What is a BID?

The major goal of a BID formation is to create a formal organization to act as an advocate for the business community, and enhance quality of life for all who live, work, dine, shop, stroll, and invest in businesses and properties on Fulton Street.

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a private/public partnership in which property owners and commercial tenants make a collective contribution to the maintenance, development and promotion of their commercial district. Currently, there are 76 BIDs in NYC, and 23 right here in Brooklyn. BIDs provide programs and services in their own community, increasing commercial business activity and brightening the district.

What are NYC’s BIDs up to?

Downtown Alliance

In light of the pandemic, the Downtown Alliance launched an initiative to provide small businesses one-on-one technical assistance and COVID-compliance consultations. The BID coordinated meetings between qualifying small businesses and the third-party consulting firm, Streetsense, to provide assistance with branding, marketing, interior design, and research. Additionally, Downtown Alliance collaborated with the marketing firm to develop “Readiness Guides” and webinars for restaurants, bars, and retailers.

Open Streets- 5th Ave Park Slope

Credit: Bklyner
Open Streets have exploded in popularity as New Yorkers seek more open space and opportunities to shop and dine locally. Most recently, several Open Streets programs were upgraded to the Open Boulevards program, which helps promote more community-based activities and contiguous open streets. Without the BID’s support, Park Slope’s Open Streets program would be nowhere near as successful as it has been in providing the neighborhood with additional pedestrian space and neighborhood programming.

Business Attraction at Pitkin Avenue

Pitkin Avenue organized a commercial vacancy showcase tour to highlight opportunities for businesses to locate in Brownsville. The BID coordinated with real estate brokers, who were onsite to answer questions of prospective tenants. Each tour featured 5-6 vacancies, and BID staff provided demographic and retail leakage information about the neighborhood.
The Pitkin Avenue BID also releases a quarterly real estate report to advertise the positive attributes of the commercial corridors in order to attract desirable businesses. More info here

Pitkin Avenue BID Supports Storefront Improvements

Photo: Pitkin Ave. BID
The Renaissance Program provides matching grants to businesses on Pitkin Avenue between Howard Avenue and Mother Gaston Boulevard to help finance improvements to building facades, storefronts, commercial spaces and residential units. More info HERE.
The Pitkin Avenue BID also releases a quarterly real estate report to advertise the positive attributes of the commercial corridors in order to attract desirable businesses. More info HERE.

Reducing Rats in Chinatown

As part of the Mayor’s neighborhood rat reduction plan, BIDs in three target areas partnered with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to strategically install new trash receptacles. Bed-Stuy Gateway, Chinatown Partnership and Fordham Road received additional solar trash compactors to replace wire waste baskets in order to restrict rodent access to trash.

Taste of Forest Avenue

The Forest Avenue Business Improvement District’s “Taste of Forest Avenue” celebrates the amazing restaurants, cafes and eateries along Forest Avenue in the West Brighton neighborhood of Staten Island. An estimated 4,000 people enjoy an afternoon of musical performances, rides, attractions, and entertainment as they taste specialties from more than 20 local eateries — it’s a great opportunity for businesses to showcase what makes them unique, helping them create visibility and attract new customers.

New York City’s BID Program: From Past to Present

1960s and 1970s:

New York’s BID movement began in response to limited public resources and deteriorating commercial districts.

1976:

The City offered to make capital improvements within certain commercial districts on the condition that the property owners benefiting would maintain them. Local property owners agreed to provide the needed maintenance, and state legislation was passed to form the first Special Assessment District (SAD). Fulton Mall in Brooklyn, the first SAD, was formed in 1976

1981/ 82:

Legislation permitting property owners to define and self-fund similar districts, called Business Improvement Districts, was passed in New York State and City.

1984:

Con Edison and other property owners around Union Square Park decided to take advantage of the new State and City legislation and formed the first New York City BID in the 14th Street-Union Square area.

1984 – 2003:

45 districts have been established and provide services throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

2003 – 2019:

There are now 76 BIDs throughout all five boroughs of New York City, more than in any other US city. Of the 23 BIDs formed during the Bloomberg administration, 20 are in the outer boroughs.