Myrtle Avenue BID 2008 Events & Programs

2008 SPECIAL EVENTS SALE DAYS Labor Day/Back to School ~ Aug. 29-Sept.1 (Sidewalk Sale) Columbus Day/Fall ~ October 3-13 Election/Veterans Day ~ October 31-November 11 Holiday ~ December 5-22 MYRTLE AVE STREET FESTIVAL Sunday, September 21, 2008 11 am – 6 pm - American Museum of Natural History’s Movable Museum at Myrtle & Cypress Avenues - East Coast Car Association Antique Car Display Myrtle Ave. bet. Fresh Pond Rd. & Decatur Street - L.I. Blood Services Administration Catalpa & Myrtle Aves from 11 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Give Blood & Save a Neighbor - North Shore Animal League of America’s Mobile Adoption Van with NYC Animal Care & Control RIDGEWOOD YOUTH MARKET FARM MARKET Myrtle & Cypress Avenues Every Saturday 10 am – 4 pm Now until October 25, 2008 WIC Coupons, Health Bucks & Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons Accepted Come See FamilyCook’s “Teen Iron Chefs” Cindy & Akeem Demonstrate “Eating Fresh & Local” 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9th ~ Minnestrone & Quesadillas Saturday, Aug. 30th ~Panzanella & Veggie Stir Fry Saturday, Sept. 13th ~Chopped Salad & Frittata ENJOY HOLIDAY MUSIC & HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON MYRTLE AVE NOVEMBER 28TH THRU EARLY JANUARY PICTURES WITH SANTA Sunday, Nov 30th 12-2pm @ Myrtle Ave & 71 Ave Triangle (just off Forest Ave) Sunday, Dec 7th 12-2pm @Myrtle Ave & St. Nicholas Ave (Venditti Square) PROGRAMS Myrtle Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project The Myrtle Avenue Streetscape Project began on October 16, 2006. This project is meant to improve the pedestrian life of Myrtle Avenue by creating gardens, emphasizing the community character and improving existing site amenities. The following are the proposed improvements: General Streetscape Improvements 1. Sidewalk brick pavers and steel faced curb replacement at locations where sidewalk is severely damaged and/or presents tripping hazards. 2. Improvements to tree pits at locations where existing tree pit grates are heaved or broken. New tree pits will follow DPR Standard Details. 3. Installation of new Identity Signs on existing streetlights (22 signs). 4. Installation of new Signs to denote history of the neighborhood (5 signs). 5. Cleaning and replacement of existing brick pavement as needed. 6. Replacement of benches to DPR Standard Bench Type D World’s Fair bench with an additional armrest in the middle at Venditti Square and Ridgewood Memorial Triangle. Benches being installed along the sidewalk will not have armrest dividers. 7. Replacement litter receptacles with standard NYC approved items (Victor Stanley SD-42 Ironsides Series 36-gallon side-door opening litter receptacles.) 8. Installation of a flagpole and up-lights in Ridgewood Memorial Triangle. Specific Improvements 1. Ridgewood Memorial Triangle 2. Carl Clemens Triangle 3. Corner of Myrtle & Catalpa Avenues 4. 71st Avenue Triangle 5. Venditti Square Work commenced in spring 2007 and Phase I is expected to be completed by spring 2008. Improvements to the Myrtle/Wyckoff/Palmetto Street Transportation Hub Rehabilitation of the Myrtle/Wyckoff Station Complex Part of an overall plan for the greater Ridgewood community is the development and revitalization of this transit hub. Construction began in March 2004. Over $50 million will be invested in this station complex. An additional $4.5 million will be spent on inter-modal bus transfer to subway improvements. This hub serves as the main terminus for six bus lines and is a major transfer point between the M & L (BMT) subway lines. We expect the new station to be fully completed in early 2008. Most aspects of the station have been completed and the station is open to serve the public. It replaced a station building that was built in the late 1920’s, work included: • Construction of a new expanded station building • Improved stairway reconfiguration throughout the station complex • Incorporation of applicable ADA provisions including the construction of three new elevators to provide handicap access to all platforms, mezzanines and street level • Improved transfer between the two stations including a wider passageway and new stairs to the Wyckoff Avenue Station. • New interior finishes, concessions and NYCT facilities. • Upgrade station lighting and communication systems. • Rehabilitation of stairs and structural elements. Project was secured through the efforts of Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. - Myrtle/Wyckoff Intermodal Improvements (Palmetto Street Improvements) An additional $4 million was secured from New York State through Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan and $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation through Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez to create a bus terminal to enhance this project beyond the station rehab. The objective of this project is to improve customer transfers to the subway and the buses by transforming Palmetto Street into an integrated intermodal facility. The major elements of The Scope of Work include the following: • Sidewalks and Roadway: Replacement of existing sidewalks and roadway with new including construction of curbs and street markings. • Bus Stops: Relocation of bus stops on both sides of Palmetto Street • Dispatchers Booth: Demolition of existing booth and installation of new booth, including storage space for snow blower. • Lighting: Installation of new canopy lighting and bus holding light system. • Signage: Provision of accurate and easy to follow signage. • Columns: Provision of new concrete column base protection at all elevated line columns, including painting of concrete bases and columns. This project will commence in early 2008 and will be completed in about 17 months. This project is ongoing with the station due for completion in spring 2008 and the inter-modal improvements in 2009. The BID maintains an ongoing dialog with NYC Transit Authority and MTA with respect to progress of these two projects. Four Point Storefront Renovation Program The Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District will continue to promote and engage property owners and merchants in making improvements and enhancements to storefronts. This funding grant ($25,000) through the New York City Department of Small Business Services will promote a program known as the Four Point Program. In order to receive a grant in this new round of funding and in order to develop “model storefronts” improvements must include: 1. Open Security grille where a security gate is used 2. Legal retractable or “faux” retractable awing where an awing is used 3. Legal, creative storefront signs 4. A well maintained exterior finish (paint or other appropriate finish) New Waste Oil Program - Resource Recovery Program The Ridgewood LDC is investigating the feasibility of entering into a partnership with the Doe Fund, Inc. to create a program that would help area restaurants dispose of their waste cooking oil in an environmentally friendly process. It would first be implemented within the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District and then in other commercial districts within Community Board #5 in Queens. Muni Meter Program The first phase of installation of Muni Meters on Myrtle Avenue and side streets between Forest and Cypress Avenue has been completed except for the west side of Forest Ave & George Street. Myrtle Avenue and side streets between Cypress Avenue and Wyckoff Avenue will be completed sometime between 7/1/08-6/30/09. Myrtle Avenue and side streets between Forest Avenue and 62nd Street will be completed sometime between 7/01/09-6/30/10. Marketing Analysis The Myrtle Avenue BID hired MJB Consulting, Inc. to conduct a marketing analysis of the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District. This study included the following: 1) Introduction & Purpose of Study (Kinds of tenants occupying spaces, demographics of shoppers) 2) Myrtle Avenue Snapshot (# of storefronts, vacancy rate, etc. 3) SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) 4) Identifying Four Distinct Sections of Myrtle Avenue (Wyckoff to Cypress, Cypress to Seneca, Seneca to Forest, Forest to Fresh Pond)and the characteristics of each 5) Trade Area, Trade Area Demographics (population growth rate, ethnic breakdown etc) & Trade Area Psychographics 6) Population Changes by Census Tracts 7) Rent Structure 8) Competition 9) Recommendations 10) Implementation and 11) Final Product (Marketing Brochure – to be completed by end of contract).

07 Aug 2008 by RPOCA

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