The Seattle City Council voted yesterday to renew the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) in Downtown Seattle for another 10 years, expanding the MID’s service area from 225 to 285 square blocks with the addition of the Belltown neighborhood and several added blocks in Pioneer Square.
The MID provides a broad range of services to Downtown that go beyond those provided by City of Seattle, including – streetscape cleaning, public safety, human services outreach, hospitality, and other services. The MID’s work is designed to keep Downtown’s participating neighborhoods inviting, clean and safe. The new service areas will begin on July 1, 2013.
Jim Miller, president of the Belltown Business Association, said his neighborhood is excited to be part of the MID. “We require added services in order to address our crime, human service and cleaning needs beyond what the City could offer. Now, as part of the MID, we’ll get the help we need.”
Each day, the MID’s team of 62 uniformed Ambassadors can be seen providing services in the Denny Triangle, Pioneer Square, Retail Core, Waterfront and West Edge neighborhoods, and now Belltown. MID Ambassadors clean streets and alleys, remove graffiti, help visitors find their way, coordinate services for people in need and much more. The MID also employs off-duty police officers who help reduce crime in special emphasis areas.
Among the enhancements a renewed MID will bring are:
- Additional MID Ambassadors for sidewalk and curb cleaning.
- Additional off-duty SPD teams to focus on drug activity and other illegal behavior.
- New retail recruitment program to help fill street-level storefront vacancies.
- More outreach services to homeless people and others in need.
Learn more about the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID)