Hartford committee backs amended ordinance to let Parkville property owners vote on a business improvement district

The Hartford Planning, Economic Development and Housing Committee on April 2 voted to send an amended ordinance to the full City Council that would let property owners in the Parkville neighborhood vote on creating the Parkville Business Improvement District, a special services district funded by a property assessment.

The ordinance, introduced by the mayor and drafted with city corporation counsel, would establish an 11‑member board to oversee cleaning, beautification, marketing and public‑safety ambassador services within roughly 400 properties in the Parkville area. If the council approves the ordinance, it would go to a referendum of district property owners; the district would begin only if a majority of owners and a majority of assessed value within the district vote in favor.

“This BID will have specific powers to enhance services within the district boundaries,” said Mary Corsi, who presented the ordinance on behalf of corporation counsel’s office. Corsi said the district map runs roughly north to West Boulevard and Capitol Avenue, east near Park Terrace and Pope Park, south to Flatbush Avenue and west to Prospect Avenue.

Nut graf: The committee approved two amendments before sending the ordinance to the full council: it inserted the…