By Alexander Dworkowitz
The management of Macy's has thrown its support behind the plan to bring a Business Improvement District to Flushing, officials with the retail giant announced Monday.
“A BID to us is something that is going to be the foundation for the future,” Edward Goldberg, vice president for government affairs at Macy's, told a news conference at the Flushing store.
Goldberg said Macy's was so pleased with the plan that its leaders decided to make a public appearance with Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) in an attempt to push the BID plan forward as fast as possible.
In October, a 14-member committee was formed to study how to bring a BID to downtown Flushing.
In a Business Improvement District, property owners agree to pay an assessment for increased services, which often involve sanitation, security and advertising.
Many community leaders cite an abundance of trash as downtown Flushing's biggest problem, and Liu has made cleaning up the area a priority.
In November, the BID committee released a preliminary plan for Flushing. The proposal called for sidewalk sweeping, emptying overflowing trash cans and putting up holiday decorations on Main Street from Northern Boulevard to Sanford Avenue as well as Roosevelt Avenue from Union Street to Prince Street.
Once the BID committee finalizes its plans, the proposal faces scrutiny from property owners who would be affected. If a majority of the owners vote in favor of the plan, it will go in front of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council for final approval.
In order to pay for the estimated $300,000 cost, property owners would be assessed $25 for every foot of their building that fronts the street, plus a fee of 0.15 percent on the assessed value of their property.
Under the formula, large properties such as Macy's would pay the most. But Goldberg said the national chain would be happy to cough up its portion, estimated at $20,000 a year.
Goldberg said he had been involved in bringing BIDs to Macy's stores up and down the East Coast. He noted that business at the flagship store, located off Herald Square in Manhattan, had improved since a business improvement district had been established nearly a decade ago.
“If you look back at Herald Square, 12, 13 years ago, it was not desirable,” he said.
Although retail sales across the country have struggled in the lackluster economy, Goldberg said the Flushing Macy's has seen increased business over the last two years.
With the Caldor site next door to Macy's empty for four years, Macy's has become the largest retail store in Flushing.
Liu emphasized the importance of Macy's, which employs 350 people at its Flushing location, and said the BID would provide security that the store would stay.
“Everything is going well here,” Liu said. “Nothing is going to happen in terms of this store leaving.”
Liu said BIDs often take three to four years to get up and running, but he hopes that Macy's support could help bring the BID to Flushing by April.
Kenneth Doyle, the manager of the Flushing Macy's, is one of six people representing property owners on the BID committee. The 14-member group also includes politicians as well as leaders of Community Board 7, the Flushing Chamber of Commerce and the Flushing Chinese Business Association.
The BID committee has faced some criticism for not setting aside seats on its body for people living in the downtown Flushing area.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 1-718-229-0300 Ext. 141.
