
Image Credit: Small Business Services
Flushing BID receives CPC approval to double in size. On August 28, 2019, the City Planning unanimously approved the Downtown Flushing Business Improvement District’s (“BID”) application. The application by Small Business Services (“SBS”) and officials from the Flushing BID proposed a geographic expansion that is more reflective of the downtown Flushing community and responsive to the community’s growing needs.
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Fordham Road Business Improvement District will expand to include One Fordham Plaza. Image Credit: Fordham Road BID
Fordham Road BID will incorporate One Fordham Plaza into the Bronx BID. On July 9, 2014, the City Planning Commission approved the Fordham Road District Management Association’s application to expand the Fordham Road Business Improvement District to include two new lots located directly to the east of the existing BID. The new lots are bounded by East Fordham Road to the north, East 189th Street to the south, Park Avenue to the east, and Washington Avenue to the west. The BID currently stretches along Fordham Road between Jerome Avenue to the west and Webster Avenue to the east. The BID lies within parts of Bronx Community Boards 5, 6, and 7; the expansion lots are located entirely within Community Board 6.
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- Brooklyn House of Detention. Photo:Natalie Amar.
Court compelled an EIS and other public participation measures related to Brooklyn House of Detention. In 2003, the City closed the Brooklyn House of Detention, located at 275 Atlantic Avenue across from the Criminal Court. At the time, Correction reasoned that the costs of caring for each inmate at the Brooklyn facility were too high because of the facility’s small capacity. Since then, the City kept no inmates there overnight, but the facility was still used to process inmates and transfer them to the nearby court for appearances.
Correction later determined that the costs and security risks for transferring inmates to their respective court appearances could be reduced if Correction reoccupied and expanded the Brooklyn facility. In 2008, Correction solicited bids for the renovation and expansion of the facility. It also applied for, and was granted, State permission to reopen the facility to its maximum capacity of 759 inmates. In November 2008, Correction transferred 31 inmates to the Brooklyn facility on an overnight basis to have them maintain the facility and prepare it to accommodate pre-arraignment detainees. Correction also submitted a contract for architectural design to the Comptroller for registration. (more…)
BID expansion will double number of properties receiving sanitation and security assistance. The Planning Commission unanimously approved an application by the Village Alliance Business Improvement District Management Association and the Department of Small Business Services for expansion of the Village Alliance BID, originally established in 1993.
The existing BID, which comprises 129 predominantly mixed-use properties, is currently bounded by Sixth and Second Avenues to the west and east, West 4th Street to the south, and West 8th Street and Astor Place to the north. The expanded BID, which will represent a total of 315 properties and 430 businesses, will extend coverage along Sixth Avenue and University Place to Thirteenth Street, and along Broadway to East Tenth Street. (more…)

Map of the pilot areas for the e-scooter program across the East Bronx. Image Credit: DOT
Over two years, the program will serve an area of over 500,000 residents in the East Bronx. On August 17, 2021, the Department of Transportation’s E-Scooter Pilot program will launch in the East Bronx. Through the program, E-Scooter companies Bird, Lime, and Veo will bring 3,000 e-scooters in the first phase of the program, with an additional 3,000 scooters to be rolled out in Phase 2 of the program next year. (more…)