2017 ANNUAL REPORT PITKIN AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
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ds & Neighbors Hi from the Heart of East Brooklyn! Pitkin Avenue, like the neighborhood of Brownsville, Brooklyn, is going through a positive and inclusive transformation. In working together with neighborhood residents, partner organizations and New York City agencies, our goal is to show the best example for directing change at the neighborhood level. Here on Pitkin Avenue we have begun the work of bringing our buildings back to full use with restored façades and signage, by implementing the New York State Main Street grant with participating building owners and businesses. We continue to attract new businesses, focusing on fresh food options for customers and cultivating local entrepreneurship. Our cleanliness rating is among the highest out of all of New York City s commercial districts. Our parades, festivals and seasonal events draw thousands from beyond the surrounding neighborhood while displaying and celebrating what is best about Brownsville. Are you interested in more details about what s happening on Pitkin Avenue, want to partner with us or just visit? Please reach out and join with us in making things even better. Consumers and small businesses are still the number one reason for all the improvements. We look forward to you coming by or coming back home to Pitkin Avenue, the place that welcomes everyone! Daniel Murphy, Executive Director
About the BID 24 Years of service 16 commercial blocks served 212 Businesses in the district $225,000 Annual assessment Board of Directors Ruben Abramov Paul Chhabra Mike Dibella Jack Dushey Ugo Grassadonna, Secretary Renee Muir, Treasurer Ikey Rawas Barry Rothenburg Mark Tanis, Chairman Juan Tavarez Neil Tsadka Francilia Wilkins, Vice Chair Eric Adams, Brooklyn President Darlene Mealy, NY City Council Gregg Bishop, Commissioner SBS Scott Stringer, NYC Comptroller BID Staff Daniel Murphy, Executive Director Jesse Gericke, Planning Director PT Staff and Consultants Toni Diaz, Event Coordinator Kayla Jean, Program Associate Dadras Architects, Storefront Design Main Street Complete, Web Design Made in Brownsville, Graphic Design Barn Owl Studio, Graphic Design Layman Lee, Graphic Design
A Year of Service Hosted 6 community and cultural events 3,120 Hours of supplemental sidewalk cleaning More than 2,500 bags of trash collected Generated 22,157 page views on BID website 16 blocks of holiday lighting 4 façade improvement projects assisted
Community Even 2017 was another successful year of BID-hosted events that promote Pitkin Avenue as Brownsville s central meeting place where locals and visitors gather and engage in healthy activities. The events continue to grow in popularity and are a source of community pride and inspiration, while generating publicity, strengthening our network of partnerships, and increasing foot traffic to the corridor. Halloween Parade & Harvest Festival The Halloween Parade procession of classic cars, stilt walkers, marching bands, and local dance troupe the Gatorettes culminated with the Harvest Festival at Pitkin Plaza - a 3 hour block party featuring live music, pumpkin giveaways, arts and crafts, and cooking demos. Pitkin Avenue Tree Lighting Braving the cold many turned out again to celebrate the BID s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Zion Triangle with live music and caroling. Hot cocoa and cupcakes were generously provided by Villa Castillo and 3 Black Cats Café. Easter Parade & Great Egg Hunt Kicking off at Pitkin Plaza the BID s annual Easter Parade culminated with live music and the Great Egg Hunt at Betsy Head Park. Pitkin Avenue Summer Plazas With live music, dunking booths, kiddie pools, and games for all ages the BID s 10th Annual Summer Plaza block party beat the Summer heat in style and generated thousands of visitors old
ts and new to Pitkin Avenue. The multi-day event was capped off with free popcorn and cotton candy and an outdoor movie showing of the Despicables by Rooftop Films. Halloween Parade and Harvest Festival, October 29, 2017
Retail Attraction With support from a Community Development Block Grant administered by NYC Department of Small Business Services, the BID continued a targeted effort to attract new businesses to the district. Our business attraction strategy included online advertising, market research, consumer satisfaction surveys, and property and business owner outreach. In collaboration with local brokers the BID hosted it s 2nd Annual Retail Vacancy Showcase and for the third consecutive year the BID lowered the vacancy rate on Pitkin Avenue as (10) new businesses opened during the year. Pitkin Avenue Commercial Vacancy Showcase, March 2017
New Friends Gourmet Deli In the past year, 10 new Pitkin Avenue businesses opened, including: De Yi Xuan China Buffet, August 2016 New Friends Gourmet Deli, September 2016 Pitkin Pharmacy and Food Mart, October 2016 Halsey Street Grill, November 2016 Pitkin Avenue Deli, November 2016 Fashion to Figure, April 2017 5 Star Barber and Beauty, April 2017 Pitkin Avenue Express Pharmacy, May 2017
Façade Improve In December 2016 the BID was awarded a $250,000 New York Main Street Grant from the State of New York. The grant can be used to make building renovations to Pitkin Avenue properties between Amboy Street and Rockaway Avenue making over 50 buildings eligible to receive assistance. In addition, the BID received a Avenue NYC grant for Façade Improvement Management from NYC Small Business Services to provide project management and architectural services to eligible projects. The first project, at 1621 Pitkin Avenue, broke ground in July with an expected completion in Fall 2017. Three additional projects are slated to receive funding from the Main Street grant and are expected to be completed in 2018. Façade Improvements at 1621 Pitkin Avenue September, 2017
ments Committed Façade Improvement Projects* 1621 Pitkin Avenue, Cricket Store Project scope includes: brick repointing, new upper floor windows, new storefront framing, and new security gates. 1598 Pitkin Avenue, Caramel Project scope includes: brick repointing, new upper floor windows, new stucco sign band & sign, paint cornice, and Sunbrella awning. Façade Projects Planned for 2018 1606 Pitkin Avenue, Vacant Potential project scope: brick repointing, new sign band, paint cornice, new HVAC, and commercial interior renovations. 1686 Pitkin Avenue, Sal & Paul s Pizzeria Project scope: two new affordable residential units, brick repointing, new windows, paint cornice, new signage and awning. *projects approved by NYS Office of Community Renewal
FY17 Income & Expenses REVENUE FY17 Assessment Income $225,000 Contributions & Grants $86,065 TOTAL INCOME $311,065 EXPENSES FY17 Marketing $44,791 Community Events $53,362 Sanitation $63,515 Façade Improvements $16,157 Streetscape Improvements $3,392 Security $1,422 Administration $129,390 TOTAL EXPENSES $312,830 NET CHANGE ($1,765)
FY18 Operating Budget REVENUE FY18 Assessment Income $225,000 Contributions & Grants $92,000 TOTAL INCOME $317,000 EXPENSES FY18 Marketing $51,000 Community Events $42,000 Sanitation $65,000 Façade Improvements $12,000 Streetscape Improvements $2,500 Administration $134,030 TOTAL EXPENSES $306,530 NET CHANGE $10,470
Special thanks to our partners and sponsors for another successful year! Ascend Charter School Atlantic Maintenance A-Team Management Brownsville Community Justice Center Brownsville Multi-Service Center Brownsville Partnership Community Board 16 CORO New York Dadras Architects Dream Big Foundation Everything Sticks Catering Excelsior Group Friends of Brownsville Parks Grand Street Settlement Groundswell Grow NYC Horticultural Society of New York Housing Trust Fund Corporation Illuminations by Arnold Larisa Ortiz Associates Latrice Walker, NYS Assembly Made in Brownsville MGB Pops! National Grid NuMiracle Printing NYC Dept. of Probation NYC Dept. of Transportation NYC Dept. of Sanitation NYC Mayor s Office NYC Parks & Recreation NYC Small Business Services NYC Council - Darlene Mealy NYFD Engine 231 NYPD 73rd Precinct NYS Office of Community Renewal Pitkin Youthmarket Power of Two Rainbow Social Day Care Center Renaissance Economic Development Corp Rockaway Youthmarket Rooftop Films Sal & Paul s Pizzeria Shopper s World Three Black Cats Café & Cakery Trucked Out Tyrone Sellers, CPA The Uni Project Villa Castillo Watoto Entertainment
The Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District is a non-profit organization serving the Pitkin Avenue commercial corridor and its merchants from Howard Avenue to Mother Gaston Boulevard in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Our goal is to make Pitkin Avenue a better place to live, work, shop, and visit.