What are the Benefits of a BID?
Of course there are costs involved in having a Business Improvement District, but everyone seems to agree that the benefits outweigh them.

It bears repeating: A BID is an investment in ourselves.


A BID is an Investment in Ourselves

A Cleaner Community

A  BID can provide daily, enhanced sanitation services - sidewalk sweeping, odor abatement, trash bagging, power washing, and graffiti removal.  Before the Clean Streets program, Chinatown (along with Bedford-Stuyvesant) was rated by the Daily News as one of five filthiest neighborhoods in New York City.

Benefits: improved quality of life for all patrons of  the neighborhood, and reduce violations and fines.

 

"Sanitation is important. Chinatown has a lot of restaurants, and all the garbage that is generated has to go somewhere, otherwise the neighborhood becomes a cesspool."

R.K.Chin

A Journey Through Chinatown

                                                                                               

Professional Marketing and Special Events

A BID can produce major events and materials that raise a neighborhood's profile. This means the Explore ChinatownSM campaign, including the top-Google ranked website ExploreChinatown.com and the popular Taste of ChinatownSM food festival, could be sustained and augmented.

Benefits increased foot traffic, visitors, and customers for local businesses.

Organized Advocacy - Strength in Numbers

A BID can be a powerful voice for economic priorities with government agencies.  BID legislation brings representatives from the Mayor's Office, the Comptroller, Manhattan Borough President and District Council member to meet with businesses monthly to address BID concerns.

Benefits Obtain a fair share and proper delivery of government improvements and services, such as additional parking, road improvements, street lighting and police protection.

Neighborhood Improvements

A BID can implement neighborhood improvements such as street and holiday lights, trees, maps and directional signage that require professional district management.

Benefits $1,600,000 in funding has been allocated by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to install lights and wayfinding tools (e.g. signage, history trail, sidewalk decal) to draw visitors from Lower Manhattan to Chinatown once a BID is formed to receive and manage these services.   

This is just the beginning of what is possible for a unified district.

Money Stays in the Community

A BID's budget and services are determined by property owners and merchants on the BID's Board of Directors.  Any increases in BID assessment must be approved by NYC City Council.

Civic Pride

Everything a BID does improves the neighborhood and instills pride in the community.



Copyright © 2013 Chinatown BID / Chinatown Partnership LDC