Clearing the Air on the Fulton BID
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…
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]
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.
wasder, It hasn’t. There is a diverse mix of retail along myrtle.
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.
“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…
I support the bid.
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.
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.
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?
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.