After four months as interim executive director of the Bayside Village Business Improvement District (BID), Gregg Sullivan organized “neighborhood parking consciousness,” an initiative designed to conserve and maximize parking on Bell Boulevard, an upcoming arts and crafts show and put forth a beautification project at the Bayside LIRR station. It’s no surprise the members of the BID insisted he stay and make the title of executive director a permanent one.
“We found an enthusiastic director who is full of ideas,” said chair James Riso. “I think he’ll move the BID to the next level.”
In recent years, Sullivan – a native of Bayside – made his way back to the area from Los Angeles to take care of his ailing mother while volunteering with the BID. After she passed, he thought he would return to California but he reconnected with Bayside, the local businesses and the community.
“I have a new appreciation for Bayside,” said Sullivan, who runs the Bowery Wine Company. “I’m here to bring a sense of community back to Bayside. “I’m here to take that dark cloud away from Bell Boulevard and make things fun again.”
With some projects already in the works, Sullivan plans on making Bayside and Bell Boulevard an exciting place to shop while becoming appealing to the eye. With the help of Community Board 11, Sullivan hopes to extend parking meters from one hour to two hours and to showcase American flag banners with corresponding corporate sponsors up and down Bell Boulevard.
Sullivan – who replaced Alicia DiSalvo as executive director – is also involved with real estate brokering in Southampton and Montauk.
