Business Districts in Crown Heights Slated For Improvement
For those who may have gripes about the business district in Crown Heights – plans to bring a business improvement district to Utica Avenue in Crown Heights are currently in the works. We also learned from reps at Congresswoman Yvette Clarke’s office that very preliminary plans are being tossed around to bring a business improvement district to Nostrand Avenue as well. They are still looking for people to help get the Nostrand BID off the ground..
For those who may not know what a business improvement district is:
A Business Improvement District is a formal organization made up of property owners and commercial tenants who are dedicated to promoting business development and improving an area’s quality of life. BIDs deliver supplemental services such as sanitation and maintenance, public safety and visitor services, marketing and promotional programs, capital improvements, and beautification for the area – all funded by a special assessment paid by property owners within the district. Since its inception over twenty years ago, the City’s BID program has contributed over $930 million in supplemental services to invigorate our neighborhoods. — From New York City’s Department of Small Business Services.
In fact New York City BIDs serve as the model for other BIDs across the nation. And while there exist some critiques of business improvement districts, ultimately the proliferation of BIDs across the city (most recently in neighboring Bedford-Stuyvesant), speaks to their effectivness as a tool for community economic development (says the person who works for a BID).
Popularity: 2% [?]
I wasn’t particularly aware of the need for business improvement on Utica.
I have regularly shopped in the Utica Ave business district since I first started working in the Crown Heights in early 2002, and have never found that part of community in want for much of anything. Within the eight blocks or so from Eastern Parkway (four in each direction) on Utica there is a wide assortment of businesses and services; three largish grocery stores, five or more small produce stands, five bank branches, shoe stores, clothing stores, half a dozen discount / dollar stores, religious stuff, flowers, computers, appliances, doctors, accountants/ tax prep, lawyers, eight or so bodegas etc. I didn’t even get into restaurants, take-out places and other things like health food stores.
In the years that I have been paying attention to this area I have been surprised by a lot of the patterns along that stretch. Storefronts do not remain empty for long. Even seven years ago there was already a mix of the national chain (Subway, Chase, Rent-a-Center), locally owned chains (Golden Krust, GEM store), neighborhood chains (the same family owned a few of the bodegas). Most of the business are independent though. This is a very vibrant area, with shoppers strolling every day all year long. The businesses in that area seem well suited to serve the needs of those who live in the neighborhood.
I am not flat out against a BID for Utica but I think that other business districts could use one more. The Utica district seems to have no trouble attracting businesses or customers, it does that better than the other main drags of Crown Heights like Nostrand or Franklin. It also doesn’t seem to have the visible crime problems that the other drags have. Though that might just be an issue of lopsided enforcement on the part of the NYPD. My fear is that this BID will push that area into a type of change that will make it easier for gentrification to happen inside of a vibrant and non-blighted community. I would hate to see the businesses that make Utica Ave so special get priced out.
Interesting points nat. I wonder what prompted the call for a BID and what they plan to use the money for…