DVBA Events
Featured DVBA
events
COVID-19 & Dunbar Village
Dunbar Village is currently in the process of “opening with care.” Many of our annual events are temporarily postponed, while shops, services, and restaurants are open for business with modified hours and guidelines in place. Please contact the business you’re interested in visiting if you have questions regarding their policies. We look forward to seeing you!
Tweets by @DunbarVillage
A young man from Dunbar Village we are proud to know.
Concussion Research and Awareness
[fts_twitter twitter_name=dunbarvillage tweets_count=2 cover_photo=no stats_bar=no show_retweets=no show_replies=no]
About Dunbar Village BIA
The Dunbar Village Business Association is one of 22 business improvement associations of the City of Vancouver’s Business Improvement Area Program.
Approved in the Spring of 2008, the Business Improvement Area (BIA) includes all the businesses and property owners along Dunbar Street from West 16th Avenue to West 41st Avenue and east along West 41st Avenue to Collingwood Street.
Interestingly, the BIA is divided into three distinct areas:
North Dunbar between West 16th and West 19th Avenues
Central Dunbar between West King Edward and West 30th Avenues
Dunbar Southlands between West 38th and West 41st Avenues and east along West 41st to Collingwood Street
Nearly 250 shops, services and property owners make up its membership, catering to a wide variety of needs of Dunbar residents and those from further afield. We are self-funded by an annual tax levy on commercial properties within the BIA of $0.37 per $1000 of assessed value. The BIA levy as a percentage of the total commercial taxes paid is 3.52%. The City of Vancouver bylaw to collect this levy is in place until March 31, 2026 and may be renewed for another 5 years at that time.
- 54 Pole-Mounted Decorative Holiday Lighting Installations
- 51 Hanging Flower Baskets
- 108 Street Banners for each season
- 51 Holiday Winter White Window paintings
- 7,600 – 11,400 bulbs of year-round lights in 19 trees*
- 31 Pink LED Heart-Shaped Hanging Tree Ornaments
- 10 New Benches and 4 New Chairs**
- 1 Mural and 15 pieces of Graffiti Removed
- 36 Micro-cleaning days through the Street Clean Team Social Employment Program
Performance Metrics
- 10,000 copies of Dunbar Life x 5 issues/year: 10 Business Profiles, 33 businesses featured in Dec’s Gift Guide, 6 Ask an Expert columns
- 1 Website
- Instagram: Total Reel Views: 37,606
- 1000s of individuals from the community for Trick or Treat in Dunbar Village
- 1 Meet and Mingle business member event
- 5 Sweetheart Candy Heart Installations for the Love Your City campaign
- Advocating for Fair Business Taxation: the BIA Partnership successfully lowered City’s planned business property tax increase by 1.6%
- BIZMAP Commercial and Neighbourhood Area Profile
- Vancouver BIA Partnership: The Partnership supports local businesses by advocating on their behalf and the Dunbar BIA, one of the smaller 22 BIAs in the city, benefits significantly from this representation.
What is a Business Improvement Association?
A business improvement area (BIA) is a specially funded business district, operated by a non-profit group of property owners and businesses, whose goal is to promote and improve their business district.
A BIA Has a Two-Fold Mandate:
- To improve, beautify, and maintain public lands and buildings within the BIA, beyond what is provided by the municipality at-large.
- To promote the area as a business and shopping area — including eateries, shops and services — beyond what businesses can do individually.
What Does a BIA Do?
BIAs improve the vitality and economic sustainability of an area. They maximize resources to develop infrastructure and implement valuable initiatives, such as, street pole and tree lighting, banners, business directories/brochures, websites, social media, advertising, promotions, events, campaigns, community engagement, and advocacy (e.g., pandemic economic response & recovery, property assessments, tax policies, development, permits, licenses, transit, and street issues).
Value & Representation
The cost of being a part of a BIA is nominal in relation to the many benefits businesses receive. This is possible because businesses collectively contribute to an organization that represents the entire business area and is accountable to each business. A BIA is a valuable tool that maximizes resources and connects merchants, property owners, patrons, the community, and the government—all working together to improve things.
How is a BIA Funded?
The City collects a levy from each commercial property owner in the BIA and provides it to the BIA for their operating budget. Members provide input to shape the budget and vote on the budget at the BIA’s AGM. Vancouver BIA budgets vary considerably, based on factors like a BIA’s size and property value, and range from approx. $125,000 to $1 million+.
How is the Levy Calculated?
Each commercial property owner’s contribution to the annual BIA budget is proportionate to their share of the total taxable value in the BIA boundaries. Most commercial property owners pass this cost on to business tenants in their lease agreements. Each commercial property owner’s contribution to the BIA is a fraction of their total tax contribution. The BIA levy is a nominal amount of the area’s total commercial property taxes.
BIA Comparative Levies and Rates
Accountability & Inclusivity
All commercial property owners and business tenants within the boundary are members of the BIA and all members have a say in what the BIA does. The BIA is led by a volunteer Board of local businesses and commercial property owners, elected by members at the BIA’s AGM. The Board meets regularly to plan & review the BIA’s operations, and the BIA’s Executive Director executes the Board’s plans. The Board welcomes input from ALL members at any time as it helps shape the BIA’s goals and operating budget.
When Was the Dunbar Village BIA Formed?
In 2008, Dunbar Village business owners organized to establish the Dunbar Village Business Improvement Association (DVBA). The DVBA includes nearly 250 business and property owners along Dunbar Street from West 16th Ave to West 41st Ave and east along West 41st Ave to Collingwood St. As one of the smaller BIAs, we optimize resources through partnership and collaboration. The DVBA partners with the Vancouver BIA Partnership on advocacy and citywide initiatives to support local businesses.
Has the DVBA’s Levy Ever Been Increased?
The DVBA’s budget has remained the same since 2008. However, the costs of services and products have increased over the past 17 years. If members wish to continue to enjoy the current level of services and benefits, or add more, then the DVBA must ask its members to vote ‘yes’ to a small increase to the levy at the AGM this fall when the DVBA seeks a mandate for a 5-year term. Dunbar’s BIA levy is the smallest of all 22 Vancouver BIAs, with a budget of currently $155,250 that represents 3.52% of the area’s total commercial property taxes.
