Service Area L G UNION AVENUE LORIMER STREET KEY FOOD PARKING LEONARD STREET MANHATTAN AVENUE GRAHAM AVENUE HUMBOLDT STREET L BUSHWICK AVENUE District Information The Grand Street District Management Association, Inc. doing business as the Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID) was incorporated in 1983 and provides targeted services such as supplemental sidewalk cleaning, graffiti removal, marketing and promotions as well as business advocacy to all of the commercial properties on Grand Street between Union and Bushwick Avenues. The mission of the Grand Street BID is to create a vibrant commercial district and improve the quality of life for the community, making it a great place to live, work, shop and play. This annual report is a snapshot of the BID s accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016). Services Supplemental Sidewalk Cleaning & Graffiti Removal Our Doe Fund sidewalk cleaning team consisted of one full-time sidewalk cleaner working seven days a week, from 8 am to 4 pm, and a second full-time sidewalk cleaner working four days a week, Friday through Monday, from 8 am to 4 pm. All Bright Professional Services cleaned over 200 instances of graffiti September through November 2015 and in May and June of 2016. Our Doe Fund sidewalk cleaning team collected over 3,000 bags of trash.
Communications, Marketing, Promotions and Events The BID organized the following events, generating buzz about the district and bringing foot traffic to the corridor: Events Restaurant Weeks Grand Street s Restaurant Weeks are becoming seasonal traditions. In August 2015, 16 restaurants participated, and in February 2016, 11 participated. Many participating restaurants saw increased sales during the event and look forward to participating next year. Holiday Window Display Competition This was the third year for the December Holiday Window Competition where local high school art students decorated business windows. For the first time this year, the best business window also won a prize enticing more businesses to participate. 11 businesses participated and two decorated their own windows. Art Walk Through a Con Edison grant, in November 2015, the BID organized an Art Walk and commissioned local muralist Rubin to paint a mural on the large gates of 695 Grand Street. Since 695 Grand Street was slated for development, the mural transformed the block, improving its curb appeal. The art walk was very successful with 11 artists displaying art about Williamsburg at Grand St. businesses. Electronics Recycling For the third year in a row, in partnership with the Lower East Side Ecology Center, the BID organized an electronics recycling event for the community and collected over 3,800 pounds of electronics. Since the passage of state law prohibiting electronics in residential trash, this event is an important way of keeping electronics out of landfills and preventing building owners and residents from receiving fines.
Events Pub Crawl The BID celebrated St. Patrick s Day with its 5th annual St. Patrick s Day Pub Crawl. 13 bars and restaurants participated. Summer Days Block Parties Our annual block parties connect businesses with the community, promote the corridor and provide much needed public space. Online communications, social media and press outreach has increased significantly with over 800 new followers added this year and over 9,000 menu views during our restaurant weeks and pub crawl. Our FY 16 press outreach generated articles in the following media outlets: Pie Smith Grand Opening with BK Chamber of Commerce 695 Grand St. ground breaking ceremony with St. Nicks Alliance
Business Attraction and Retention Through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administered by New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), the BID continued its business attraction and retention efforts. Throughout the year, the BID idenitfied prospective businesses and attracted several businesses to the corridor through research, online advertising and outreach to residents, businesses and property owners. Additionally the BID provided business retention services through a series of digital marketing workshops. New Banner Design 17 new businesses opened on Grand Street between July 2015 and June 2016 New Businesses on Grand Street Anna s Spa Ikura Sushi Bar McOndo L Train Crossfit Grand Organic Beer & Smoke Shop Pie Smith Connection Business Center Primp & Polish Fillmore Real Estate Raggedy Threads Forum Ryujin Ramen Fly E-bike The Starlight Grand Gourmet Tacoffee BID Businesses by Category BID treasurer Lori Raymer generously volunteered to design the BID s new banners with the support of Ceradini Design, a local package design and branding agency where she is employed. Thanks to the support of 13 Grand Street businesses who sponsored our banners, the BID raised over $12,000 to help support new BID initiatives. Sidewalk Reconstruction The sidewalk reconstruction continued throughout FY 2016 and is to be completed shortly after the start of the following fiscal year. The New York City Departments of Design and Construction (DDC) and Transportation (DOT) oversaw the installation of the following upgrades on most of the blocks: New catch basins New sidewalks New curbs New tree beds and widened tree beds Intersection bulb outs LED street lights and new light poles The BID worked closely with DDC and DOT to ensure that the project is completed in full.
A Year of Service Grand Street BID s services and programs by the numbers Advocacy for and oversight of a $2.5 million dollar sidewalk reconstruction project Identified and reported 80 different quality of life issues to 311 Hosted 7 promotional events Provided 3,800 hours of supplemental sidewalk cleaning Collected and recycled 3,856 pounds of E-Waste Collected and removed 3,000 bags of trash Identified and removed 200 instances of graffiti Gained 800 new followers on social media, now communicating daily with over 1,800 followers
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES 2015 2014 2015 2014 ASSETS SUPPORT AND REVENUES Cash $201,545 $182,018 Assessment revenue $226,460 $199,106 Property and equipment 2,987 5,442 Grants and Contributions 49,747 36,568 Prepaid and other assets 40,148 15,274 In-Kind Goods & Services 2,966 2,216 TOTAL $244,680 $202,734 Income Interest 277 230 TOTAL $279,450 $238,120 LIABILITIES/NET ASSETS EXPENSES Liabilities: accrued expenses $ 12,642 $ 7,236 Program expenses $191,853 $174,755 Net assets 232,038 195,498 Management and general expenses 51,057 50,786 TOTAL $224,680 $202,734 TOTAL $242,910 $225,541 Summary of Financial Statements dated August 19, 2015 prepared by Tyrone Anthony Sellers, CPA Increase in net assets $36,540 $12,579 A copy of the complete audited financial statements is available online at www.grandstbklyn.com. Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Revenues BID Assessment $226,460 Interest 300 Grants & Contributions 50,000 In Kind Contributions 46,000 Total $322,760 Expenses Sanitation $ 77,719 Promotions 61,903 Holiday Lights 12,000 Retail Attraction 49,666 Beautification 10,000 Personnel 32,249 Rent and utilities 21,000 Professional fees 5,000 Insurance 4,500 Miscellaneous 1,600 Supplies, etc. 1,500 Depreciation 2,500 Dues & Subscriptions 600 In-Kind Contributions 46,000 Meeting and Travel 1,000 Total $327,238 Net (4,478) 2016 Board of Directors Government Officials (Class D) Property Owners (Class A) Honorable Bill de Blasio Juan Estremera Mayor, the City of New York Pablo Journet Represented by Honorable Greg Bishop, Jose Leon Commissioner, Department of Fred J. Moehring, Chairman Small Business Services (SBS) Lori Raymer, Treasurer Benny Rodriguez Honorable Antonio Reynoso Charlene Yvette Lowe The Council of the City of New York Elliott Tamir, Vice Chair District 34 Business Owners (Class B) Jede Brahma, Treasurer Honorable Eric Adams President, The Borough of Brooklyn Residents (Class C) Honorable Scott Stringer Jim Sweeney Comptroller, The City of New York Community Board (Class E) Gerald Esposito, District Manager Brooklyn Community Board 1 Staff Artineh Havan, Executive Director Homer Hill, Director of Communications Thank you to our FY 2016 funders: BID Property Owners NYC Department of Small Business Services Council Member Antonio Reynoso New York City Department of Transportation Ceradini Design Con Edison Fillmore Real Estate McDonald s Sprint T-Mobile Wellcare