Linking Business and Culture - 125th Street BID · 2017. 12. 8. · 125th Street BID Annual Report 2009 1 Section I. District Background and Review of Fiscal Year 2009 Activities

What does the BID do?

MISSION

Expand sustainaible economic activity including support for the creation or expansion of busi-nesses that create jobs and other benefits for community residents.

GOALS

Maximize the ability of all stake-holders to benefit from oppor-tunities created by commercial revitalization efforts.

Improve the overall quality of life in the community

VISION

To become a multi-dimensional destination consisting of com-mercial retail, office space, social gathering places, residential, edu-cational, civic and religious with a strong emphasis on complemen-tary culture related development throughout the entire area.

BOUNDARIES

A five block area in Central, East and West Harlem that streches between Morningside and Fifh Avenues. This includes businesses on the avenues where the corner buildings front onto 125th Street

Dear Members:

The past year has been one marked by great change and challenge. Many businesses along 125th street are experiencing unprecedented economic conditions, new developments have been delayed or scrapped altogether and property owners have seen a spike in vacancies.

We have weathered many storms over the years and this one too shall pass. Now more than ever we must remain focused and united around our collec-tive goal of making 125th street a safe, clean and vibrant place to work, live and visit.

The BID also has new board leadership, a new project manager from the NYC Department of Small business Services and soon a new logo that will mark the beginning of a new chapter in our organization’s history.

This has been a tough year for the BID as we have had to do a comprehen-sive review and evaluation of all the BID’s programs and the expenses of each and its overall operations. We have been forced like so many other organizations to make some hard decisions and cut-backs that will ensure we remain fiscally viable. We are moving in the right direction.

Finally, the BID wishes to express its gratitude to its staff. These are the people that work hard everyday to ensure 125th Street is ready for busi-ness.

We wish you success during these tough times and we will look forward to seeing you all next year.

Barbara Askins Vincent MorganPresident Chairman

Welcome to the 16th Annual Meeting of the

125th Street Business Improvement District

Vel:125th Street District Management Association, Inc.

16th Annual MeetingJune 15, 2009 11:00 a.m.

Linking Business and Culture

Annual ReportThe complete BID Annual Report will be distributed to members in July. Others who would like a copy can download from our website at www.125thstreetbid.com.

125th Street BID Facts: Did You Know... We collect over 135 tons of trash every year!

That is 7625 bags per month and 13, 095 service hours from 8 employees.And, for the past 2 years we have recieved a 100% rating on the

NYC BID Scorecard evaluation report.

The BID public safety program works closely with the NYPD and EMS to ensure the BID is safe and secure. It aids in identifying safety, health and environmental hazards, exces-sive garbage, illegal trash disposal, broken street and traffic lights, abnormal traffic conditions or any other street condi-tions that require immediate attention.

The extra set of eyes along the corridor has been cited by the NYPD as a siginificant deterrent to crime and vandalism.

So far this year, there were 57 serious conditions reported to the appropriate agency. Of those, 52 have been repaired and 5 are pending.

Public Safety Program

BOARD NOMINATIONSNominations have heen recieved, reviewed and two individuals have neen recom-mended for appointment to the BID Board of Directors:

Mark Irgang, Property Owner

Mona Lopez, Property Owner

Additionally there are three current board members who are up for re-election:

Vincent Morgan, TD Bank

David Gmach, Con Ed

Lisa Tucker, Resident

Make sure you vote today!

Tree Guard ProgramThe BID has installed

57 new tree guards on 125th St.

7 on Frederick Douglass Blvd.

6 on Malcolm X Blvd.

This work included the expansion of some tree pits, the removal of stone or concrete, adding soil and mulch to tree beds.

This work was accomplished in partership with Michael Vacek, Manhattan Senior Forester, NYC Department of Parks & Recre-ation.

Officers of the 125th Street BIDBarbara Askins, President

Vincent Morgan, ChairJeff Brooker, Vice-Chair

Blondel Pinnock, TreasurerJustin Ehrlich, Secretary

Jonathan Hatcher, Asst. Treasurer

COMMERCE

CULTURE

SAFETY

SANITATION

125th Street BID Annual Report

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Section I. District Background and Review of Fiscal Year 2009 Activities

Neighborhood Needs Assessment.

The 125th

Street business corridor experienced remarkable growth and revitalization over

the last 10 years. Growth has included the addition of several high profile corporate

tenants as well as the expansion of existing businesses. Revitalization has been in the

form of renovation of properties to include utilization of upper floors, storefront and

interior improvements to existing businesses, new development and the re-emergence of

neighborhood events and activities.

BID conducted detailed neighborhood assessment June 2008. Commercial audit showed

district was comprised of eating and drinking establishments, apparel, accessories,

sporting goods related to culture and leisure, leisure retail merchandise, houses of

worship and other personal services related to culture and leisure.

125th

Street was re-zoned April 2008. The plan showed a total of 20 projected and

potential development sites within the BID boundaries. To date none of those projects

are shovel ready. The BID’s mission is to expand economic activity, maximize the

ability of local residents, businesses and institutions to benefit for the expansion, create a

more pleasant experience for shoppers and pedestrians, and improve the quality of life.

Are major tenants moving in and/or out of the 125th BID District?

None of the major tenants have moved out of the district. A new tenant slated to

come is Applebee Restaurant to the northwest corner of 5th

Avenue.

Are there any new developments or infrastructure/capital projects in the BID District?

The BID is working with the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ),

Councilwoman Inez Dickens, and NYC Economic Development Corporation on

the development of a new streetscape improvement strategy that will include

several infrastructure/capital projects in the BID District. This project will include

street lighting, way finding signage, and other identified streetscape elements.

A proposal from the BID was submitted to UMEZ to prepare a Streetscape

Improvement Plan to highlight the elements essential in creating a pedestrian-

friendly environment where people can live work, do business, and continue to

co-creation through its cultural assets.

Vacancy continues to be relatively low and fluctuates between 5 and 8%. This number

includes several large development blocks that are vacant lots. Some projects that were in

the process of being developed are stalled and/or off the table.

2009 – 2010 Summary of Vacant (retail) and/or Vacant Lots and other Developments


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South east corner of 125th

Street and St. Nicholas Avenue at 328–332 West 125th

Street was slated to be redeveloped soon. All storefronts were empty. Property

has not been developed and new tenants have occupied the commercial space.

South west corner of 125th

Street and Lenox Avenue at 100 West 125th

Street was

demolished due to a fire and portions of building collapsing in 2007. No

development plans have been released. .

The Victoria Theater is State Owned. An RFP was issued and a developer

selected. The project has been stalled due to lack of funding.

South east corner of 125th

Street and Fifth Avenue at 2 East 125th

Street. Targeted

for development but has been vacant over 10 years. No development plans has

been released.

Vacant lot beside Apollo Theater (261 West 125th

Street) – development stalled

Vacant lot at 5 West 125th

Street. Site was to be developed into a hotel – project

stalled and potentially eliminated.

Mart 125 located on south side of street between Frederick Douglass and Adam

Clayton Powell Blvd – City issued RFP, developer selected, tenants selected,

funding being sought.

Bishop Building located at 271 West 125th

Street recently vacated all of their

Northwest corner of Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The building was sold over 2

years ago and all tenants were removed. Development plans did not come into

fruition. The Management Company advertising the office space for lease.

Northwest corner of Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The building was sold and

all of the tenants were removed. Development plans did not come to fruition.

Some of the old tenants are back and there are new tenants.

What impact (short and long term) will this have on the district?

The current situation show that isolated projects have been hurt by an infrastructure not

prepared to accommodate the increased services necessary to optimize the potential for

the success of businesses that are investing in their buildings.125th

Street rapidly

approached the point in its maturation where a strategy for economic development was

mandatory. There has been significant residential growth in Harlem, which looks to 125th

Street as its primary cultural and commercial center for the community. Major increases

in local traffic, destination traffic and through traffic impacts the quality of Harlem life as

well as the safety of tourists and residents. There are limited parking facilities to

accommodate the growing destination traffic and tourism. Significant commercial

growth on 125th

Street – Projects such as Harlem USA and Harlem center were built.

New storefronts and expanded storefronts renovations took place. In a short time it

became noticeable that the streetscape no longer complimented the growth and direction

for the future. The BID began working to develop a master plan for its operation. Several

studies were commissioned which yielded some streetscape recommendations.


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Improving pedestrian access; connecting subway users to the BID; rationalization of

some of the uses; redesigning streetscape elements; 125th

Street should have cultural

design sensibility that goes beyond historic buildings; and resolving the ongoing problem

of what can be done to include street vendors in the economics of 125th

Street are just

some of the items cited.

The strategic plan will address the growing concerns of consumers, merchants and

property owners that pertain to four global areas:

a. consumer perception (BID have investigated marketing and promotion

needs that would facilitate increased consumerism and collected data

necessary to address the various cultural and socioeconomics and

economic dynamics that exists on 125th

Street).

b. business services (BID provides enhanced Sanitation a& Street

Maintenance and Public Safety programs and need to improve the

program to compliment growth.)

c. economic development (BID conducted market Retail Study and

developed an action plan for implementation of a retail recruitment and

retention program)

d. infrastructure improvements (BID initiated and/or worked with city and

state agencies on streetscape initiatives involving lighting, trees, signage

and street furniture. The BID has been actively engaged in effectively

bringing all parties together like resident’s consumers, property owners

and tenants, and government entities to meet the common goal of rational

community development.`

What other problems or needs exist in your district and what are you doig to meet these

needs?

Street vending on 125th

Street continues to create problems for the district such as

keeping it clean and complaints from businesses and the community. On the other hand,

the BID receives concerns that they will be removed and that they add to the vitality of

the street. The BID has developed a proposal for inclusion. The proposal has been

provided to Councilwoman Dickens and Assemblyman William Perkins for review and

support. The proposal is also included in the application to the Upper Manhattan

Empowerment Zone.

Other Neighborhood Assessment

Retail merchandise continues to be dominated by clothing and accessories with

clusters of similar clothing styles that include hip-hop type clothing for men (baseball

caps, baggy jeans, jewelry, Timberland boots, military-style clothing, etc.). Women’s

clothing tends to be very fashion forward.

The price point for clothing is remains generally lower for many of these stores.


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National chain retailers such as Old Navy, MAC, Marshall’s, Children’s Place, H&M,

Ashley Stewart, and Lane Bryant, Rite Aid, Duane Reade continue to exist.

The area is the cultural core with businesses such as the Apollo Theater, Harlem

Studio Museum, Magic Johnson Movie Theater, Hue-Man Bookstore, Hip Hop

Cultural Center, National Black Theater, Iaama Art Gallery, sculpture of Adam

Clayton Powell Jr., Alhambra Ballroom, local churches and houses of worship, etc.

Other cultural venues near the district such as the Faison Firehouse Theater on 124th

between St. Nicholas and Morningside and the recent opening of the Dwyer

Warehouse located on St. Nicholas between 124th

and 123rd

add to the cultural core of

125th

Street.

B. Review of Accomplishments

The top 5 goals for July 2008 through June 2009 were:

Hire Marketing/Development Specialist (Immediate and Ongoing Goal)

Increase Real Estate Committee Activities (Immediate and Ongoing Goal)

Streetscape Master Plan (Short-Term Goal)

Ensure that public safety and sanitation remain top priorities to address perceived

and real, clean and safe issues (Immediate and Ongoing Goal)

Expand 125th

Street BID’s boundaries (West – Immediate and Ongoing Goal;

East – Short-Term Goal)

Goals met status of those goals, activities undertaken from July 1, 2008 to June 30,

2009 to reach those goals.

Increase Real Estate Committee Activities

The 125th Street BID hosted it Fall Networking Reception in October 2008. Developers

of major projects along 125th set up displays and were on hand to present one on one

their projects and to share with us their insights on the market. Participants included Grid

Properties, Vonardo, developers of Victoria Theater, Marlboro Equities, and others.

Sponsored by Carver Bank, this was the second networking reception hosted by the

BID’s Real Estate Committee.

Through the Real Estate Development Committee, the BID worked closely with City

Planning, City Council, and Community Board during the re-zoning of 125th

Street. The

results was “the Arts Bonus includes a floor area bonus for the provision of arts and

performance spaces within areas zoned C4-4D, C4-7, and C6-3 areas for which future

mixed-use developments is envisioned”.

The BID began the education of its stakeholders and the community on the Arts bonus at

its annual meeting. With a theme of “Linking Business and Culture” presentations were


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given by a panel that included the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, City Planning,

Hip Hop Culture Museum, and City Planning and Grid Properties.

Streetscape Master Plan

The BID continues to work with city agencies to implement streetscape/capital

improvement projects. (1) A pedestrian street lighting project is underway with New York City

Department of Transportation (DOT). The project had been on hold by the NYC

Dept. of Investigation while a case was made and adjudicated against the

Electrical Contractors who performed City work. The Contractors and the

Electrical Workers Union were apparently rigging the bids for City work. This

occurred as DOT were in the process of designing the 125th

Street project and

preparing it for the approvals process. The legal issues have now been resolved

and DOT is proceeding with their Distinctive Street Lighting Contract.

However, at that juncture, DOT’s policies changed regarding Distinctive Street

Lighting as a result of the Mayor’s Sustainability effort. The street light chosen

by the 125th

Street BID was dropped from DOT’s catalogue because it used too

much electricity, and the BID graciously agreed to pursue the use of a more

energy efficient street light. The BID is in the process of finalizing its selection of

a fixture that DOT can install on 125th

Street.

(2) The 125th

Street BID worked with the NYC Parks Department to have installed 57

new tree guards on 125th

Street, 7 on Frederick Douglass Blvd, and 6 on

Malcolm X Boulevard. This work included the expansion of some tree pits, the

removal of stone or concrete, adding soil and mulch to tree beds. This work was

accomplished in partnership with Michael Vacek, Manhattan Senior Forester,

NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.

(3) The BID is in a collaborative partnership with New York City Economic

Development Corporation to implement a pilot Way finding Signage project for

125th

Street. The BID supports the concept of uniquely designed way finding

signage for 125th that captures the historical, cultural identity. The way findings

improvements will focus on 125th

Street within the BID boundaries. A

maintenance partner is needed. Although the BID has not emphatically supported

the proposal at the time, it did express interest in becoming the maintenance

partner, assuming that the designs and costs for maintenance are acceptable to the

BID. The BID understands that being a maintenance partner means that the BID

would enter into maintenance agreements with City DOT and other applicable

agencies prior to construction. EDC will facilitate meetings with City DOT and

other applicable agencies prior to final commitment from the BID regarding

maintenance agreements. The project focus is on improvements to occur within

the BID boundaries, with the possibility to be expanded if the program is

successful and a maintenance partners (could be the BID as well) is identified. If

the program is expanded, the logical area for the BID would be those areas on

125th

Street that are currently being examined as feasible for BID expansion --

west of Morningside and East of Fifth Avenue. The BID is pursuing a master


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streetscape plan for 125th

Street and view the way finding project as an important

first step and one of many that is currently on the way and one of those projects

that they would like to occur in the future.

(4) Banner Program. A request for proposal was issued to request for banner

designs, as part of the BID ON CULTURE project to reflect the cultural vitality of

Harlem along its primary commercial thoroughfare - The famed 125th Street. BID

ON CULTURE is a new initiative developed through the partnership between the

125th Street BID and the Harlem Arts Alliance to help build a community-based

vision of Harlem’s heritage, its role as a vibrant cultural center, and to promote

the continued revitalization of 125th Street as the commercial and artistic heart of

Harlem. Banner designs selected through this process will help to brand 125th

Street as the center of culture in Harlem, a diverse community with an

unparalleled history of contribution to the nation in all fields of human endeavor. The banner designs for BID ON CULTURE were installed on the poles in the BID

district March 2009 as part of Women’s History Month to celebrate the

contributions of Women to Harlem and to communities of color in the fields of

government, arts and culture, business, education, and religion. The winning banners

received recognition from Congressman Charles B. Rangel and were displayed at the

BID’s annual meeting - Theme: “Linking Business and Culture”.

March 26, 2009, the above wining banners were placed in the congressional record by

Honorable Charles Rangel.

(5) Application to UMEZ. The BID submitted a request to the Upper Manhattan

Empowerment Zone to fund a streetscape improvement study and to implement some of

its recommendations. UMEZ agreed to entertain the request and work to develop a


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project to work in conjunction with city agencies and existing streetscape projects

commenced.

Goals: Enhance the livability, image, safety, and commercial viability of the project area.

Focus on those improvements that will serve the interest of all businesses long the

corridor. Create a high quality urban environment and contributing to an identity for the

Harlem community. Explore potential collaborations with the bus and rail systems,

property owners and government agencies. Formulate a plan that would create a

pedestrian friendly environment with recommendations for amenities such as enhanced

paving, parking, sidewalks, site furnishings, lighting improvements, street trees and other

green spaces. Facilitate active tourism, event promotion and nightlife. Use public art to

stimulate the use of 125th

Street. The design of 125th

Street should reflect and recognize

the recent rezoning of 125th

Street.

(6) Advertising signage on buildings. The future of 125th

Street lends itself to the

possibility of the visitor being able to experience the economic, social, historical,

spiritual, and cultural wealth of the Harlem community. Signage is one way to enhance

that experience, but it is a very important one. 125th

Street is unique and its signage has

been a vital part of the character of the street for many years. The signage is part of the

cultural vitality of street (local artists for example advertise their newest releases on the

street or their latest clothing lines) and the creative signs are also part of the design

aesthetic of the streetscape. The signs also minimize the visual blight when they are

placed on the abandoned portions of functionally obsolete buildings. The signage

accomplishes many other things including providing access by the community to

companies that do not reach it through traditional media sources as well as access to

information on community service providers and programs.

While signage regulations have not permitted the type of signage that has been prevalent

for years on 125th

Street, the City has been positive in its support by not enforcing the

regulations. There had been virtually no enforcement for years until the DOB blanketed

the street one weekend by issuing more than 400 violations with fines as much as

$140,000 for one property. This enforcement was an unintended consequence of the

zoning changes on 125th

Street. If the BID had known that the city would decide to

enforce the regulations after the zoning change it would have advocated for and obtained

approval of this type of signage as part of the 125th

Street zoning change.

To address this issue, the BID is seeking a zoning change. Meetings have been held with the

Department of Buildings, Councilwoman Inez Dickens, and staff members of Commissioner

Amanda Burden’s office. The BID is developing a package to submit to City Planning. This

package would include at a minimum, a summary of the current situation; examples of past

advertisement signage with self-policing on 125th Street; and architectural renderings for special

advertisement signage and future development projects.

(7) Apollo Theater Walk of Fame. The BID organized a meeting in the Soundstage of the

Apollo Theater with all city agencies and contractors that are involved with street scape initiatives

on 125th Street from River to River. The goal is to educate and inform about ongoing and


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upcoming initiatives and to work together to avoid a street with a hodgepodge of great elements.

The BID also provided written support for the distinctive sidewalk treatment under the marquee

of the Apollo Theater. The plaque design for the Apollo’s Walk of Fame project.is very

much in line with the direction that the 125th

Street BID has been pursuing.

(8) Research and Data Collection. The BID complied a listing of streetscape initiatives on

125th Street and provided it to NYC Economic Development Corporation and the Upper

Manhattan Empowerment Zone. The information is being used to further the development of a

comprehensive streetscape strategy.

Category Streetscape Element Agency Status/notes

Amenities accessories Banners DOT BID Banner Program

Amenities accessories Bolsters NYC DOT

Amenities accessories Bus Stop Signage MTA

Amenities accessories Muni Meters DOT

Amenities accessories Pedestrian Walk Lights DOT

Amenities accessories NYPD Surveillance Cameras NYPD

Amenities accessories Wayfinding Sigange EDC Proposed Project from EDC

Amenities accessories Street Name Signage DOT

Amenities accessories Traffic Signals DOT NYC DOT project pending

Amenities accessories Transportation signage Amenities-streetlight poles and fixtures Pedestrian lights NYC DOT

Amenities-streetlight poles and fixtures Street lights NYC DOT

BID Project / Assemblyman Keith Wright / NYC DOT

Amenities-streetlight poles and fixtures Traffic lights NYC DOT

NYC DOT project pending

Other Street amenities Bus shelters MTA

Cemusa has contract with the City

Other Street amenities Newstands DCA

Cemusa has contract with the City

Other Street amenities Parking Meters NYC DOT

Other Street amenities Subways MTA

Paved Surfaces Curb cuts NYCDOT

Plantings & Accessories Tree Guards Parks

Tree Guard Project currently in progress

Plantings & Accessories Empty Tree Pits Parks New Trees to be planted

Plantings & Accessories Trees Parks

Public Art statues Harlem State Office Bldg

Public Art Apollo Theater Distinctive Sidewalk Project

Apollo Theater /

Going through approval process


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DOT

Street Furniture benches Harlem State Office Bldg

Street Furniture Victor Stanley Receptacles 125th Street BID

Street Furniture City Trash Receptacles NYC DOS

Street Furniture Kiosks BID BID requested DOT to remove

Street Furniture Bill Perkins Trash Receptacles NYC DOS

Street Furniture Partnership Bins Receptacles BID BID pilot project

Street Furniture Trash Receptacles - Recycling Receptacles NYC DOS

Pilot Project until June

Street Furniture U. S. Drop box U. S. Postal Service

Utilities U.S. Mailbox U. S. Postal Service

Utilities Emergency call box NYFD & DEO

Utilities Fire hydrants NYFD & DEO

Utilities Manhole Covers CON Edison

Utilities Telephones DOITT

Utilities Water Stations DEP

Ensure that public safety and sanitation remain top priorities to address perceived and

real, clean and safe issues

The BID expanded its sanitation program to utilizing a vacuum suction sweeper and

launched its public safety ambassador program July 2008. The BID public safety

program works closely with the NYPD and EMS to ensure the BID is safe and secure, It

aids in identifying safety, health and environmental hazards, excessive garbage, illegal

trash disposal, broken street and traffic lights, abnormal traffic conditions or any other

street conditions that require immediate attention. The extra set of eyes along the

corridor has been cited by the NYPD as a significant deterrent to crime and vandalism.

So far this year there were 57 serious conditions reported to the appropriate agency. Of

those, 52 have been repaired and 5 are pending.

Goals not met, status of those goals, activities undertaken from July 1, 2008 to June

30, 2009 to reach those goals.

The landlord for the property where the BID’s offices were located did not renew leases

with its tenants and the building was vacated. The BID was forced to put some programs

on hold and identify office space and relocate its offices. The BID had been fortunate to


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keep its annual rent to $28,000 over the past 15 years; however growth on 125th

Street

has also elevated rental rates for office space. The BID was forced to accept office space

that increased it rental cost by approximately 32% plus relocation cost. The BID

submitted a request for a 17% increase in its assessment budget.

Hire Marketing/Development Specialist

This strategy has been changed to hiring fund raising development personnel and re-

examining the deliverables for the Marketing/Development Specialist.

Expand 125th

Street BID’s boundaries

The increase in costs for office space impacts this area because there are no funds to hire

a consultant/personnel to continue to examine the feasibility of expanding the BID’s

boundaries to 12th

Avenue on the west side and 2nd

Avenue on the East side – this project

was put on hold. Additionally, development projects on the east of Fifth Avenue on 125th

Street have not come to fruition. On the other hand the Columbia Expansion project and

the Harlem Piers project on the east side of Morningside were completed. Meetings

have been held with Columbia University to further determine their interest and a pilot

banner program was implemented on Twelfth Avenue. Banners were paid for with funds

provided by the participating businesses.


2009

Section II. Looking Ahead: Fiscal Year 2010 Goals

The top 5 goals for July 2008 through June 2009 were hiring a Marketing/Development

Specialist; increasing the activities of the Real Estate Development Committee; developing a

Streetscape Master Plan; Ensuring that public safety and sanitation remain top priorities to

address perceived and real, clean and safe issues; and Expanding the 125th

Street BID’s

boundaries.

These goals are in line with the community and the City of New York. The forced relocation of

the BID’s office requires that some of these goals are put on hold. In the 2010 year the BID’s

focus will be to ensure that the public safety and sanitation remain top priorities, to develop a

comprehensive streetscape improvement program, and to increase revenues to replenish the

BID’s contingency fund and meet the financial requirements as a result of the move. The BID

will also increase its outreach efforts to educate, inform and engage the stakeholders in the

district with the BID Programming and opportunities for business growth.

These goals support the growth or improvement of the Harlem neighborhood. No programs

from the BID or other businesses or organizations will be effective if the area is not a clean and

safe one. The BID’ s vision is to become a multi-dimensional regional center consisting of a

range of uses including commercial retail, offices, social gathering places, residential,

educational, civic, and religious with a strong emphasis on culture-related commercial

throughout the entire area. This vision cannot be realized without increased eduction and

information with the entire Harlem community.

Key tasks to be performed include:

- Build out and relocate to new office with a multi-purpose room to allow for

networking events and block-by-block business meetings with stakeholders.

- Hire fund raising development personnel to increase revenue

- Finalize grant with Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone for streetscape

improvement strategy

- Hire project manager for Streetscape initiatives

- Review all existing studies and revise BID’s action Plan.

Milestones:

Month 4 - Relocate to new office space and hold open house.

Month 5 - Execute UMEZ grant agreement and partnership agreement with New York

City Economic Development Corporation.

Month 6 – Hire Streetscape Project Manager.

Month 7 – Begin Block by Block Business Meetings. Streetscape Planners hired. Fund

Raising Personnel on board. Streetscape Project Announced with BID, UMEZ, City of

New York


2009

Month 8 – Fund Raising Strategy Developed.

Month 10 - Streetscape Strategy Outreach Plan Initiated

Month 12 – Contingency fund increased to include 3 months operational funds.


2009

Fiscal Year 2009 Business Improvement District Annual Report General

Number of block faces

22

Number of retail businesses

197

District vacancy rate

8%

Number of full-time BID staff

3

Number of part-time BID staff

2

Sanitation

Number of block faces covered by sanitation

22

Number of sanitation workers employed

6

Number of hours logged by workers

13,171

Number of incidents of graffiti removed

Number of trash bags collected by your BID

75,000

Security

Number of block faces patrolled by BID security

22

Number of security workers employed

6

Number of security hours logged


2009

10,686

Number of security incidents reported to personnel

1460

Streetscape/Beautification

Number of plantings maintained by your BID

Number of new plantings

Number of banners maintained by your BID

20

Number of new banners

20

Number of pieces of street furniture maintained by your BID

503

Number of new pieces of street furniture

57

Number of new pieces of public art

Promotion

Number of district guides, brochures and coupon books distributed by your BID

23,400

number of public events held

2

Number of attendees to public BID events

275

Number of unique visitors to your BID's website

160,000

125th Street BID Organizational Chart

Vincent Morgan Chairman

Jeffrey Brooker

Vice Chairman

Blondel Pinnock Treasurer

Jonathan Hatcher

Assistant Treasurer

Justin Ehrlich

Secretary

125th Street BID Organizational Chart

The President manages the daily operations of the BID and is responsible for all activities related to the BID.

The Director of Operations manages all street operations and activities.

The Chief of Staff is responsible for office management and bookkeeping.

The Office Managers performs clerical requirements.

The Streetscape project Manager will be responsible for existing projects and organizing the efforts for the development of the

streetscape improvement project.

The Fund Raiser will be responsible for developing a fundraising strategy and implementing fund raising activities.

.

Barbara Askins President & CEO

Director of Operations

Anthony Baker

Chief of Staff / Executive Assistant

Marie Fields

Office Assistants

Crystal Robinson

Futsum Kahsay

Streetscape Project Manager

to be hired

Fund Raiser

To be hired

Documents

Linking Business and Culture - 125th Street BID · 2017. 12. 8. · 125th Street BID Annual Report 2009 1 Section I. District Background and Review of Fiscal Year 2009 Activities