70 Mulberry Street, prior to the January 2020 fire. Image Credit: Google Maps
The fire displaced five non-profits and shut down a community hub. On October 5, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a plan to reconstruct 70 Mulberry Street in Chinatown. The City-owned building, which is a historic cultural and community hub for Chinatown, suffered severe damage from a fire in January 2020. (more…)
Due to active opposition, the Council held first-ever oversight hearing on a proposed BID. On September 21, 2011, the City Council approved the establishment of the Chinatown Business Improvement District for more than 6,000 businesses in Manhattan. The BID comprises 50 blocks generally bounded by Broome Street to the north, Worth and Madison Streets to the south, Allen Street to the east, and Broadway to the west. The first-year budget will be $1,300,000.
At the City Planning Commission’s January 2011 hearing, while no one testified in opposition to the BID, following the hearing, the Commission received letters from property owners opposed to the BID’s assessment formula. 8 City- Land 42 (April 15, 2011). (more…)
Group of Chinatown property owners cited concerns about the BID’s assessment formula. On May 26, 2011, the City Council’s Finance Committee held a hearing on the Department of Small Business Services’ plan to create the Chinatown Business Improvement District encompassing more than 6,000 commercial businesses in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The BID would comprise 50 blocks generally bounded by Broome Street to the north, Worth and Madison Streets to the south, Allen Street to the east, and Broadway to the west. The BID’s projected first-year budget of $1,300,000 would be used primarily to fund sanitation services and holiday lighting costs.
At the City Planning Commission’s hearing on the proposal, a representative of the Chinatown BID Steering Committee testified that 92 percent of commercial and residential property owners supported the plan. After the hearing, however, the Commission received letters from property owners opposed to the BID’s assessment formula. 8 CityLand 42 (April 15, 2011). (more…)
Proposal encompasses 50 blocks and more than 6,000 businesses. On March 2, 2011, the City Planning Commission approved the Department of Small Business Services’ plan to create the Chinatown Business Improvement District for more than 6,000 businesses in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The BID would comprise 50 blocks generally bounded by Broome Street to the north, Worth and Madison Streets to the south, Allen and Rutgers Streets to the east, and Broadway to the west. The BID would abut the southern border of the proposed SoHo BID, which the Commission approved in January 2011. 8 CityLand 8 (Feb. 15, 2011).
The BID would allow for an annual assessment on businesses and residents primarily to fund sanitation services and holiday lighting costs. The BID’s first-year budget of $1,300,000 would set aside $1,000,000 for sanitation services, $100,000 for holiday lighting costs, and $200,000 for administrative expenses. Wholly commercial properties would be assessed based on a combination of a linear front footage rate not to exceed $15 per linear foot, and an assessed value rate not to exceed $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. Residential properties would pay an annual $1 assessment, and government and non-profit uses would be exempt. (more…)
Image Credit: SBS
Funding from the Avenue NYC and Neighborhood 360 grant programs will be awarded to 24 nonprofits working towards pandemic recovery in low to moderate income neighborhoods. On July 13, 2022, the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) announced it will award $3.8 million in multi-year grants through the Avenue NYC and Neighborhood 360 programs. This investment will be divided among 24 community-based development organizations working in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. (more…)
