Roosevelt Row could soon have its own business improvement district, but at a cost.
The project would provide services like graffiti removal, event management and marketing for the Roosevelt Row Arts District. A Phoenix City Council committee unanimously recommended it on Tuesday.
If approved, it will cost $375,000. Business owners would pay 83 percent of that through property taxes, with the city funding the rest.
Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation founder Greg Esser said the community supports the project.
"This is a step in a maturing area of downtown that has suffered with blight and development challenges for decades and has become one of the most vibrant parts of downtown Phoenix," he said. "We’re very excited that this is something that will sustain the success of this area over the long term."
Esser said a handful of property owners are unhappy with the proposed tax increase, but a majority voluntarily pay for these services already.
The city council will vote on the proposal in November, and the final vote to establish the district is expected in December.