News Summary
The New York City Council has voted unanimously to establish the East 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID), marking it the 77th BID in the city. This initiative, championed by community leaders, aims to address rising crime rates and sanitation issues while promoting economic revitalization in East Harlem. The new BID encompasses 14 blocks and plans to generate revenue through an equitable assessment formula, aiming to improve neighborhood cleanliness and safety. Community leaders are optimistic about the potential for development and cooperation among local businesses to enhance East Harlem’s quality of life.
New York City – A unanimous vote by the New York City Council has officially established the East 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID), marking it as the 77th BID in the city. This initiative allows East Harlem to transition from being the last community district in Manhattan without a BID and is expected to drive significant revitalization along the East 125th Street corridor.
As the corridor faces ongoing challenges, including rising crime rates and sanitation issues, the establishment of the BID has been championed by community leaders since 2021. They aim to improve neighborhood cleanliness and enhance safety in an area that has seen considerable development in recent years. Following a rezoning policy implemented in 2017, there has been a building boom in the area, with plans for further growth fueled by the extension of the Second Avenue Subway, which will terminate at East 125th and Lexington Avenue.
Encompassing 14 blocks, the new BID includes 152 properties situated between Fifth and Second Avenues, extending from East 124th to 128th streets. The BID is set to generate revenue through property assessments, with an initial annual budget of $750,000, which could increase to $1 million after three years, subject to a board vote. The financial structure of the BID will adopt an equitable assessment formula, designed to reduce fees for buildings that include affordable housing, basing assessments on street frontage and taxable value rather than assessed value.
Community leaders, including representatives from the Durst Organization, which co-chairs the steering committee, along with small business owners and nonprofits, have expressed optimism about the BID’s potential. Local Councilwoman Diana Ayala has strongly endorsed the initiative, branding it a crucial step towards revitalizing East Harlem. The growing interest in the BID has led to planned expansions of its boundaries, as developers have expressed a desire to be included in the revitalization efforts.
Critics of BIDs often raise concerns over prioritizing landlord interests over those of small businesses and the risk of privatizing city services. However, the East 125th Street BID will focus primarily on sanitation improvements and public safety, opting not to hire security officers. Instead, it will employ a public safety coordinator tasked with establishing communication between local businesses and law enforcement authorities.
The BID aims to tackle significant issues such as open drug use and persistent sanitation problems in the area. A high concentration of treatment facilities in East Harlem compounds these challenges. Despite these concerns, recent data from the NYPD indicates a 24% reduction in major crimes in the precinct covering East 125th Street compared to last year, although crime rates still remain elevated in comparison to pre-pandemic levels.
The establishment of the East 125th Street BID emphasizes the need for greater community representation and aims to unify the neighborhood politically—a task made more challenging by the fragmentation caused by differing council districts and community boards. This initiative is part of a broader movement to enhance East Harlem through community-centric services, which include improved streetscapes, commercial viability, and cultural development.
Moving forward, there are plans to engage with local businesses and property owners through public meetings to foster support for the BID before advancing its initiatives to legislative review. The establishment of the East 125th Street BID has garnered backing from various prominent local organizations, small businesses, and city officials, creating a united vision for a vibrant and improved quality of life along East 125th Street.
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Additional Resources
- Crain’s New York: East 125th Street Becomes NYC’s Newest Business Improvement District
- Wikipedia: Business Improvement District
- Harlem World Magazine: Hooray for East Harlem’s First Business Improvement District
- Google Search: East Harlem Business Improvement District
- Patch: East Harlem Vies for BID, Affordable Housing, Safety Upgrades
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Business Improvement District
- New York Times: Raymond Santana Exonerated Five Announces NYC Council Bid
- Google News: East 125th Street BID
- The Real Deal: Extell Swaps Office for Residential in East Harlem
- Google Scholar: East Harlem Revitalization
