Supplemental Sanitation

Sidewalk Cleaning (The BID Clean Team)

The BID provides sidewalk cleaning services seven days a week for up to 11 hours a day, helping to maintain a district that is clean and free of litter.

Trainees from the Doe Fund’s Ready Willing and Able program sweep the sidewalks, empty wastebaskets, bag loose garbage, and remove posters and graffiti eight hours a day, six days a week on Church Avenue.

Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM, Robert Dockery, a BID employee, sweeps sidewalks to clean up litter that accumulates overnight.

Graffiti Removal

In order to prevent the build-up of graffiti, the BID partners with the NYPD 70th Precinct, Borough President Marty Markowitz, and local community groups to coordinate the removal of graffiti from buildings and street furniture in the district. Several times a year, a graffiti-removal task force comes together to remove graffiti and repaint surfaces.

Do you have graffiti on your storefront? Click here to find out how to get rid of it!

Marketing

Sidewalk Sales

Several weekends a year, the BID sponsors sidewalk sales enabling retailers to place merchandise in front of their stores. These sales allow retailers to bring their merchandise directly to the shopper, increasing their visibility in the district and giving them an opportunity to attract new customers.

Banners/decorations

the BID installs streetlight banners featuring the Church Avenue logo and holiday lighting to give Church Avenue a unique identity. The banners are sponsored by local merchants, and provide a long-term source of advertising.

The Church Bell, a newsletter for the BID community, is published quarterly to promote BID services and programming. It includes articles on subjects of interest to merchants and property owners within the BID, as well as information on upcoming events. Click here to see past editions of the Church Bell.

Calendar

The BID finances, produces, and distributes an annual calendar. The 32-page color calendar features photographs of stores and attractions within the district, a directory of merchants in the BID, as well as advertisements from participating merchants. Each participating merchant receives a number of calendars to distribute to their customers.

Business Development

The BID is a resource for merchants who want to improve, expand, or reposition their businesses. The BID hosts quarterly breakfasts where merchants have a chance to network, discuss issues facing their business, and hear from city agencies on initiatives or programs which could effect their business. The BID also makes referrals to city agencies such as NYC’s Dept. of Small Business Services and other local not-for-profit organizations.

The BID has been affiliated with CAMBA since it was created in 1983. Our merchants are invited to attend the large offering of small business development workshops presented by CAMBA Small Business Services program. Click here to see a calendar of upcoming events being held by CAMBA Small Business Services.

Small Business Assistance & Financing Resources

Accion
Brooklyn Business Library
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation
Business Outreach Center Network, Inc.
CAMBA Small Business Services
New York Business Development Corporation
NYC Business Solutions
NYC Department of Small Business Services
NYC Financial Network Action Consortium
New York State Small Business Information
New York Workforce One Centers
Project Enterprise
Small Business Resource Center at the New York Public Library
United States Small Business Administration
Women's Venture Fund

Advocacy

From cracked sidewalks to major capital improvements, the BID works with stakeholders and governmental agencies regarding repairs and improvements that will make Church Avenue an even better place to shop. Additionally, if a BID merchant or property owner is having an issue that requires government action, the BID manager can reach out to the appropriate agency until the issue is resolved. The BID maintains contact with all of its elected officials and with representatives of several state and city agencies. If you have a problem that requires city involvement, click here to find out how the BID can help.

In 2007, Council Member Mathieu Eugene secured $800,000 for the installation of antique streetlights throughout the district on behalf of the BID. The BID is currently speaking with the MTA and state elected officials about the possibility of upgrading the Church Avenue subway station.

The BID is currently working on a transportation study, in order to increase the quantity of street parking and facilitate commercial deliveries, as well as a market study and commercial needs assessment.

Real Estate Reports

The BID publishes a real estate report four times a year to inform property owners, potential business owners, those in the real estate industry and other interested parties about real estate trends and available property within the Church Avenue BID.

2010 Real Estate Reports: 2010 1st Quarter Real Estate Report; 2010 2nd Quarter Real Estate Report

2009 Real Estate Reports: 2009 3rd Quarter Real Estate Report; 2009 4th Quarter Real Estate Report

Click here to sign up for email updates!

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