By Bill Parry
The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve legislation allowing the LIC Partnership to expand its Business Improvement District to include large sections of Hunters Point, effective on July 1, 2017.
Plans to expand into the Hunters Point sub-district were drafted nearly two years ago that would allow the BID to nearly double in size to include Jackson Avenue between Thompson Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, Vernon Boulevard between Jackson Avenue and 44th Drive, and 44th Drive between 10th Street and Jackson Avenue.
“I’m thrilled that after long last, the City Council has voted to pass the Long Island City BID expansion,” City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunyside) said. “Now, even more of our neighborhood will benefit from the community development, beautification, sanitation, and marketing initiatives that have helped make Queens Plaza and Court Square the vibrant destinations they are today. This expansion is widely supported by residents, business owners, civic associations, and Community Boards 1 and 2, and I have no doubt that our newly expanded BID will make our community an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Each property owner within the new Hunters Point sub-district will now be required to pay an assessment that is calculated based on type of property and frontage size. A typical Vernon Boulevard mixed-use property with 25-foot linear frontage would pay about $510 annually, according to the Partnership, while wholly residential properties would be charged a nominal $1 assessment . Religious institutions and non-profits are exempt.
“This is a great milestone,” LIC Partnership President Elizabeth Lusskin said. “The LIC Partnership looks forward to working closely with all the great businesses and stakeholders in the expansion area by enhancing services, increasing business opportunities and drawing more foot traffic from the surrounding transit hubs.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
