Council Report: East Lancaster becomes city’s 20th PID

At its Feb. 12 meeting, the Fort Worth City Council voted to make East Lancaster Avenue the city’s 20th Public Improvement District (PID).

The boundaries comprise approximately 243 acres of land generally described as all properties fronting onto East Lancaster Avenue, starting from the east curb of Riverside Drive eastward to the western edge of Interstate Loop 820, including properties in and parallel to the addresses in the 1800 to 6000 blocks of East Lancaster Avenue.

District 8 Councilwoman Kelly Allen Gray, in whose district the majority of the area lies, called it a security PID. She said it will address challenges such as panhandling and homelessness in the area.

The general nature of the proposed improvements and/or services to be provided within the PID include:

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*Landscaping, security enhancements, lighting, and various other streetscape amenities and capital improvements, including cameras, streets, sidewalk, roadways, and rights-of-way.

*Special supplemental services for improvement and promotion of the PID, including services relating to advertising, promotion, health and sanitation, water and wastewater, public safety, security, business recruitment, development, recreation, and cultural enhancement.

*Any other improvements and services allowed pursuant to code.

In order to ensure the proposed services and improvements are implemented, a program to enhance public safety within the area (including private security services, installing security cameras, coordinating awareness campaigns, and initiating efforts to address public safety and enhance economic vitality) may be put in place, along with coordinated communication and cooperative programs to inform local business of current events and fundraising opportunities.

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A preliminary estimate of the cost of the proposed improvements and/or services to be provided in the PID for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 is $218,190.

The city will not be obligated to provide any funds to finance the proposed improvements and/or services, other than from assessments levied on property in the PID. No city property will be assessed. All of the costs of the proposed PID will be paid by assessments of the property within the PID and from other sources of funds.

Gray has given credit to the Haydn Cutler Company (real estate developer), property owners in the area, the East Side Police Division Co-Compliance, and residents in the area who worked to get enough signatures on the petition.

Part of the area falls in District 5, which is represented by Councilwoman Gyna Bivens, who has also expressed praise for the project.