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
That’s a relief 10:12–my wife likes Save on Fifth.
“Poleguy”–that’s great:-)
I think Poleguy is referring to the old guy with all of the garbage chained to his dilapidated storefront right next to ChipShop.
Polemicist,
If I interpret your post correctly, you support “a government mandated additional tax that goes to maintaining the retail corridor in question as well as providing standard guidelines regarding aesthetic appeal”. If that is the case, how do you reconcile this position with your opposition to zoning regulations?
Also, is the business you label as “The Puerto Rican garbage dealer near 7th Street” the one called “Save on Fifth”?
the BID is not a “hand out” it is in essence a government mandated additional tax that goes to maintaining the retail corridor in question as well as providing standard guidelines regarding aesthetic appeal.
There are more than a few retail stores owned by a few folks who moved into the neighborhood during the 1970s. They haven’t changed or improved their properties at all since that time and quite frankly they are an eyesore.
The Puerto Rican garbage dealer near 7th Street really comes to mind – those buildings need to be razed.
It wasn’t so long ago that NYC gave incentives to attract business to 5th Ave. – Ozzie’s on 5th Ave. was a recipient – a “cinderella project”. This is no longer the case. As long as tax dollars aren’t used I don’t care what they set up – this stretch of 5th Ave. doesn’t need any handouts to succeed.
Yes, the one downside is why on earth would it stop at 18th street? The natural place to end it would be at 23rd street – south of that 5th ave. just runs alongside the cemetery and low-density commercial businesses, not retail.
There are new businesses, bars and restaurants sprouting up between 18th and 23rd, so this just doesn’t make any sense to me.
Any news on the status of the Fulton Street BID?
If this BID wants to immediately improve 5th Ave exponentially – immediately ban solid roll-down gates.
Its not Newark circa 1968 – these gates invite graffiti, give a negative feel to the street after dark (and on weekends) and remove a prominent form of advertising for the merchants (the window).
Trash removal on what has been traditionally a filthy street wouldn’t hurt either.
How much of that bulk of money is going to be for promoting and maintaining the avenue?