Imagine your ideal neighbourhood: one with a variety of shops and restaurants, bustling boulevards and numerous activities. Think about all the aspects that make it so idyllic: the clean streets, the safe environment, the friendly people, the ease of accessibility. That, folks, is what a City Improvement District (CID) is all about – making a great neighbourhood even better.

The Riverside CID is managed and governed by a non-profit organization, Spaces Places & Partnerships (SP&P), and is overseen by a board of directors made up of local property owners and business leaders. The collective goal is to create and develop a more attractive, welcoming, and economically vibrant neighbourhood, which benefits both residents and businesses alike. In order to effectively achieve the above, local businesses and property owners come together and pay levies which fund extra services. These top-up services enable the management agent (SP&P) to enhance the appearance, safety, and overall experience of the district.

The mandate of a City Improvement District (CID) is to provide supplemental services and improvements within a designated geographic area beyond those provided by Mbombela Local Municipality. Locally, the creation of a CID requires the approval of the Mbombela Local Municipality and typically involves the establishment of a special assessment district or business improvement district.

The CID is legally obligated to collect the additional fee (known as levies) from the local businesses and property owners within the district and use those funds to provide the specified services and improvements outlined in its plan of action. CIDs are governed by a board of directors and are subject to reporting requirements and oversight by Mbombela Local Municipality officials. The legal mandate of CID is to enhance the overall experience of the district to benefit the community in its entirety.