By Albert Amateau
The Historic Orchard St. Lower East Side Business Improvement District is in the early stages of an expansion along Houston St. and to the east of its current boundaries.
Andrew Flamm, director of the Lower East Side BID, said last week that businesses and property owners to the east have expressed interest in becoming part of the BID, which was organized in 1992.
“Ludlow St. has been developing in the last five years and people there have become interested in the marketing and sanitation services that the BID provides,” Flamm said. “They’ve seen the phenomenal difference and improvement that just a nominal amount of money can effect.”
The Orchard St. Lower East Side BID’s assessment averages about $500 a year, he noted.
The BID has had informal meetings with Community Board 3 and in November will hold the first of a series of public hearings, but the date has not yet been set.
The city Department of Business Services oversees BIDs and the review process, which involves community board review and recommendation, City Planning Department approval and final approval by the City Council. At least 51 percent of the property owners must agree to be part of a BID, but organizers always seek an overwhelming majority.
The new boundaries of the Orchard St. BID would include adding properties along Ludlow and parts of Essex Sts. as well as some properties on Norfolk, Suffolk and Clinton Sts. The proposed expansion along E. Houston St. would stretch from Chrystie to Clinton Sts. More properties would be added on the south side of Grand St. between Ludlow and Clinton Sts.
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