Flushing BID Sets Spring Projects

Shoppers in Flushing are going to be seeing some new changes as the Flushing Business Improvement District (BID) picks up speed. Even now, the cleaning and decorative services that began in November are gaining momentum as the winter gives way to warmer months, explained BID executive director Mabel Law.
"I am proud to announce that we have a thriving Business Improvement District," she said. "It was really thanks to the community and the commitment of the people. Now, we want to keep the momentum up. We dont want to slow down because when things slow down, business slows down."
At a recent meeting held by the Flushing Chamber of Commerce and Business Association (FCCBA) attended by local business owners, representatives from the Flushing Chamber of Commerce and notable community members like Police Officer Ki Soo Kim of the 109th Precinct, Frank Macchio of Community Board 7 and Doug MacLaury, senior vice president of the Mattone Group LLC, Law outlined the accomplishments of the BID and what is waiting in the wings for the future.
She recapped the hard work done by the local merchants that make up the BIDs board of directors, including the weekly and then monthly meetings that were held before Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed it into law in September of 2003, after the City Council voted 41-1 in favor of the proposal. The BID itself, Law explained, is a partnership between the public and private sectors to promote growth in the Flushing area as well as the commercial district.
"Our primary goal is to make sure we have the services we need and to make sure that it is both efficient and cost effective," she said.
So far, the BID has begun tackling the refuse problems that plague the streets of Flushing with the help of the Atlantic Maintenance Corporation, whose workers are out seven days a week in full uniforms emblazoned with the BIDs logo. As of April 1, an extra house of street cleaning has been put into effect because the commercial district remains active long after the sun has set.
Flushings Needs
"Flushing demands so much attention in terms of cleanliness because of the traffic and congestion," said Law. "We really needed to clean up the streets in order to attract people to our locale."
In addition to the sanitation services, this past holiday season, Flushing was graced with holiday lighting that was switched on in a ceremony led by the mayor and lasted from Thanksgiving to the end of the Lunar New Year festivities. Law believes that decorative details play a large part in emphasizing the areas attractiveness and potential for tourism.
The BIDs board of directors is now working on future projects like a seasonal banner program that will be open to BID merchant sponsorship, a course of graffiti removal, ridding Flushing of smelly streets and sidewalks during the warmer months, new lampposts and benches, and a mural reflecting the areas rich history.
Last week, State Senator Tony Ann Stavisky, Assemblyman Barry Grodenchik and Councilman John Liu joined the BID directors in announcing a proposal to place the public parking spaces created by the sale and development of city-owned Municipal Lot #1 in downtown Flushing under the control of the BID. Supporters of the proposal at a recent town meeting noted the need for public amenities on the site, particularly a youth center and a diverse retail base. There are currently 1101 parking spaces on the lot, which is the largest single public amenity in Flushing, and, according to Councilman Liu, the goal is to preserve the same number of spaces after the lot has been developed, as well as the current price of $1 per hour. This is important not only to customers shopping in the area, but also to the employees of local businesses who regularly use the public lot. Senator Stavisky maintained that without adequate and affordable parking, the economic growth of the area is doomed to failure.
By giving control to the BID, the group hopes to ensure that the parking area will remain the domain of the local merchants, who will work to set the prices and thus make fees reasonable enough to attract shoppers to the lot.
"Not only do we need to ensure that parking spaces are available for the general public, but we also need to create a mechanism that will ensure that parking prices will remain affordable," said Councilman Liu. "Having the Business Improvement District control the public parking will keep the parking spaces as a way to support local businesses and not degenerate into simply a profit-making parking operation."