What Does Capacity Building Look Like for a Special Service District? Lessons from Towerside’s Growth
By Liz Moe | Freya + Co Field Notes
Cities are full of districts that most people never think about, yet they shape daily life in meaningful ways. A special service district like the Towerside Innovation District is one of those shared infrastructures: part neighborhood, part innovation hub, part sustainability experiment. And behind the scenes, there’s a tremendous amount of coordination required to keep it all running smoothly.
For the last several years, Freya + Co has supported the Towerside Maintenance District (TMD) with capacity building, governance support, and technical assistance. Our work helps ensure that the district’s operations are clear, coordinated, and sustainable, not just today, but for the future.
As Stephen Klimek, Executive Director of Towerside, shared:
“Freya + Co brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to every project. Liz is a skilled facilitator and strategic thinker who consistently helps our team move from big-picture vision to clear, actionable next steps. We’ve benefited greatly from her leadership and insight.”
— Stephen K., Executive Director, Towerside Innovation District
This is the heart of capacity building: helping organizations move from vision to implementation with clarity, confidence, and shared ownership.
Why Capacity Building Matters for Special Service Districts
Unlike nonprofits or government agencies, a maintenance district sits at the intersection of:
multiple property owners
city requirements
shared infrastructure
sustainability goals
district-wide obligations
evolving development plans
complex maintenance agreements
This creates a governance environment that is: shared, technical, and continuously evolving.
Capacity building ensures the district can:
make informed decisions
manage risk
maintain compliance
build institutional memory
adapt as the district grows
Without this groundwork, a district can lose momentum or lose track of key obligations that keep shared infrastructure functioning.
What Capacity Building Looks Like in Practice
Here are some examples from Towerside’s recent growth trajectory:
1. Strengthening Financial and Operational Systems
We support TMD with structures for:
budgeting and long-term forecasting
reviewing maintenance declarations
tracking shared expenses
translating development plans into operational implications
documenting processes for future board members
Financial clarity = organizational stability.
2. Governance Support and Board Development
A district’s board often includes new and seasoned members with varying levels of familiarity with district operations.
Freya + Co helps by:
onboarding new board members
preparing agendas and materials
translating technical documents into plain language
supporting transparent decision-making
clarifying roles, responsibilities, and voting processes
Better governance leads to better outcomes.
3. Document Management and Institutional Memory
Innovation districts change rapidly. New developments come online, new owners join the district, and responsibilities shift.
To support continuity, we help:
organize maintenance agreements
maintain records and minutes
track obligations across property owners
build central repositories for essential documents
create repeatable workflows and SOPs
Institutional memory protects the district from losing knowledge as people rotate in and out.
4. Communication and Coordination Across Stakeholders
A special service district is most effective when everyone shares the same information.
Freya + Co helps facilitate:
communication with board members
alignment with developers
coordination with city staff
clarity for property owners
documentation that reduces confusion later
Effective communication is a form of risk management.
Why Technical Assistance is a Long-Term Investment
Technical assistance isn’t just “extra help.” For a district like Towerside, it provides:
smoother operations
reduced duplication
better adherence to agreements
more efficient decision-making
clearer pathways to future expansion
stability during leadership transitions
Freya + Co collaborates with TMD in the same way we support statewide coalitions or multiorganizational initiatives: we build the systems that support the work, so leaders can focus on impact.
Looking Ahead
As Towerside continues to grow, with new development, new infrastructure, and new stakeholders, the maintenance district will become even more central to the district’s success.
Freya + Co is honored to support this work, helping ensure that the district remains:
well-governed
financially clear
technically supported
aligned with its long-term vision
This is capacity building at its core: helping organizations stay sturdy as they evolve.
