Three popular Calgary Business Improvement Area boundaries (BIAs) are set to expand, with one of them to more than double in size.

The Marda Loop, Crescent Heights and 17 Avenue SW BIAs all went up for expansion approval at the Oct. 3 public hearing meeting of Calgary city council.

The degree to which each expands varies, with only minor adjustments to 17 Ave, a roughly 33 per cent growth of Marda Loop and Crescent Heights Village BIA set to more than double.  All three were eventually approved.

The city admin report touted the benefits of BIAs, saying they help contribute to the vibrancy and quality of life in an area with programming. They said they also provide a promotional service to businesses in a respective zone, and they provide advocacy for things like public realm improvements.

Camie Leard, executive director of the Crescent Heights Village BIA said their relatively new BIA brought businesses together to accomplish things they couldn’t do on their own. They were established in 2019.

“We’ve helped businesses navigate the pandemic, get grants, develop security, streetscape marketing events, community initiatives, and advocated for the businesses of the area with the city and province in matters of transportation, parking, COVID relief, and of course the green line LRT project,” she said.

Right now, Leard said they are about 120 businesses strong. Expanding the boundaries to include a portion of 16 Avenue roughly 4 Street NE to 4 Street NW, and Edmonton Trail from 16 Avenue NE to 6 Avenue would bring more people together to do more, she said.

“We’re a little BIA up to big things and we’d like to be a bigger BIA up to huge things,” Leard said.

“The proposed expansion would grow our financial resources while alleviating some of the burden on the businesses in our existing footprint.”

Businesses within a BIA pay a certain portion of property tax based on the assessed value of a business, multiplied by the BIA tax rate in that area.