Assignment 1, Crafting a Comprehensive Definition (10%)
There is no standard BID definition. Based on the assigned readings, each student will craft a definition that describes the elusive business improvement district concept. In no more than two pages (1.5 spacing, 12pt font), craft a clear, concise, and comprehensive definition. If necessary, your definition may consist of several sentences. Briefly explain how you constructed your definition, citing the experience or literature upon which you relied most heavily.
Assignment 2, A Short Research Paper (35%)
You have five to seven weeks (depending on when you get started) to write a short research paper that carefully examines the emergence and success of one business improvement district organization. This assignment requires some primary data collection, so it's important to get started right away and work on the assignment regularly. First, consult with the instructor to determine which business improvement district organization you will study as well as the data sources available to you.
The paper must include three parts. Part one will describe the context, and address the following questions. Which historic, economic, political, social events or trends at the national, regional, or local level likely contributed to the need for BID organizations in this context? For part two, provide an intimate description of the BID organization you selected. Some of the information you will encounter (via the WWW) will be promotional in nature. Yet, you should provide an objective description of this organization's activities. Additionally, identify and describe one program or service provided by this organization that you find particularly interesting and elaborate. In part three, you will explain how and why this organization developed by answering these questions. What conditions and forces explain the emergence and success of the BID legislation? Which entities and individuals were instrumental in promoting BID legislation? BID formation? Describe how these actors promoted the transfer of BID policy.
For example, did they experience resistance? If so, from whom? What strategies or techniques did they use to overcome political and other obstacles? You may include relevant lecture notes from this course to inform your argument.
To begin, familiarize yourself with the organization as well as its broader economic, political, and social context by examining a wide range of secondary data sources such as enabling legislation, public hearing transcripts, scholarly papers, books and newspaper articles, survey responses and other information from the International BID Project. Next, identify the questions you remain unable to address (likely those in part three). To answer these questions, you need to engage yourself in the process of primary data collection. Given the limited amount of time you have to spend on this assignment, the most reasonable approach is a series of semi-structured, personal telephone interviews (with BID managers, public sector service providers, government officials, etc.). This is the most challenging aspect of the assignment, and will require time, creativity and tenacity.
You will limit your paper to twelve pages (1.5 spacing, 12 point font). Include a title page, endnotes or footnotes, and bibliography.
Assignment 3, The Business Improvement District, Friend or Foe? (20%)
While BID organizations have received praise and positive press, they have also inspired controversy and have their share of critics. This assignment requires you to take a firm stance with respect to the topic. You will argue that "the BID movement is fundamentally good" --or-- "the BID movement is fundamentally bad." Rely on the information you gathered for the research paper to serve as a foundation for your position. Said another way, you must base your argument on the city you studied in Assignment 2. To begin, consider the following. Do BIDs cause inequalities in the delivery of public services? How many BIDs currently exist in this city? How many are under consideration? What is the collective function of these organizations? What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of their spatial arrangement? Does the proliferation of these publicly endowed yet privately managed organizations contribute to the political, economic, social and spatial fragmentation of the urban realm? Write a short paper, no longer than five pages (1.5 spacing, 12 point font) to communicate your argument. Support your argument with empirical evidence and common sense.
Assignment 4, Synthesis of Lessons Learned: Recommendations for the City of Boston (25%)
The final assignment is a group project, and gives students an opportunity to not only shape BID policy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but alter the outcome of Boston's central artery corridor project. Your client, the Artery Business Committee (ABC), is interested in implementing a BID to fund and oversee the maintenance and operation of the corridor's public spaces.
They would like you to analyze the Commonwealth's pending legislation. How does it compare to Pennsylvania's legislation? New Jersey's? Based on your analysis, formulate a list of recommendations that describe the improvements for which ABC should advocate. Next, and based on lessons learned from other cities, highlight the opportunities and pitfalls associated with forming and operating a BID organization (ie. participating in the BID movement). Together, you will compile a written report for ABC, and deliver a slide presentation (using PowerPoint and on the last day of class) that summarizes the report. Keep in mind that these deliverables will be posted on boston.com (http://www.boston.com/beyond_bigdig/), and may alter the direction this world renowned project.
Attendance and Participation (10%)
The quality of this course depends on your contribution. It is my best hope that we will enjoy the process of exploring this topic and getting to know one another. While it is reasonable to miss a session due to illness or emergency, you must notify me in advance if you will be absent more than once.
Assignment 1, Crafting a Comprehensive Definition (10%)
Assignment 2, A Short Research Paper (35%)
Assignment 3, The Business Improvement District, Friend or Foe? (20%)
Assignment 4, Synthesis of Lessons Learned: Recommendations for the City of Boston (25%)