Legislation to establish the Five Points Business Improvement District has begun working its way through committee at the Jacksonville City Council.
Legislation for the BID was introduced in July.
According to the Center for Innovative Financial Support at the USDOT Federal Highway Administration, BIDs are “privately directed and publicly sanctioned organizations that supplement public services within geographically defined boundaries by generating multiyear revenue through a compulsory assessment on local property owners and/or businesses.”
If established, the Five Points BID would be funded through an annual special assessment on the property tax bill for commercial property owners within the BID boundaries. According to Phillip Peterson of the Council Auditor’s Office, there are approximately 80 to 100 businesses in the Five Points area.
Five Points area merchants and community stakeholders spoke at the Aug. 18 Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee meeting, all in support of the proposed BID, highlighting the positive impact they believe the district would have on the community and underscoring the need for it.
Natalie Worth is the manager for Five Points Dental on Margaret Street. She spoke before the committee, detailing some of her firsthand experiences.
“In the past 10 years, we have had a group of individuals who hang out in Five Points that do not respect our businesses, employees, or patrons,” Worth told the committee. “My staff and I have been stalked and harassed by individuals when we’ve asked them not to camp out and panhandle in front of our business.”
Worth said establishing the BID would play a pivotal role in improving the Five Points area for merchants and residents alike.
“This BID would enable Five Points to fund and manage critical services to improve safety, cleanliness and landscaping,” Worth said. “Without this BID, I predict we will continue to lose small businesses, and eventually Jacksonville will lose historic Five Points.”
Following extensive committee discussion, during which NCSPHS Committee Member Ron Salem expressed hesitation to support the legislation just yet, inquiring whether District 7 City Councilmember Jimmy Peluso had obtained documents from the Five Points merchants expressing support for the BID.
“We are voting to tax people,” Salem said. “I want to personally be very careful that there is widespread, virtually close to 100% support before I support it.
Ultimately, Peluso agreed to defer the bill.
Following the meeting, Peluso said he wasn’t concerned about the discussion or the deferment.
“By no means was I hearing anything that made me feel like this effort is in jeopardy,” Peluso said. “I think people understand – especially with some of the business leaders who showed up – they understand the need for this Business Improvement District.”
Discussions surrounding the BID have been ongoing for some time. An exhibit included with the proposed legislation lists 14 different presentations Peluso held with Five Points property owners, merchants or other community stakeholders dating back to August 2024, underscoring the fact that the community has been involved and informed throughout this process.
Five Points Association President Dori Thomsen said she viewed the deferment as a good thing.
“It means they’re willing to hear us and see this through with us,” Thomsen said. “I thought that was a big positive, I thought it was insightful.”
Peluso said he anticipates revisiting the BID legislation with the committees following the September meeting for the Five Points Association, where he hopes to collect signed documents from area merchants in support of the bill.
“I’m just trying to show I’m here with a good faith effort to win over their support, and I think that that will do it,” Peluso said.
The next Five Points Association meeting will be held at Riverside Presbyterian Church’s Bittinger Hall on Monday, Sept. 8, at 10 a.m.
