As the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID), we often get asked: “What is a city improvement district?” As a result, in the 2018 winter edition of City Views, we covered this topic extensively.
A city improvement district is a special ratings area that offers top-up services to ratepayers in addition to those rendered by its primary partners, the City of Cape Town and the South African Police Service. What you may not know is that the CCID doesn’t offer these services to the entire CBD, but – just like the other city improvement districts across Cape Town – only in the geographical area that falls directly within its own footprint.
The CCID operates in the traditional downtown of the City of Cape Town across an area measuring 1.6km² – this stretches from Buitensingel to FW de Klerk Boulevard, and from Buitengracht to Canterbury Street. The geographical boundaries of the CCID are indicated on the map above.
Everything the CCID does is strictly within this footprint, funded by the ratepayers in this area. What’s more, the area within which the CCID operates is divided into four precincts, namely, Precinct 1 (the Foreshore), Precinct 2, Precinct 3 and Precinct 4 (East City).
WHY IS THIS THE CASE, YOU ASK?
The term “city improvement district” (CID) refers to a specific geographical area, approved by the City Council in terms of the Municipal Property Rates Act, Section 22 (Special Rates Area [SRA]), and the SRA bylaw, in which complementary top-up services are provided in addition to those rendered by the CID’s primary partners. A CID is brought into operation when property owners (more than 50% of them are required) vote to have such an entity within their own “neighbourhood”.
Essentially, the CCID (which happens to be the first and therefore the oldest city improvement district in Cape Town) exists in terms of this legislation; together with another 39 city improvement districts currently in the metropole that also operate within their designated boundaries. A city improvement district can’t work beyond its boundary, even if this is literally across the street.
WHAT EXACTLY DOES THE CCID DO?
The CCID is a public-private partnership that was established in 2000 by local property owners with a vision for the Cape Town Central City (or CBD) to rise from the crime and grime scenario it had fallen into by the late 1990s, to once again become a safe, clean and caring urban environment that is open for business. Today, thanks to the efforts of the CCID and its primary partners, the CBD is once again a vibrant area for investment and a world-class live, work, play and stay destination that is welcoming to all.
Here are the top-up services delivered by the CCID
- Office of the CEO: Drives the strategy behind the work of the CCID and oversees the day-to-day operations of the four CCID departments.
- Safety & Security: Provides top-up services to those delivered by the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement agency and SAPS to maintain safety in the Central City.
- Urban Management: Together with its partners at the City of Cape Town, provides a clean, attractive and risk-reduced urban environment in the CBD for all to enjoy.
- Social Development: Engages with the Central City’s most vulnerable daily to assist street people towards the services they need and works with various NGOs who aid the homeless and destitute.
- Communications: Collaborates across all departments to promote the work of the CCID and encourage investment into the Central City.
With a full-time staff of 22 people, the CCID overseas a total workforce of around 600 people who carry out the organisation’s mandate to manage the spaces “in between” the buildings of Cape Town’s traditional CBD or “downtown”.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Membership of the CCID is open to all property owners within the CCID boundary. Members can exercise their rights to influence the business of the city improvement district and are entitled to attend, participate and vote at the annual general meetings held under the auspices of the Companies Act.
Office no: 021 286 0830
24-hour no: 082 415 7127
Email: info@capetownccid.org
Website: www.capetownccid.org or find the CCID on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter.
Image of CCID staff by Anita van Zyl