A Business Improvement District (BID) is a geographical area where local stakeholders fund and oversee services in their district to address neighborhood needs. BIDs provide supplemental services such as cleaning and greening of streets, business development, and public programming.

The BID, first and foremost, is dedicated to serving the needs of its residents and merchants, as well as providing a safe, clean, and diverting experience for visitors to the area. To that end, the BID will focus on several key areas of services to the neighborhood: sanitation, security, horticulture/beautification, capital improvements, and marketing/events.  An administrative arm for the BID will be created to manage these initiatives, which will include a full-time executive director who will report directly to the BID’s board. The Executive Director will work with various City agencies (such as the NYPD, the Department of Sanitation, and the Department of Transportation), to address neighborhood issues.

Sanitation

First and foremost, the BID proposes to create a Sanitation Team that would supplement both private and public trash collection throughout the neighborhood. This team will be responsible for maintaining clean sidewalks, tree pits, public areas, and prevent overflowing garbage from Department of Sanitation trash receptacles, as well as perform snow removal at key, highly-trafficked corners such as the Lexington/86th Street and 2nd Avenue/86th Street subway station entrances. This Sanitation Team would:

• Likely to be contracted to a 3rd party but overseen by BID staff

• Wear the BID’s logo on uniforms

• Perform litter pickup on streets and sidewalks  plus snow removal at curb cuts and corners

• Be comprised of between 3-7 workers per day, 7 days a week

Safety & Security

A key takeaway from the results of the 2024 Needs Assessment Survey was the belief that the Yorkville Alliance neighborhood needs additional security and safety initiatives to supplement both existing private and public measures. This “Outreach” Team would:

• Be identified as public safety officers or ambassadors

• Wear branded uniforms, note safety concerns, call in complaints to 311 or 911 as necessary, and distribute safety literature

Horticulture & Beautification

These BID initiatives will go hand-in-hand with both Sanitation and Safety issues; performing maintenance on existing horticulture such as tree pits, planters, and large trees will actually complement the work being done in those other areas, as neighborhoods that are perceived to be very well-maintained wind up having lower rates of crime and vandalism. The Horticulture team would:

• Likely to be contracted out but overseen by BID staff

• Be responsible for the maintenance of and plantings for approximately 200 existing tree pits

• Install and maintain up to 60 proposed sidewalk planters

• Potentially create and maintain seasonal planting displays

Capital Improvements

As the BID creates and solidifies its core sanitation, safety, and horticultural teams, long-term initiatives in the area of capital improvements to the area will also move forward. Such capital improvements could include, though not be limited to, improved lighting and wayfinding throughout the district, graffiti and sticker removal on public poles, benches, and other infrastructure. Such improvements would:

• Likely to be contracted out by BID Staff, but would include painting/graffiti removal on light poles and repairs of benches and guards

• Look to create additional lighting to better illuminate public and other highly-trafficked spaces

Marketing, Social Media, and Neighborhood Events

The BID would be responsible for maintaining an up-to-date website which would include a database of all merchants and services within its area, as well as creating and maintaining social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. These accounts would highlight merchants and services within the BID as well as promote any BID activities or neighborhood events.

• Produce a digital newsletter, BID maps, lists of restaurants and other services, and more

• Create and post on all BID social media accounts

A BID does not replace City services, and by law, existing City services cannot be reduced because a BID exists. The City continues providing its core services as usual, while the BID adds supplemental, neighborhood-focused improvements tailored to the community’s needs. These enhanced services go beyond the City’s standard level of service. BID advocacy also often helps secure more responsive attention and stronger support from City agencies, creating a more effective partnership between the neighborhood and the City

A BID is created through a formal process with New York City’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS). In 2024, the Steering Committee gathered feedback from the community through a neighborhood survey to better understand local needs and priorities. Using that feedback, the group developed a proposed plan for the BID, including the services it would provide, its boundaries, budget, and funding structure.

The effort is now in the outreach phase, where community members and property owners are being asked to submit ballots showing their support. If the BID receives the level of support required by SBS, the proposal will then move into the City’s official legislative approval process.

All ballots are counted. Anyone can sign and submit a ballot, and each signature is tracked by the department of Small Business Services. While support from the broader community is valuable, signatures from stakeholders located within the proposed BID boundaries carry the greatest weight, since those are the property owners, businesses, residents, and tenants who would directly contribute to and benefit from BID services.

SBS looks for support from property owners and commercial tenants within the proposed BID boundaries, including “yes” ballots representing at least 51% of the district’s total assessed property value.

BID programs and services are funded through a special assessment paid by property owners within the district. Assessment structures are unique to each BID and are designed based on the specific needs of the neighborhood. The City of New York assists with collecting the assessment, and 100% of the funds collected are distributed directly to the BID. In addition to assessment revenue, the BID may also receive supplemental funding through grants, sponsorships, and other earned income sources.

All of these funds must be reinvested within the BID boundaries, creating a dedicated $2,000,000 annual fund to support cleaner streets, beautification, public safety, and other neighborhood improvements — all in addition to existing City services, which by law cannot be reduced because of a BID’s presence.

Each BID is run by a not-for-profit organization with a Board of Directors. Elected by members in the district, the Board must include property owners, merchants, residents, and representatives of local elected office. The Board is in charge of making key decisions about programs and services, budget, goals, policies, and staffing.

Per SBS guidelines, BID Boards must have at least 13 members, including at least 7 Property Owners, 1 Commercial Tenant, 1 Residential Tenant, and 4 Government/Elected Officials. Property Owners should always make up the majority of the board. 

• 78 BIDs in NYC

• $216 Million Invested in NYC Neighborhoods Annually

• 25,000 storefronts served 

• 241 Public Spaces Maintained

• 3.6 Million Trash Bags Collected Annually 

Across New York City, individual BIDs produce an iftar during Ramadan to celebrate Yemeni merchants (5th Ave BID, Bay Ridge), train young entrepreneurs in public housing (Myrtle Ave Brooklyn Partnership), pick up litter in public plazas (Flatiron), organize and run Open Streets (Park Slope-5th Ave), and maintain public parks (Union Square Partnership). Learn more about BIDs across NYC here.