Toward a more beautiful Bayside

“There were a lot of people that said Bayside was losing its luster . . . Not on my watch,” said Gregg Sullivan, executive director of the Bayside Village Business Improvement District (BID) during their third annual meeting.
A complete new vision for Bell Boulevard streetscape was recently put forth to Community Board 11 with support from both the Bayside Business Association (BBA) and the BID. The plan involves planting trees, redesigned sidewalks and curbs, fancier street lights that are more energy efficient, new benches, bike racks and fresh trash receptacles.
According to Susan Seinfeld, district manager of Community Board 11 who was in attendance at the BID meeting, phase one of the streetscape project may begin as soon as fall 2011. The BID was also instrumental in the repaving of Bell Boulevard; a project slated to begin after Con Edison finishes excavation roadwork involving their underground gas mains.
Business leaders from Bell Boulevard gathered at Redeemer Lutheran Church to discuss the current financial state of the BID, past and future events, the beautification of Bell Boulevard and the possible expansion of the BID outside its current boundary.
During a presentation to those in attendance, Sullivan listed the BID’s accomplishments over the course of the previous year including the fall arts and crafts festival, speedy snow removal during a most tumultuous winter and the erected business sponsored flags that wave from lampposts up and down the boulevard. Next on the executive director’s agenda will be to beautify the Bayside LIRR station from an eye-sore into a green public space with a gazebo and plan for a “classy” street fair exclusive to members of the BID.
“We aren’t going to put a sausage truck in front of your restaurant,” said Sullivan, who wants the fair to serve as a promotional tool for local small business.
For three years, the BID has operated between Northern Boulevard and 35th Avenue along Bell Boulevard. BID Chair Jim Riso announced that there are discussions in place to include business south of Northern Boulevard and off 42nd Avenue along Bell Boulevard, but the venture would increase sanitation expenses.
The projected numbers provided by Roslyn CPA, Lou Liberta, for the end of the fiscal year (June 30) revealed that the BID would be operating at a deficit of roughly $10,000, but with surpluses amounting $25,350 during the first two years of the BID’s existence. Liberta said that it was not an overwhelming position. Two stand-out figures in the fiscal year’s financial breakdown included $17,000 spent on the extravagant holiday lights and $29,954 on sanitation. Sullivan also said that a $15-per-foot store front fee were the lowest dues out of all of the city’s 64 BIDs.
Captain Ronald Leyson, commander of the 111th Precinct spoke briefly about the partnership between local police and businesses, especially the bars along Bell Boulevard that sometimes require an added police presence.
The meeting ended with a special election. BID members voted in Jim Riso as Chair; Pat Perulli as Vice-chair; Terry Triades as Treasurer and Meri Triades as Secretary.
Dominick Bruccoleri, Gerry Biordi, Eric Belanich, Nicholas Kotsianas, Wendy Prush and Ed Sheen were also elected to the board.
“We have an important voice,” said Riso about the importance of the BID. “Now it’s not one guy complaining. We are a united front.”
To learn more about the Bayside Village BID, visit their new website, www.baysidebid.org or on twitter @baysidebid or call 718-423-2434.