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April 20, 2009

Clearing the Air on the Fulton BID

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Even though the Fulton BID is now a done deal, some bad feelings still linger, mostly on the part of a group of small storefront businesses between Washington and Grand Avenues in Clinton Hill. Council Member Letitia James, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and District Leader Walter Mosley all made an appearance at a meeting on Friday night meant to address these concerns as well as to more broadly inform the public about the purpose and mechanics of the new BID. According to a post on The Times' Local blog, James made the case that the existence of the BID is necessary to enable her to channel money towards the upkeep and promotion of the shopping strip. After getting an earful from the family that owns the MET supermarket between St. James and Cambridge that will get hit with a $10,000 tab, Jeffries tried to get everyone focused on moving ahead in a constructive manner. “We all have to figure out a way to move forward together,” he said. While we can see why a surprise $10,000 hit would be hard to stomach, opposing the BID over a few hundred dollars a year—what most small storefronts would incur—seems pretty short-sighted, unless you're afraid that your business won't be able to handle the competition from an overall raising of the retail bar in the area. As Councilmember James pointed out, you only have to look as far as nearby Myrtle Avenue to see what a positive impact a well-run BID can have—they've managed to improve and broaden the retail and dining options dramatically without sacrificing diversity. (Maybe the Fulton BID can hire away Blaise Backer from the Myrtle BID? Ha, ha, ha...)
Defending a BID to a Skeptical Crowd [NY Times]
Fulton BID Approved! Buses Returning Soon [Brownstoner]
Fulton BID Gaining Momentum [Brownstoner]




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:15 AM | Comments (23)
Categories: Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Streetlevel, Streets

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Just another way to f- the small business owner right in the heiney, keep voting demorat and you get what you deserve.

Posted by: Xander Crews at April 19, 2009 8:22 PM

Yeah, 10G seems a bit much. I don't understand how the Met could be hit that much harder. ITs larger than most stores but not 100 times larger.

That being said, I am very happy about the passing of the BID and look forward to seeing the changes it brings about on Fulton Street. Just making Fulton cleaner would be a big start towards spurring retail commerce and the foot traffic necessary to sustain it.

Posted by: wasder at April 20, 2009 10:30 AM

I glad you posted this Brownstoner! I see how "fair and Balanced" you are!

HARLEM IS LOSING A BIT OF ITS $OUL
125TH ST. BOOM GOES BUST

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04052009/news/regionalnews/harlem_is_losing_a_bit_of_its_oul_162969.htm

Dreams of a Harlem renaissance have been deferred.

At least 14 projects along 10 blocks of 125th Street have been delayed, mothballed, killed or downgraded as a much-heralded development boom fails to materialize on uptown's iconic main street.

The Harlem BID helped killed the "Mom and Pop" business on 125st!

I'm glad this has happen of Fulton St because it will speed up the demise much faster! Have you ever wondered why no new business was opening up on Fulton St Brownstoner???? Now with the BID more business will be going out of business!

The What (Well done retards, well done)

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at April 20, 2009 10:31 AM

"That being said, I am very happy about the passing of the BID and look forward to seeing the changes it brings about on Fulton Street. Just making Fulton cleaner would be a big start towards spurring retail commerce and the foot traffic necessary to sustain it."

No retard it's will speed the demise! Fulton St is a SH*T HOLE now, wait when business start closing!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at April 20, 2009 10:32 AM

I'm not so sure that these BIDs are such a great idea primarily because when the gevernment gets involved, the whole thing is dumbed down, inefficiently managed and money does not go to the best economic opportunity.

Streets will get cleaned up and "gentrified" as a normal process. This isn't going to speed it up. If Letitia James wants to get money there she should just get it there, no strings attached.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 20, 2009 10:35 AM

Dave,
The Myrtle BID has really been instrumental in the changes over there. Of course, the trick is finding someone dynamic to run the thing, which won't be easy given the Fulton BID's budget.

Posted by: brownstoner at April 20, 2009 10:38 AM

brownstoner--how much lower is the budget of the Fulton Street BID compared to the Myrtle one? I always wondered why that stretch was so successful given its lack of transport and violent history. I guess the right leadership is the thing huh?

Posted by: wasder at April 20, 2009 10:44 AM

If I am not mistaken, the people that own the Met also own other property along that stretch -- thus the bigger assesment. I am not surprised they are protesting the bid, let me just say that they do not seem to embrace change.

As for bids, my business has participated in them a number of times and they do produce results. Fulton could use a bit of tlc.

Posted by: Schultz at April 20, 2009 10:45 AM

schultz---you are correct that the family that owns the Met also owns a bunch of the other store fronts in the St James to Grand stretch. But I thought the BID costs were borne by the business owners and not the landlords?

Anyway, thanks Mr B for keeping us up to date on this important issue.

Posted by: wasder at April 20, 2009 11:10 AM

I support the bid.

Posted by: eh at April 20, 2009 11:15 AM

"The Myrtle BID has really been instrumental in the changes over there. Of course, the trick is finding someone dynamic to run the thing, which won't be easy given the Fulton BID's budget."

There you go Brownstoner! "Instrumental in the changes over there", over there for who???

"If I am not mistaken, the people that own the Met also own other property along that stretch -- thus the bigger assesment. I am not surprised they are protesting the bid, let me just say that they do not seem to embrace change."

If you want "change" then come out of YOUR pocket! This is Unintended Consequences on a grand scale and this will destroy small business on Fulton St, mark my words!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at April 20, 2009 11:18 AM

There you go Brownstoner! "Instrumental in the changes over there", over there for who???

What I am not nearly as familiar with Myrtle as I am with Fulton but as far as I can tell the BID there has not shut down the bodegas and other mom and pop retail on that stretch. It has cleaned up what was a pretty ugly stretch of road though, and that would be to everyone's benefit.

Posted by: wasder at April 20, 2009 11:23 AM

wasder, It hasn't. There is a diverse mix of retail along myrtle.

Posted by: eh at April 20, 2009 11:25 AM

Wasder, as far as my experience is concerned, yes the businesses pay for the bid. Who knows what the real story is with the Met owners? Which properties they own and also use for their own business purposes. This is all being bantered around, based on what actual facts? Once again, my knowledge historically of how they have managed their properties is not what I would consider visionary self-interest, in the mode of the Walentas family in Dumbo.

Posted by: Schultz at April 20, 2009 11:30 AM

Quoting from the NYP article:
"Dozens of often bitter mom-and-pop businesses ... were booted for high-rises that never rose." But that's not what's happening here. This isn't a rezoning or redevelopment proposal; it's the formation of a business improvement district.

Also, it is my understanding that the patriarch of the Fulton Met Food empire submitted ballots IN FAVOR of forming the BID. Now the son(s) are saying, well, we didn't know we'd have to pay. What? They thought it was a club or something? Most properties will pay less than a thousand bucks a year.

DIBS, the government isn't involved--that's the beauty of a BID. How often do you actually have a say in how your tax dollars are spent?

And finally, I note that the assessment for the new BID to the east of Classon is more than twice what it is in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. What do the property owners and merchants in Bed-Stuy see that the folks here don't?

Posted by: altervoce at April 20, 2009 11:30 AM

Yeah, everytime I drive down Myrtle I am amazed by the changes I have witnessed in the 8 years I have lived in Clinton Hill. It was definitely not a stretch where you would have expected to get a nice meal or find a cool bar. Now it is quite the destination and yet many of the old school bodegas and delis are still there so it doesn't feel completely foreign to its old self. I don't know if you can chalk this entirely up to the BID but if Fulton has even half of this kind of Renaissance then we in the NE corner of CLinton Hill will be happy.

Posted by: wasder at April 20, 2009 11:32 AM

Clay Davis loves this BID scam, sheeeeeeeeeeeeeettt !!

Posted by: Xander Crews at April 20, 2009 12:20 PM

Fulton needs all the help it can get. It's a dump. I live on Clinton and choose to walk from Lafayette when I'm on the C instead of Clinton-Washington, too sketchy. I only walk down Clinton on the weekends towards Fulton to see the progress on some of the old mansions and if Fulton looks any better. If they can magage half the success that Mrytle has had then they would be well on their way. I understand that I'm part of the problem becasue foot traffic is what Fulton needs.

Posted by: DeLepp at April 20, 2009 4:12 PM

I wonder if all of the empty storefronts on Fulton aren't empty in anticipation of this change, and the increased rents they can charge.

I know Fish and Crustaceans lost their lease (after being closed by the Health Dept... but it's not like that doesn't happen to lots of places.) Right now it looks like Fulton is being mothballed... lots of stuff for rent, lots of stuff closing, very little opening. It looks worse than it ever did. Funny, go up to Nostrand and there's a vital, booming business district... but fancy Clinton Hill? Not so much.

Anecdote: my friend who owns a house on Bleecker in Manhattan renegotiated with her tenant for a lower rent and a percentage of the profits. So I guess people do that. She's not entirely sure the tenant won't rip her off, but she didn't have a whole lot of options in this market.

Posted by: Heather at April 20, 2009 6:58 PM

"I know Fish and Crustaceans lost their lease (after being closed by the Health Dept... but it's not like that doesn't happen to lots of places.)"

LIE!!!! They are waiting for clearance from the Health Department to resume operations! I know the owner.

"Right now it looks like Fulton is being mothballed... lots of stuff for rent, lots of stuff closing, very little opening."

Nope the retards believe they are going to get big rent from Fulton St.

"It looks worse than it ever did. Funny, go up to Nostrand and there's a vital, booming business district... but fancy Clinton Hill? Not so much."

From what point Heather 2005????

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

"She's not entirely sure the tenant won't rip her off, but she didn't have a whole lot of options in this market."

Your "friend" is ahead of the curve!

Posted by: Return of The What at April 20, 2009 7:15 PM

1.) Well there's a sign on the window that says the landlord is repossessing the space. Glad to learn that isn't true. My daughter misses the fries. Yaffa deli fries... not the same.

2.) Right, What, so... they're not renting to anyone that isn't willing to pay the new rents. End result: a tabula rasa retail strip, free to be remade with more wine bars and perhaps another organic deli or sixteen.

3.) Don't know, I never noticed the 5-block or so strip in 2005, since I did not live here then. Now that I do, it's hard to miss. And the businesses that are here, bless em, are being hurt by the vacant blight. (I assume.)

4.) Ironically, I wonder how close the Bleecker street rent is to prime Brooklyn pricing... I bet it's not as far apart as one might think.

Posted by: Heather at April 20, 2009 8:02 PM

I support the BID--its going to be a wonderful thing for those that most travel the trash filled streets to get to the subway or to run an errand. Maybe the business owners on fulton will be a bit more conscientious about how they keep their stores and how securely they tie up their garbage. Oh and it would be so nice if even one dining option--other than subway or KFC were to open......

Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at April 21, 2009 8:30 AM

I tried to post something about this last week and for some reason as 'guest' it never went on so i looked up my account again and here i am. About three months ago I noticed a flier in one of those Brooklyn paper's you see everywhere while at the Outpost. Inside the paper was a flier stating that if you entered your child into the day care around the corner off of Fulton street it would result in a reduction on your BID fees. I went to other areas and found this flier in the paper in those shops on Fulton street. I wish I kept the flier because it seemed to me a bit strange. Why would someone get a discount on your BID fees if you put your child in a certain day care? Did anyone else see this? I showed it to a few shop owners at the time around there and they all seemed to be a bit confused. One even said the person who owned the day care was one of the people involved in the BID itself. Anyone else see this?

Posted by: brokestone at April 24, 2009 12:35 PM

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