Q&A
Council Member Feliz discusses citywide BID formation progress and challenges
0:37:29
·
3 min
Council Member Oswald Feliz engages Commissioner Kevin Kim in a discussion about the progress and challenges of Business Improvement District (BID) formation across New York City. They explore recent successes, ongoing efforts, and obstacles in the BID creation process.
- Kim reports that two new BIDs have been formed in the last two years, with nine more in the pipeline
- Feliz expresses concern about the slow pace of BID formation, particularly in diverse and resource-constrained communities
- The commissioner highlights the challenge of securing landlord buy-in, which is legally required for BID formation
Oswald Feliz
0:37:29
But briefly before that, I just wanted to ask some additional questions related to bid formation.
0:37:35
And our general question is about bids.
0:37:38
How many bids have we created in the last 2, 3 years, let's say?
0:37:43
And also how many would you say on the pipeline?
0:37:49
More or less if you don't have the specific number.
Kevin Kim
0:37:51
While I buy a time on that exact number, I do wanna go back to council member, wrong.
0:37:56
So we are funding the Brooklyn Chinese American Association.
0:37:59
And the Asian Americans for quality, and they both conducted a CDNA there.
0:38:05
So but we can talk more further on that.
0:38:07
And then to the exact numbers, how many I know we have 2 that are Getting close.
0:38:19
Cypress Hill, as I mentioned earlier, and the Long Island city is expanding, So while it's not a new bid, they're significantly expanding their footprint.
0:38:29
So you can kind of consider it in that way.
0:38:32
We've had in Jamaica, three bids come together and and form 1.
0:38:38
And I think from most people, you yes.
0:38:40
Like, as councilor of a party, notice mentioned it was a very efficient use and smart move on, you know, on the part of the organizations to be cost efficient and to be more impactful.
0:38:54
And so we believe that at times it does make sense for bids to contract and and not contract, but get together and and and form joint one joint bid like they did in Jamaica.
0:39:09
But other times, it makes sense for bids just to expand their footprint instead of creating a brand new bid.
0:39:14
So that's the case of Long Island City.
0:39:15
And then in Cyprus, they're working on and very close to forming their own bid.
0:39:20
And West Village as well has West Village And Castle Hill have been formed during the administration.
0:39:25
So those are 2 new bids that have come online since the administration began.
Oswald Feliz
0:39:30
Okay.
0:39:30
So more or less 2 bit in the last 2 ish years.
0:39:33
Yes.
0:39:34
Okay.
0:39:35
And, you know, as someone who represents a a very diverse district, We have Fordham Road in Arthur Avenue, well established bids, but also East Tremont, which is been trying to form a bit for a long time.
0:39:48
Very aware of the many challenges that our bids face when trying to form including in especially communities that don't have a lot of resources, communities that have high vacancy rates, very aware of the challenges they face.
0:40:01
But if we've only formed 2 beds in 2 years, I think, you know, all of us need to give that issue some additional attention.
Kevin Kim
0:40:08
I I I do wanna update you.
0:40:10
There's 9 total bids in the pipeline as well.
Oswald Feliz
0:40:12
So 9 total bids
Kevin Kim
0:40:13
in the pipeline.
0:40:14
Yes.
Oswald Feliz
0:40:15
And how long have they been in the pipeline for?
0:40:18
More or less.
Kevin Kim
0:40:18
I think each one's different.
0:40:20
I I think, you know, there's so much we can do as a as a city and as an agency to get a bid formed.
0:40:26
Like I said, I think the biggest challenge is getting the landlords to get right.
0:40:30
You could do everything right if the 51% of the landlords don't sign on, you can't get a bid form.
0:40:36
That's the way the law is working.
0:40:38
So I think This is where we continue to try to partner up, and we have been partnering up with the local elected officials there.
0:40:45
The community boards the community based organizations to really try to push this.
0:40:51
But I think, you know, there there are some bids formations that have been there for many years because the landlords just refused to sign on.