On February 25, 1966, the Bloor–Danforth subway line opened in the area, allowing shoppers to shop downtown instead of the businesses along Bloor Street.

The businessmen lobbied the Toronto and Ontario governments for legislation to compel all business owners within a designated area to pay towards improvements, as directed by an elected body.

[citation needed] The Ontario Municipal Act was amended in 1970 and the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Association (BIA) was founded as the first of its kind in the world, first chaired by Alex Ling.

The BIA hosts: In Fall 2017, the City of Toronto started a study to designate Bloor West Village as a Heritage Conservation District.

The city explained that the neighbourhood has an established main street that was developed in early to mid-20th century, and it has been historically demarcating road, dividing distinct communities such as Swansea, West Toronto, Brockton Village prior to amalgamation.