Adding security for local businesses a new reality for London BIAs

There was a day when business improvement areas (BIAs) were focused almost entirely on efforts to promote and support their members through marketing campaigns, neighbourhood cleanup and special events. 

While the focus hasn't changed, issues related to London's struggles with homelessness, mental health and addiction have now fallen on the shoulders of BIAs by having to provide private security.

At a city council committee meeting Tuesday, councillors voted to set aside an extra $250,000 this year for two east-end BIAs whose members are challenged daily by security issues: Argyle and Hamilton Road. 

London's BIAs are funded mainly through a levy added to businesses' property tax payments.

While downtown and Old East Village BIAs get more money, Councillors Shawn Lewis and Hadleigh McAlister put forward a motion to carve out some extra funds for Argyle and Hamilton Road BIAs.

"Directors are spending very significant portions of their work hours — and sometimes after hours — focused on assisting businesses with navigating these challenges," the councillors wrote in their submission.

Last year, Argyle's BIA had a $215,000 budget; Hamilton's was $170,000.

For the past three years, the Argyle BIA has spent $25,000 on private security. Executive director Bethany Mejia said it's a necessary expenditure because security issues — not promotions or special events — are the top concerns reported by member businesses. 

"We have a patrol that goes through the community two times a day and that goes to different parts of the community just so we can proactively approach this issue," she said. 

'Definitely a need' for security

Using crime data from the London Police Service, Mejia said the BIA was able to identify a number of "hotspots" along the Dundas Street corridor where businesses regularly reported problems such as vandalism, theft and employees feeling unsafe.

In addition to the regular patrols, Argyle BIA members can call the contracted security company to deal with problems  affecting their business, but not serious enough to require a call to police.

"We will add a patrol spot to a business that might have had a break in for example or some unwanted activity around their business," said Mejia. "Then we add them to our list and they are patrolled from then on. For now, this is definitely a need we will have." 

Carolyn Luistro is executive director of the Hamilton Road BIA. They don't offer private security now but are looking into it as members continue to rank security as their No. 1 priority. 

"Theft, vandalism, windows broken ... that does add a lot of stress around the businesses," she said. "So addressing that with safety is a No. 1 concern." 

Luistro said she's comparing notes with Mejia to gather information that could shape Hamilton Road's security plan, if they go ahead with one. 

Meanwhile, businesses in London's core say they continue to struggle with security-related costs. 

In a letter to the same council committee meeting where more money was earmarked for Argyle and Hamilton Road, a letter jointly signed by Downtown London and the London Downtown Business Association said merchants can't sustain high security costs without help.

"Our members and our BIA can no longer afford to cover these ever increasing costs, which has had a significant impact on our economy and our ability to fill vacancies in the core area," reads the letter signed by Downtown London's Barb Maly and Scott Andrew Collyer of the London Downtown Business Association.

Mejia hopes better days are ahead for London businesses. A plan to spruce up the Argyle businesses strip along Dundas will have its first community consultation on Wednesday. She's hopeful the city's plan to add hubs that provide temporary housing and wraparound services for unhoused people will ease the strain on local businesses. 

She said London's businesses showed remarkable resilience during COVID-19 and she's confident they can survive these difficult days too with a little help.

"We are definitely heading into a new era for Argyle and it is very exciting," she said.