What is an SSA?

What is a Special Service Area (SSA)?

For more than 28 years, the Special Service Area (SSA) program has provided communities with the financial means to create, maintain and manage clean, attractive and competitive commercial districts. SSAs, known as Business Improvement or Community Improvement Districts in other cities, provide a fair and transparent way to finance and manage improvement programs important to communities. SSAs levy funds by placing a nominal tax assessment on each taxpaying property within its service boundaries. SSAs are governed by State of Illinois statute, authorized by City of Chicago ordinance and administered locally with oversight by a local board of commissioners.

When was the Clark Street SSA established?

City Council passed the establishment ordinance for the Clark Street SSA on December 4, 2002.

What are the boundaries of the Clark Street SSA?

The Clark Street SSA includes all properties fronting Clark Street from Armitage Avenue on the south to Diversey Parkway on the north. You can download a map of the Clark Street SSA here (PDF).

Why was the Clark Street SSA established?

The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce recognized that Clark Street lacked the vibrancy and success of other Lincoln Park neighborhoods. In order to address this problem, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce along with business and property owners along Clark Street began working on plans to create an economically sound and visually appealing commercial corridor able to compete with similar commercial districts. As part of this process, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce identified factors contributing to this decline including absentee landlords, narrow sidewalks, lack of landscaping, vacant storefronts, and deteriorated building facades.

The city also recognized Clark Street’s potential and, at the urging of Alderman Vi Daley, agreed to invest in a multi-million dollar streetscape improvement program along Clark Street from Diversey to Armitage. The streetscape plans included wider sidewalks, better lighting, and landscaping aimed at creating a more visually appealing environment for neighbors and shoppers. In order to implement this program, however, there would need to be a group willing and able to maintain the streetscape elements.

After much discussion and research of various options, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce proposed the establishment of an SSA on Clark Street. The SSA would have the ability to address the issues identified by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce and property owners, as well as maintain the streetscape elements.

What other commercial districts have SSAs and are they successful?

Fourty three SSAs have been established in the city since 1977. Thirty seven SSAs remain active today. Several Northside SSAs include Lakeview, Lakeview East, North Halsted, Lincoln Square and Andersonville. SSA funding has been very instrumental in revitalizing and maintaining many of these commercial areas.