansion of the Hyde Park business association, but not without skepticism as to how it will operate.

Members of council’s planning committee endorsed having city staff and the Hyde Park business improvement area (BIA) explore more than doubling its existing footprint.

The proposed boundary would stretch east to Wonderland Road, north to the city’s boundary, and south to Oxford Street, covering much of northwest London, including the Wonderland-Oxford intersection, Sherwood Forest and north to Sunningdale Road.

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“We believe this process will lead to a favourable outcome that supports not just the businesses, but the broader community,” said Donna Szpakowski, chief executive and general manager of the BIA.

BIAs are groups that focus on economic development in a specific neighbourhood or area. The groups work to support merchants, including small businesses, and champion beautification efforts in their districts. 

When a BIA is approved by city council, businesses within its boundaries become members of the group and pay a mandatory levy with their property taxes.

The proposed expanded BIA, which would be known as “Uptown London,” would add roughly 300 new businesses to its existing 400. It would have five districts: Hyde Park, Oakridge, Oxford-Wonderland, Sherwood Forest, and Wonderland-Fanshawe.

Ward 7 Coun. Corrine Rahman, who is a director with the BIA, said giving the green light would allow for further discussion with business and property owners.

“What I’ve heard from the parts of the boundary expansion that are within my current ward was a desire to have representation of a BIA,” she said, adding some new businesses she’s visited sometimes believe they already belong to the district.

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Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, who sits on the Argyle BIA board of directors, said as his area looks at a potential expansion, he is interested in the concept of distinct “nodes.”

But he expressed concerns with the BIA “biting off more than it can chew,” particularly at Oxford and Wonderland, where he worries large corporate chains could overshadow small businesses.

“One of the things that I appreciate about BIAs is the voice it gives to the owner-operator, the mom-and-pop businesses,” he said.

“I get a little concerned when some of the larger franchises get involved and either don’t participate, but complain a lot, or participate at such a rate that the mom-and-pops get drowned out.”

Planning committee members voted 5-0 to endorse having staff study the possible expansion: Rahman, Lewis, Steve Lehman, Skylar Franke and Steve Hillier.

If given final approval by full city council, city staff will complete a report and make a recommendation on the boundary shift and the additional tax levy for city council to consider. City staff say if one-third of business reject the new boundaries, they’d recommend against the change.

The Hyde Park BIA, launched in 1979 and officially recognized by city hall in 2017, is one of five in the city.

Three – the Argyle, Hamilton Road and Old East Village BIAs – are in London’s east end, with the fourth, Downtown London, covering the core. The levy paid by a typical storefront business within the Downtown London BIA, for example, is approximately $1,000 a year.

jmoulton@postmedia.com

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