Yonkers Downtown/Waterfront BID

The Downtown/Waterfront Business Improvement District, Inc. of Yonkers, NY is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation created in 2002. The BID was formed to build working partnerships, encourage investment, and support initiatives for a healthier commercial district in the downtown of Yonkers.
The public/private partnership between the BID and the City of Yonkers delivers supplemental services such as sanitation and maintenance, public safety and visitor services, marketing and promotional programs, capital improvements and beautification in downtown waterfront Yonkers. Additionally, the BID operates an up-to-date website www.YonkersDowntown.com.

BID District Plan-

B.1 Description of the Boundaries of the District
The boundaries of the proposed District, including all of the following benefiting properties are: Beginning at the intersection of Nepperhan Avenue and School Street; west on Nepperhan Avenue; proceeding south on South Broadway including Lots 127, 125 of Block 495 and Lots 27, 26, 24, 22 and 18 of Block 496; thence west to Prospect Street; thence west to Buena Vista Avenue, excluding Block 511; thence west to an extension of Prospect Street, including Lots 1 and 17, Block 512, west to the side of property labeled New York Central RR Co.; thence south to the southern edge of Lot 40, Block 643; thence west to the Hudson River; thence north to Wells Avenue, thence east to North Broadway thence north including lots 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 53, 54, 58, 59, 60 and 62 of Block 2014; thence south to including Lots 70, 69, 68, 67, 62,59, 57, 56, 55, 52, 51, 50, 48, 46, 45, 44, 41, 40, 39, 37, 36, 35 and 32 of Block 2018 and Lots 63, 61, 60, 59, 58, 56, 54, 52, 51, 50, 48 and 45 of Block 2027; continuing south on School Street to Nepperhan Avenue.
B.2 The Area, Present and Proposed Uses
The area proposed for inclusion in the Business Improvement District (BID) represents the traditional central business district of the City of Yonkers, NY. It is the site of the principal office buildings and retail structures. It includes, generally, the Chicken Island, Getty Square and Waterfront sub-areas, as well as the municipal buildings and the library. Important existing features include the renovated Otis Elevator factory (“i.Park”), now mainly office space, and the Metro North railroad station.
To be created within the next two years are a large residential project near the water’s edge and within walking distance of the train station, a water taxi service to Lower Manhattan, a parking garage, residential lofts and a cluster of restaurants.
The area slopes from east to west where it touches the shore of the Hudson River.
B.3 Proposed Services
The Services proposed to be financed by an assessment on real property include the following:
Code Enforcement and District Management
The District Corporation will supplement the City’s code enforcement program within the District in a cooperative venture that will utilize the District’s Director to identify and report code violations to the City and provide information and guidance to owners regarding how to avoid code problems and how to enhance the appearance of their properties. The maximum annual cost of this service will be $140,000.
The services provided by the City’s financial assistance for the first three years of the District’s authorized program include the following:
Façade Improvements and Marketing
The City will provide funding to enable the District to complement the code enforcement activities with financial and design assistance to owners willing to make acceptable improvements to their façades and commercial signs.
In addition, the District Corporation, in partnership with the City, will promote the economic advancement of properties throughout the District through supplementary marketing coordinated with City-sponsored marketing.
The total annual cost for these City funds will be approximately $130,000.
B.4 Total Annual Cost
The total annual costs for all services will be approximately $270,000 of which $140,000 will be borne by assessed and benefiting properties.
B.5 Source of Funding
Approximately half of the funds will be raised through an assessment on District properties. The City, drawing to the extent possible on federal funds, will provide the balance.
B.6 Time for Implementation and Completion of Plan
It is estimated that it will require five years to implement and complete the Plan.
B.7 Rules and Regulations
No changes in rules and regulations are contemplated in this plan.
B.8 List of Properties Benefited and Method By Which the Expenses of the District Will Be Imposed Upon Benefited Real Property
The draft list of properties is found in section B1.
The method of assessing real property is the following:
1. Non-residential Property 6% of Taxes
2. Mixed Use Property 6% of Taxes
B.9 Identity of District Management Association for the District
The District’s Management Association is the Downtown/Waterfront Business Improvement District, Inc. of Yonkers, NY.