A BID to Maintain and Improve 5th Avenue
A bid for a 5th Avenue BID got stronger last night after receiving unanimous support from members of CB6’s economic/waterfront development committee. The Park Slope 5th Avenue BID—which is set to include the blocks between Dean and 18th streets—would tax the strip’s 600 or so commercial property owners around $500 each (a fee that’d mostly…
A bid for a 5th Avenue BID got stronger last night after receiving unanimous support from members of CB6’s economic/waterfront development committee. The Park Slope 5th Avenue BID—which is set to include the blocks between Dean and 18th streets—would tax the strip’s 600 or so commercial property owners around $500 each (a fee that’d mostly be passed along to the landlords’ retail tenants), thus giving the BID about $300,000 to play with every year. The bulk of that dough would go to promoting and maintaining the avenue, with an emphasis on improving sanitation services. The business improvement district would be the third formed in Community Board 6 (after the ones for Flatbush and Smith Street), and it’s been influenced by Sunset Park’s BID. Irene LoRe, co-owner of Aunt Suzie’s Restaurant and one of the BID’s chief architects, noted that BIDs get better service from the city because they have someone yelling for them. The proposal still needs to be OK’d by the full community board and various powers that be in city government (including the Council and mayor’s office), but it could be formed as early as next summer. Seems to us like a great way to make a thriving commercial stretch even better, and it’s difficult to see any downsides to the plan. Anything we’re missing?
Photo by Betty Blade
looking at the map it makes no sense to stop at 18th street. There so many new residents from 18th street to 23rd street. Could someone get the rationale or was it a random decision.
BIDs can and often do marketing, events and spruce-ups along commercial corridors. But, essentially, BIDs collect additional taxes to provide basic services that the city should provide. Most BIDs provide “supplemental” sanitation and security services. If the City was doing its job right, it would already pick up trash as needed from the corner and have street cops out and on foot patrol. BIDs allow the city to divert resources away from the BID to other areas. A big shell game.
Also, while the tax is not voluntary, there is no ability of a BID to impose standards on storefronts, etc.
Key Foods – now that’s a development site!!
There’s enough space for two 6-7 story residential buildings with the grocery store on the bottom. Parking could go underground and a green roof to top it off.
My understanding is that the reason there isnt a bid now is that the Key Food resisted. Charges are based on street frontage (and it includes their giant parking lot).
I wonder how they worked around it.
Yes! Great idea .. benches and large flower pots, more trees. Lights and decorations during the December holidays.
more streetscaping is needed along this stretch. fill in the empty tree pits, put out some hanging flowers, encourage non solid roll down gates and add some benches.
hear that…BENCHES!
would really add to more of a vibrant area where people would want to hang out and spend more money…
More trash cans on corners and more frequent trash collection would be greatly appreciated. Also, perhaps, something could be done about that abandoned building next to the VFW off 7th Street. And I agree with 9:23 AM, why stop at 18th Street?
9:24 here…the point is that the government no longer needs to mandate anything along 5th Ave. The corridor is strong enough to survive on it’s own allowing the market to dictate what they want to see along 5th Ave.
I agree with 9:23. It seems odd to stop at 18th .