Stimulating small business in Bellaire is the subject of the fifth and last question in InstantnewsBellaire’s Q&A series with Bellaire City Council candidates.
Robert, who has lived in Bellaire for two years, sent this question for the candidates:
What can be done differently to promote local, small business opportunities within Bellaire? (I am thinking something creative like the Keep Austin Weird campaign)
Here are the answers from the three candidates for Place 6 on the council. Scroll to the bottom for information on the procedures of this Q&A.
Jim Hotze
Jim Hotze did not respond to this question by the deadline.
Mandy Nathan
Exploring and implementing options for redeveloping our commercial areas to include more shops, restaurants and other businesses that the Bellaire community will want to patronize should be a priority for the next City Council. Encouraging locally-owned businesses would be especially beneficial. We currently have a variety of locally-owned businesses, from boutique shops like Magpie’s Gifts, to restaurants like Chanterelle Bistro, to service providers like Kwik Kopy. With the Galleria and Meyerland nearby, we can and should work to attract and retain businesses like these that bring something unique to Bellaire.
Encouraging new local businesses, and indeed new businesses in general, will require some flexibility by the City. The Planning & Zoning Commission can and should study and recommend means to make Bellaire more receptive to new businesses and developments. Among other ideas, the City could consider modifications regarding building footprint and parking requirements, accelerated reviews of plans, and a willingness to make rights of way available for sale in conjunction with the development of adjacent properties. Just last month the City’s Board of Adjustment resolved a parking requirements issue in a manner that allowed Essie’s Pizzaria to begin operations, providing residents with another locally-owned restaurant.
Encouraging new businesses will also require the communication and implementation of a vision by the City to potential business owners. People will be more likely to open a business when and where they know what the City’s plan is for an area. Fortunately the City’s new Comprehensive Plan reflects the first step in communicating that vision. For the downtown area, for example, the Plan envisions an area featuring shops and restaurants, more greenspace and landscaping, innovative parking solutions, and pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly features. An area like that, if successfully initiated, should attract more of the type of unique businesses that would benefit Bellaire.
Scott Scheinthal
Robert,
Thank you for the great question. As you may know, I am the only candidate for City Council, Position 6 who has made helping small businesses a cornerstone of his or her campaign. Why is it so important to me? My first job was at a small local business. When I think of the lessons I learned I also think about what these sorts of jobs can mean to the community.
Over the past few months I have met with business leaders in our city, from executives in Fortune 500 companies, to proud owners of area mom-and-pop operations. They all told me the same thing: we have an opportunity to draw in more small businesses in order to revitalize our downtown and our community.
While one of my opponents has favored making the downtown more residential with multi-family dwellings, and less business-oriented, I take a different approach. Yes, the city would benefit from increased property tax, but at a cost of decreasing our share of sales tax from prospering businesses. It would be like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
I do not believe a branding effort similar to “Keep Austin Weird” would work here. We are a much smaller city and, unlike Austin, do not have a reputation for live music and general strangeness that made that campaign such a great fit for Austin. Most importantly, the cost of such a branding campaign is huge.
In summary, my plan is to actively court small, medium and large-sized businesses, and to cut the red tape. I have a history of success in working with businesses. This will increase our city revenue and allow us to stabilize and even lower the property taxes we currently pay.
Best regards,
Scott Scheinthal
Candidate for City Council Position 6
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In this series, candidates receive questions twice per week and have 24 hours to respond with an answer that is less than 300 words long. The answers publish with no editing.
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