Chalkboard in Immigrant Movement International’s Main Lobby, listing the weekly and monthly schedule
Credit: Melisa Tekin

• In putting together a BID, it is important to find organizations that will serve as structures of support–Immigrant Movement International (IM International) is one such institution.
• The previous Project Coordinator of IM International, Elisabeth Ingwersen Mendez, said that “…[IM International] began speaking with the directors of the BID, because [the organization] is interested in working [and improving on] public spaces…”
• As a result of this desire to improve the community, IM International has signed on to hold one of the four introductory seminars that proponents of the BID have put forth to educate the public, titled “Designing Roosevelt Avenue.” The other three public seminars were held by separate organizations.
• According to Ms. Mendez, the seminar was highly interactive, and took the form of a walking tour on Roosevelt Avenue.
• Residents, business owners and property owners alike walked together on Roosevelt Avenue, sharing ideas for the improvement and further beautification of Roosevelt Avenue, exemplifying community involvement in shaping the BID.

“If you take a walk down Roosevelt Avenue, there is no denying that a change needs to be made… my hope is to revitalize Roosevelt Avenue and make it the must-see destination for tourists, business owners and residents alike.” –Council member Julissa Ferreras

• Julissa Ferreras is part of the official Steering Committee of the BID and 82^nd Street Partnership.
• As a member of the City Council, she serves as a direct link between the residents, business owners, property owners and the larger government and its associated parts.
• Ferreras has referred to the Jackson Heights-Corona BID  as a “New Deal for Roosevelt Avenue,” alluding to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s revolutionary economic program of the 1930’s.

Julissa Ferreras presenting the “New Deal for Roosevelt Avenue”

Jackson Heights-Corona BID Map; Areas that will be influenced by the BID

The Seven Points of the “New Deal for Roosevelt Avenue”: 

• Increased sanitation services: 
  • More than doubling of garbage collection, from six times a week to fourteen times a week
  • Addition of fourteen garbage baskets
  • Propagation of “Stomp Out The Litter,” an anti-litter and waste campaign put forth to encourage residents to “keep Roosevelt Avenue clean.” (Press Release, New Deal)

• New lighting and painting 
  • $500,000 of funding to line the streets with more lamposts
  • This will both improve the aesthetic beauty of the streets, as well as enhance the safety of residents
• Better business environment
  • Growth of 82nd Street Partnership–extension to 114th Street.
  • $350,000 in funding towards the implementation of the BID
• Community focused public safety
  • Implementation of new security cameras throughout the community
  • Increased surveillance of streets for illegally parked vans and trucks that have blocked pedestrian walkways and have taken up parking spots
• Updated zoning
  • Commercial rezoning that will allow businesses “…to make improvements to their properties under proper commercial regulations…” (Press Release, New Deal)
• Car free Corona Plaza
  • Corona Plaza is in the process of becoming a full-fledged community center, where residents can socialize with one another in a public space.
  • Partnerships with Queens Economic Development Corp and the Queens Museum of Art to create community-building events

Corona Plaza as a Community Center; Photographed by Neshi Gallindo

• Roosevelt Avenue Task Force:
  • “…[T]he Roosevelt Avenue Task Force will work closely with other elected officials, government agencies, law enforcement, educational institutions, community-based organizations, business groups, individual merchants and community leaders to study the problems [with Roosevelt Avenue] and begin to develop a long-term systematic plan to tackle these complex issues.” (Press Release, New Deal)

Banner on the homepage of the Jackson Heights/Corona BID wesbite

• Putting together a Business Improvement District proposal (BID) is no easy task. Effective organization is key.
• One form of this organization manifests in the official Jackson-Heights Corona BID website: http://jhcoronabid.org/
• This website is a key tool in spreading awareness of the BID.

1. Steering Committee and 82^nd Street Partnership

• The Steering Committee and 82nd Street Partnership act as directors of the BID;  they are comprised of and serve as a direct link between business owners, property owners, residents and the wider city (e.g. government: Julissa Ferreras is a City Council member and part of the Steering committees active supporter of the BID)

2. Stakeholders: Business Owners, Property Owners, Residents

•  There are a number of resources available to each of the stakeholders: including a packet that was mailed to the stakeholders in JH-Corona, public seminar meetings, and direct contact information (email, address and phone number to set up meetings/answer any questions)
• A concerted effort has been made to make sure stakeholders are aware of the BID and its implications; each type of stakeholder has a page/tab devoted to their interests and how the BID can be of benefit to them.

Screenshot from JH-Corona BID website listing the separate tabs for various stakeholders
Credit: http://jhcoronabid.org/

Example of a page devoted to Business Owners; Pertinent contact information is located in the far right and bottom back boxes
Credit: http://jhcoronabid.org/

3. Survey, Fact Sheet

• There is a short survey posted to the website that asks specific questions of the stakeholders, such as “What are three things you value most in your neighborhood?”
• This allows for the directors of the BID to glean empirical data from the stakeholders and focus in on the issues that are most important to the members of the community.
• The Fact Sheet is yet another mechanism used to spread awareness of the BID; further, it is available in English, Spanish and Chinese.

Excerpt from the JH-Corona BID Fact Sheet
Credit: http://jhcoronabid.org/wp-content/uploads/82ndStreetBID_EN_LR.pdf