The New York City Council unanimously voted on January 4th to expand the boundaries of the Long Island City Business Improvement District, effective on July 1, 2017.
Created in 2005, the Long Island City BID currently encompasses Queens Plaza to 21st Street, and Jackson Avenue, between Queens Plaza and Thompson Avenue. The expansion will nearly double the current area of the BID to include Jackson Avenue between Thompson Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, Vernon Boulevard between Jackson Avenue and 44th Drive, and 44th Drive between 10th Street and Jackson Avenue.
Over the past 10 years, the BID has provided visitor services, community development, beautification, sanitation, and marketing for the neighborhood. Previous initiatives have included the creation of a mural on Thompson Avenue, the opening of the 1.5-acre Dutch Kills Green, and yearly events such as LIC Springs.
“I’m thrilled that at long last, the City Council has voted to pass the Long Island City BID expansion,” said City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “Now, even more of our neighborhood will benefit from the community development, beautification, sanitation, and marketing initiatives that have helped make Queens Plaza and Court Square the vibrant destinations they are today. This expansion is widely supported by residents, business owners, civic associations, and Community Boards 1 and 2, and I have no doubt that our newly expanded BID will make our community an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”
“This is a great milestone! The LIC Partnership looks forward to working closely with all the great businesses and stakeholders in the expansion area by enhancing services, increasing business opportunities and drawing more foot traffic from the surrounding transit hubs,” said Elizabeth Lusskin, President of the Long Island City Partnership, which oversees the management of the Long Island City Business Improvement District. “We give great thanks for the guidance and hard Committee and its co-Chairs Gianna Cerbone-Teoli, Angelo Ippolito and Paula Kirby. We also give special thanks to NYC Council Majority Leader Van Bramer, who personally worked so hard to see it become a reality on behalf of this special area of LIC.”
