Business Improvement Districts

Queens is a borough full of emerging businesses and economic development. The City helps new store owners get their feet planted and improve underdeveloped areas at the same time by setting up Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) all over town.

As of 2007, there are 58 BIDs in neighborhoods throughout New York City - 11 in Queens - the most of any in the world. The merchants and property owners are promised the following in exchange for a small tax: a revitalized area, by providing services such as increased maintenance and security, as well assisting in marketing and promotions.

The Flushing BID is a nonprofit organization formed in September 2003 in an effort to revamp downtown Flushing. This was the 45th BID created in New York City and the first BID of Mayor Bloomberg's administration.

In 2005, at the request of the City and local community, the Flushing BID began to sponsor a project to revamp downtown Flushing, including: distinctive street lights, new sidewalks, historic signs, murals and sitting areas. The total cost was estimated at $5 million. The BID is responsible for minimal annual maintenance.

The Long Island City Bid was approved on Dec. 21, 2004 and became active in July 2005. The BID covers 85 properties in Long Island City from 21st Street to Jackson Avenue, and all properties along both sides of Jackson Avenue between Court Square and Queens Plaza. The goal is to attract new businesses to the area while making the area safer and cleaner in order to entice and not push out already established businesses.

The Bayside Hills BID was approved by the City Council in October 2007, and covers Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard and 41st Avenue between 213th Street and 214th Place. It represents 100 property owners at 254 businesses. Details concerning the BID, however, have not been finalized.

The following is a list of the Queens BIDs and their contact information.

82nd Street
Sharada Devi, Executive Director
37-06 82nd St.
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Tel: (718) 335-9421
Fax: (718) 507-2977
Email: sdevi82dma@verizon.net

165th Street
Derek Irby, Executive Director
c/o Jamaica Arts Center
161-04 Jamaica Ave.
Jamaica, NY 11432
Tel: (718) 298-5489
Fax: (718) 658-7922
Email: mall165@hotmail.com

180th Street
Derek Irby, Executive Director
c/o Jamaica Arts Center
161-04 Jamaica Ave.
Jamaica, NY 11432
Tel: (718) 298-5489
Fax: (718) 658-7922
Email: mall165@hotmail.com

Downtown Flushing Transit Hub
Mabel Law, Executive Director
39-01 Main St., Suite 507 Flushing, NY 11354
Tel: (718) 888-1805
Fax: (718) 888-1248
Email: flushingbid@yahoo.com
Website: www.flushingBID.com

Jamaica Center
Janet Barkan, Executive Director
90-50 Parson Blvd., Suite 402
Jamaica, NY 11432
Tel: (718) 526-2422
Fax: (718) 526-0215
Email: jamaicabidnyc@aol.com
Website: www.jamaicacenter.org

Myrtle Avenue
Theodore M. Renz, Executive Director
c/o Ridgewood LDC, 60-82 Myrtle Ave.
Ridgewood, NY 11385
Tel: (718) 366-3806
Fax: (718) 381-7080
Email: myrtleavenuebid@aol.com
Website: Ridgewood-NY.com

Queens Plaza/Court Square DMA
Gayle Baron, Executive Director
29-10 Thomson Ave.
Long Island City, NY 11101
Tel: (718) 786-5300
Fax: (718) 937-1799
Email: gaylebaron@licbdc.org
Website: www.licbdc.org

Steinway Street
Marie Torniali, Executive Director
28-27 Steinway St.
Astoria, NY 11103
Tel: (718) 728-7820
Fax: (718) 728-7413
Email: steinwaystbid@aol.com
Website: www.steinwaystreet.org

Sunnyside DMA
P.O. Box 4399
Sunnyside, NY 11104
Tel: (718) 899-8404
Fax: (718) 457-2278
Email: vogtj@whitecastle.com
Website: sunnysidechamber.org

Sutphin Blvd
89-00 Sutphin Blvd.,
Suite 305
Jamaica, NY 11432
Tel: (718) 291-2110
Fax: (718) 291-2109
Email: sutphinblvdbid@verizon.net
Website: www.sutphinblvdbid.org

Woodhaven
Maria Thomson, Executive Director
84-01 Jamaica Ave.
Woodhaven, NY 11421
Tel: (718) 805-0202
Fax: (718) 805-2929
Email: gwdcbid@hotmail.com

For more information call 311 and ask for Small Business Services.