The new Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn Business Improvement District (CLS-BID) was signed into law by Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a public hearing on Thursday, June 14.
“This new Business Improvement District will serve 195 properties in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn within the boundaries of Joralemon Street to the north, Flatbush Avenue to the east, Atlantic Avenue to the south and Court Street to the west,” said Bloomberg, adding that the budget for its first year of operation is $765,000.
BIDs are voluntarily formed community organizations that promote business development and improve the quality of life in a neighborhood. Established by local law, they are self-funded by local property owners and are overseen by the city’s Department of Small Business Services.
According to Blooomberg, services to be provided in this district include maintenance and sanitation, security services, marketing and promotion of local businesses, holiday lighting, economic development, beautification and landscaping.
The mayor thanked Rob Walsh, the commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, his staff, the City Council and the members of the Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn BID Steering Committee.
One of those, Paula Ingram of Ingram & Hebron Realty, told the Eagle that the first meeting of the new BID took place last week and that interim officers were elected. These are Frances Schor of the Treeline Companies, president; Penda Aiken, a business owner, vice president; Anna Baiardi of Banco Popular, treasurer; and Ingram, secretary.
As its second action, the BID voted to reinstate the cleaning of streets by Doe Fund Ready Willing and Able sanitation crews.
“We did this at our own expense,” said Ingram, pointing out that the BID’s budget was not in place yet.
Ingram also explained that the new BID does not encompass two blocks of Court Street — those between Montague and Joralemon streets — because the building owners on those two blocks declined to participate.
“The plan to create a BID is a great thing for commercial owners and residents because it will make the community stronger and ultimately better,” said Schor, at a meeting earlier this year. “We hope the BID will visually enhance the area and attract new investment to the community. This is a vibrant neighborhood that is important to the economic revitalization of the whole borough.”
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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