Councilmember Ben Kallos. Image credit: William Alatriste/NYC Council
The proposed Business Improvement District would be the 73rd BID established in New York City. On November 6, 2015, City Council member Ben Kallos issued a press release regarding the launch of a push to create a Business Improvement District on East 86th Street in Manhattan. The press release notes that a “District Needs Survey” was mailed out to community businesses, residents, and property owners last week.
At hearing, concerns raised about whether public notice requirements were met for proposed BID. On October 17, 2011, the City Council’s Finance Committee held a public hearing on the Department of Small Business Services’ plan to create the Westchester Square Business Improvement District in the Bronx.
The BID would be within Bronx Community Boards 10 and 11 and extend along portions of East Tremont Avenue, Williamsbridge Road, and Westchester Avenue. The district would include 90 tax lots and 145 businesses that include local retail, neighborhood services, and national chain stores. The BID would allow an annual assessment on property owners in order to provide supplemental sanitation and security services, marketing and promotions, and special events. The BID’s first-year budget would be $320,000, with $120,000 going to sanitation services, $95,000 to administrative expenses, and $72,000 to marketing. The remaining budget would be allocated to special events, holiday lighting, and a reserve fund. The budget would come from an assessment on commercial properties of $57 per-linearfront- foot. Owners of corner-lot properties and properties with commercial uses above the ground floor would pay an additional $300. The owners of vacant mid-block properties would pay $300, and the owners of vacant corner properties would pay $600. Wholly residential property owners would pay a $1 assessment. Government and non-profit properties would pay nothing. (more…)
Establishment of BID in Bedford- Stuyvesant appears successful. On February 11, 2009, the City Council’s Finance Committee held a hearing on the Department of Small Business Services’ plan to create a new Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District for 357 tax lots and 267 property owners. The BID’s boundaries would extend along Brooklyn’s Nostrand Avenue, from Halsey Street to Atlantic Avenue, and on Fulton Street, from Classon to Troy Avenues. The BID’s first year budget would be $675,000, and the median annual BID assessment would be approximately $99 per month for a typical 20-ft. wide storefront.
At the Committee hearing, Council Member Albert Vann, whose district would include the BID, stated that there had been many failed attempts over the past twenty years to create a BID in Bedford- Stuyvesant. He credited the leadership of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corp. for working with the Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Assoc. to garner support for the BID. As of Nov. 19, 2008, the BID had obtained support from 98 percent of the assessed value property owners. (more…)
Council Member Marjorie Velazquez speaks at the Subcommittee hearing for the Bruckner Sites Rezoning application. Image Credit: City Council.
Located in a low-density area with few affordable homes, the four proposed apartment buildings would require a controversial rezoning. On September 7, 2022, the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a public hearing to discuss a proposed rezoning in Throggs Neck, Bronx. If the rezoning is approved by the City Council, developer Throggs Neck Associates, LLC will construct four mixed-use apartment buildings at four different sites off the Bruckner Expressway. The project area is bordered by Bruckner Expressway to the south, Crosby Avenue to the east, Balcom Avenue to the west, and Meyers Street to the north. (more…)
Department of Design and Construction Logo Image Credit: DDC
On July 13, 2022, the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley announced the creation of the City’s first Pre-Qualified List, strictly for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises general contractors. The Pre-Qualified List was designed to provide Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises general contractors with first dibs over Department of Design and Construction projects between $500,000 and $2.99 million. In this way, construction contracts can be awarded faster and projects can be completed earlier without the need to run background checks or qualifications on all the bidders. (more…)
