The Hamilton Entertainment District BIA Creating a vibrant future for downtown Hamilton

Downtown Hamilton is entering a transformational era — and your voice matters.

With historic investments pouring into the downtown — including the 300M TD Coliseum, upgrades to the Concert Hall and Convention Centre, and increased trips to and from the West Harbour GO Station — this area is on the cusp of something that will positively transform the quality of life for all.

A new Business Improvement Area (BIA) will:

  • Unite local businesses around shared priorities
  • Enhance safety, cleanliness, and overall vibrancy
  • Amplify your voice with City leadership and key decision-makers
  • Support strategic marketing, events, and placemaking initiatives

This initiative will be advanced in collaboration with the Downtown Hamilton and International Village BIAs, not as a replacement, but as a complementary effort tailored specifically to the unique needs of our business and cultural core.

Where is the proposed Hamilton Entertainment District BIA?

The proposed BIA is centred around Hamilton’s cultural and entertainment core — an area positioned at the intersection of arts, events, dining, transit, and investment.

This area encompasses: 

This area has been carefully selected to capture the epicentre of Hamilton’s employment, entertainment and cultural activity — and to ensure that businesses within this district benefit from increased visibility, marketing, and advocacy. 

Hamilton Entertainment District BIA map_1

Why this area needs a BIA

The area is full of potential — let’s give it the voice and vision it deserves.

 

Empower local business & culture

Strengthen the presence and influence of local businesses and cultural spaces by giving them a united voice and platform for growth.

Create a safe environment

Foster a welcoming and safe environment where people can live, work, and play — encouraging more daily activity and a stronger sense of community.

Maintain district momentum

Support and amplify ongoing projects, events, and investments that are already enhancing the area and drawing more people downtown.

Increase visitor visibility

Build on high visitor potential from key anchors like the TD Coliseum, Concert Hall, and Convention Centre — and help connect people to local businesses throughout the district.

Enable strategic collaboration

Facilitate coordination between businesses, government, non-profits, and community organizations to align efforts and maximize impact.

Fuel long-term growth

Attract new investment, support economic development, and create the conditions for sustainable, long-term success for the district.

“BIAs work to attract new businesses, organize events, and invest in beautification projects. They provide additional maintenance and security services and advocate for local businesses to municipal governments.”

Invest in Hamilton

What is a BIA?

A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a group of local businesses and property owners who come together to improve and promote their neighbourhood.

BIAs are funded through a small levy collected from commercial property owners within the designated area. These funds are then reinvested directly back into the neighbourhood, managed by a volunteer board of local business and property owners.

DISTRICT SNAPSHOT

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Total businesses
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Entertainment venues
$M
Retail & boutiques
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Residential population
M
Expected annual visitors
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Anticipated public events per year

What this BIA would do for the area

With a board of local representatives and a shared budget, the Hamilton Entertainment District BIA would:

 

Supercrawl 2020 Call for Artist Submissions

Events & activations

Create and support local events, street-level activations, and cultural programming that drive engagement and bring the district to life.

Hamilton Entertainment District marketing example

Marketing & promotion

Coordinate unified marketing and branding efforts to raise awareness, attract customers, and highlight what makes the district unique.

Hamilton City Hall

Business advocacy

Represent the interests of local businesses and property owners at City Hall — helping ensure the district’s needs and priorities are heard and addressed.

Supercrawl 2020 Call for Artist Submissions

Clean & welcoming area

Enhance the public realm with cleanliness and lighting to ensure the district is safe, accessible, and visually appealing.

Hamilton police adds ‘Core Patrol’ to downtown beat to decrease bad behaviour

Safety & foot traffic

Support strategies and initiatives that increase walkability, visibility, and safety throughout the area — encouraging people to stay longer and return often.

James St North wayfinding example

Wayfinding

Improve navigation with signage, maps, and information hubs to help the thousands of daily visitors explore and connect with local businesses.

How this BIA will happen

Creating a BIA follows a formal process through the City of Hamilton — and right now, we’re at the most important stage: gathering community support.

Want to help?

If you're a property owner or business operator in the proposed boundary, your input is essential.

Entertainment District BIA map_horizontal (dark and transparent))

Gather community support

This is where we work together. Your insight and support as a local property and/or business owner will help shape what comes next.

Submit an application to the City of Hamilton

Once enough support is gathered, a formal application is submitted to begin the review and notification process.

Hold a vote

Both commercial property owners and business tenants within the boundary vote to approve or reject the creation of the BIA.

Launch the BIA

If the vote passes, the BIA is officially launched, and the board can begin implementing initiatives to strengthen the district.

Help shape the future of the Hamilton Entertainment District

Share your feedback to help explore the creation of a Business Improvement Area (BIA) in our neighbourhood.

Entertainment District BIA map_horizontal (dark)

Questions?! Look here.

We’ve gathered answers to some of the most common questions about the proposed BIA.

 

How do BIAs happen? Voting, levy and oversight information
  • A minimum of 2/3 majority is required to move forward — including one vote per commercial property owner and one per business tenant within the proposed boundary.
  • Even if a property does not vote in favour, there is no opt-out — BIAs apply to all commercial properties within the boundary.
  • The BIA levy is paid by the property owner and appears as a line item on their commercial tax bill.
  • The levy amount is determined by the BIA board and is proportionally distributed across commercial and industrial properties based on their assessed value and size.
  • 100% of the funds stay within the district, to support improvements and programming.
  • The BIA board creates an annual budget that is presented to members and submitted to City Council for approval.
  • Each BIA is audited annually by the city auditor (currently KPMG), ensuring the budget is followed and funds are managed responsibly.
Is this part of The Commons?

While the proposed BIA is not officially part of The Commons, our team at The Commons is proud to be leading this initiative in partnership with local businesses and property owners.

As a community builder, The Commons is committed to supporting projects that benefit the broader neighbourhood. The BIA would operate independently, with its own board made up of local representatives, while The Commons continues to drive community-building projects across downtown Hamilton.

What is the process to establish a BIA in Hamilton?

Creating a BIA in Hamilton involves a formal, multi-step process:

  1. Conduct outreach and gather support from local commercial property owners and business tenants
  2. Submit an application to the City of Hamilton with supporting documentation
  3. The City conducts a formal review and stakeholder notification process
  4. A vote is held among eligible commercial property owners and tenants within the proposed boundary
  5. If approved, the BIA is formally established through a city by-law

We're currently at the most important stage: gathering feedback and support to help move this forward.

Is this a brand-new BIA, separate from others like the Downtown Hamilton or Hess Village BIAs?

Yes. The Hamilton Entertainment District BIA is a proposed new BIA that would operate independently, with its own board and budget, focused specifically on the cultural and entertainment core of downtown.
It is being developed in collaboration with the existing Downtown Hamilton BIA to complement — not replace — its work. Together, these BIAs would represent distinct areas of the city with shared goals and coordinated efforts.

What types of businesses are included in the proposed boundary?

The proposed area includes a vibrant mix of rate payers — including restaurants, retail shops, entertainment venues, professional services, galleries, and cultural institutions.

Isn’t there already a Downtown Hamilton BIA?

Yes — the Downtown Hamilton BIA exists and continues to do great work for its members. The proposed Hamilton Entertainment District BIA would serve a separate but neighbouring area — focused specifically on the city’s entertainment, arts, and cultural core. Together, both BIAs would help strengthen downtown Hamilton as a whole — each supporting the unique needs of their respective communities.