LIC BID Expansion / East Expansion / West Expansion
Proposed LIC BID Expansion
Stakeholders outside of the Long Island City BID boundaries expressed the need for supplemental services to address the changing needs of the neighborhood and create a more clean, safe and cohesive Long Island City.
Two Steering Committees of local stakeholders have formed to analyze the feasibility of expanded BID services: one on the east side of Sunnyside Yards (East Expansion) and one on the west side (West Expansion). The maps below show the draft boundaries that are being considered. These boundaries are a preliminary draft and are subject to change during the BID expansion planning process.
Statements of Support
The documents are available in English, Spanish, Greek, Chinese, Korean, Thai or Bengali. Please find the ballots here:
Virtual Public Meeting Thursday, February 9, 6 p.m.
Learn about the proposed plan to enhance the streetscape, add supplemental sanitation, and other services and discuss the possible future of the neighborhood. Watch the recording here.
Proposed East Expansion Map
Proposed West Expansion Map
Proposed Combined Expansion Map
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Business Improvement District (BID)?
A BID is a public/private organization where property owners within a defined set of geographical boundaries finance supplemental services and improvements beyond those provided by the City. New York City has 76 existing BIDs.
The general services of BIDs are sanitation, public safety, marketing, and beautification but each BID has different services based on the needs of the district determined by the board. The services are all supplemental. By law, City services cannot be reduced because of the existence of a BID.
Where is the BID proposing to expand?
The LIC BID Steering Committees are contemplating two expansion areas: one just outside of the current BID boundaries (the “west expansion”) and one in the industrial business zone (the “east expansion”).
On the west we are proposing to expand to provide services to properties with frontage on Northern Boulevard, Jackson Avenue 23rd Street, Queens Plaza South, Vernon Boulevard, 41st Avenue. We are also proposing services on Queens Street, Purves Street, 24th Street, Crescent Street, 27th Street, Hunter Street, 46th Avenue, Pearson Street, Court Square West and Court Square West at a reduced rate because these streets require less service hours to maintain the same level of quality. See map.
On the east we are proposing to expand the boundaries to 21st street on the west, Thomson Avenue/ Queens Boulevard on the north, Borden Avenue on the south, and Van Dam Street on the east. See map.
How is a BID Funded?
A BID is funded primarily by commercial property owners within the boundary through an annual assessment. The assessment is determined using a formula created by the Steering Committee. Each BID’s assessment formula is unique and reflects the character of the district.
The assessment is collected through the Department of Finance through the property tax billing and then returned to the BID organization to be used for the agreed upon services and improvements.
The proposed assessment formula for the east expansion is based off of the square footage of the building. The proposed assessment formula for the west is based off of square footage and assessed value. See the Statement of Support for more information on the proposed assessment formula for the East and West Expansions.
Depending on the terms of commercial leases, some property owners pass through all or part of the assessment to commercial tenants. Once the BID is formed, property owners cannot opt out if they are within the boundaries.
Who Manages the BID?
BIDs are managed by an elected, volunteer board of directors who are property owners, business owners, residential tenants, and public officials. Most BIDs are managed by an Executive Director and staff who oversee the day-to-day operations and report to the board. The LIC BID is managed by the Long Island City Partnership. Since this effort is an expansion, the current LIC BID will incorporate this expansion and the existing staff will support the new subdistricts.
What is the current LIC BID?
Created in 2005 and expanded in 2017, the LIC BID encompasses Queens Plaza and Jackson Avenue to Court Square, and the commercial corridor along Jackson Avenue, Vernon Boulevard, and 44th Drive. The BID currently provides supplementary sanitation, beautification, visitor services, neighborhood marketing, and community development.
What services will the BID provide to the expansion area?
The proposed west expansion is primarily an extension of current BID services and will include: sanitation services such as trash removal, street furniture maintenance, monthly graffiti removals, snow removal and overall district maintenance; district beautification including horticultural services such as tree pit planting and hanging basket plantings as well as public realm improvements including public art installations and holiday lighting. Lastly, we are proposing marketing initiatives for the neighborhood and businesses there within.
The east expansion is proposing to add trash cans, graffiti removal, winter lighting, snow removal, and district marketing. We are also proposing to provide targeted supplemental street cleaning, servicing trash cans, weeding, capital improvements, and district marketing.
Additionally, each proposed expansion area will have a district advocate who provides retail support, communicates with organizations about public safety, advocates for infrastructure improvements and bridges the public-private gap between stakeholders within the BID and public agencies.
By law, no current City services, such as police or sanitation, may be reduced as a result of BID services.
How much will I pay?
The budget is distributed amongst all the commercial and mixed-use property owners in the expansion zone based on an assessment formula. Depending on the lease between property owner and commercial tenant, the assessment may be passed through to the commercial tenant.
The total proposed budget for the east expansion is $650,000 and the west expansion is $375,000.
Residential condo owners are assessed $1 annually. Residential tenants do not pay into the BID. While there are residential properties in the proposed west expansion area, there are no residential properties in the proposed east expansion area.
The proposed east expansion annual assessment is based on the square footage of the building and the proposed west expansion annual assessment is based on square footage and assessed value. Please find the statement of support for more information on the west and east expansion.
For more information or to better understand your personal case please reach out to: eastexpansion@licpartnership.org or westexpansion@licpartnership.org.
BID Formation Steering Committee:
The Steering Committee for the east expansion includes the following local stakeholders:
• Gretchen Werwaiss, Werwaiss & Co. (Co-Chair)
• Steven Kim, Innovo Property Group (Co-Chair)
• Jason Wasserman, Atlas Capital (Co-Chair)
• Mark Gregorio, TEI Group (Co-Chair)
• Ken Campanelli, LaGuardia Community College
• Ivan Karpov, Related
• Nicholas Kavourias, Atlas Capital
• Steven Balter, Innovo Property Group
• Angela Qiao, Savannah
• Alex Tendler, Van Barton Group
• Bob Jaegly, Mana Products
• Larry Gallego, Lyft
• Adam Kaufman, Alexandria
• Farah Salam, NYC City Council Julie Won
• Shurn Anderson, Office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards
• Leslie Velazquez, Small Business Services
The Steering Committee for the west expansion includes the following local stakeholders:
• Ravi Patel, Ravel Hotel
• Kyle Dancewitz, Sculpture Center
• Leonard Chavis, Fortune Society
• Laura Larsen, Power Cooling
• Kevin Murphy, RXR Realty
• Tj Connolly & Tiffany Connolly 10-30 46th Avenue
• Meg O’Brian, Materials for the Arts
• David Brause, Brause Realty
• Jennifer Muhlrad, Montana Data
• Brian Roberts, Carlyle Group
• Anthony Ervard, Court 16
• Gretchen Werwaiss
• Allison Duval, The Foundry
• Bradley Katz, Fisher Brothers
• Jodie Baker, Heatherwood Communities
• Patricia Dunphy, Rockrose
• Faith Ryan, Stawski Partners
• Jake Elowitz & Bashmir Elmegaryaf, Stonehenge
• Tom Ortinau, GFP
• Ed Jaram & Rob Albro, King Street Properties
• John Silviano, Barone Management
• Ben Sayles, Longfellow
• John Ritter & Frank Zuckerbrot & Larry Smith, Shalom & Zuckerbrot
• Jaymie Dahan, SB Development
• Farah Salam, NYC City Council Julie Won
• Shurn Anderson, Office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards
• Leslie Velazquez, Small Business Services
*Per City guidelines, Steering Committees must consist of a majority of property owners and have commercial tenants as well as elected officials.
How can I learn more information?
If you would like to be involved or would like more information, please contact eastexpansion@licpartnership.com or westexpansion@licpartnership.org.