Hollywood seeks a business improvement district on Route 66

Look who’s arrived to the party — the fabled neighborhood of Hollywood in Los Angeles is seeking a Hollywood Route 66 Business Improvement District along a 2 1/4-mile stretch of the Mother Road, reported the Beverly Press.

The newspaper reported Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge is one of those who’ve taken the lead on the project:

Business owners and other stakeholders are pushing for a proposed Hollywood Route 66 Business Improvement District, which they said could help improve the area immensely and revitalize a potential sleeping giant of a business corridor. […]

Recently, LaBonge and City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, asked Caltrans to report to city council recommendations on how to enhance the significance and accessibility for portions of Route 66 located in the city. They also continue to support the business improvement district (BID) efforts there, having also asked the chief legislative analyst and Economic and Workforce Development Department to work with the group. […]

Makasjian said there is a lack of street services and money being poured into the area, and that a BID could help alleviate those problems. He believes the area is underutilizing the Route 66 moniker, which is known throughout the world — something that, in turn, could attract new businesses.

The district would be on Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Route 66) between Hoover and Vine streets. A map:

Somewhere along the line, I suspect someone in the city distributed a copy of the Route 66 Economic Impact Study. One figure in particular — total Route 66 spending each year is about $127 million — changed many municipalities from being indifferent to enthusiastic about the Mother Road.

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