19th Annual Meeting
The 125th Street Business Improvement District's 19th Annual Meeting was held on June 26th, 2012 at the Dwyer Cultural Center.
The Annual Meeting's theme, Building an Innovative District, referred to the 21 private, public, and private/public partnership initiatives currently taking place on 125th Street.
Over 150 people were present at the meeting, including special guests New York City Comptroller John Liu and State Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez in attendance. Honorable John Liu expressed his thoughts on the valuable work that BIDs do in New York City and congratulated the 125th Street BID on their accomplishments. He presented the President (Barbara Askins) with a Commendation recognizing her creation of the first and only Business Improvement District in Harlem; her efforts to shape 125th Street as an essential cultural destination; her dedication to creating growth and sustainability in the BID; and her tremendous contribution to the City of New York.
Honorable Robert Rodriguez (New York State Assemblyman, District 68) commended the BID on its work and spoke about an initiative that he had been directly involved with at the state level for small businesses. He provided a summary of development activities east of Fifth Avenue on 125th Street and expressed his support to work with the BID to continue the development activity on the east side.
BID Members voted to re-elect four members and to elect three new members to the Board and presented the budget for Fiscal Year 2013.
"Building an Innovative District", a video discussing the current development sites and future of 125th Street, was shown at the meeting. The video provided intimate and frank conversations with many of the developers involved with different initiatives across 125th Street. Click here for a list of projects. Video participants included Seth Pinsky (NYC EDC); Edward Lewis (Harlem Village Academies); Dr. Joseph Tait (Harlem Commonwealth Council); Drew Greenwald (Grid Properties); and more. Click for .pdf of all video participants' photos and biographies.
Our Keynote Speaker, Kenneth Adams, President & CEO and Commissioner of Empire State Development Corp. (ESD), discussed new initiatives from the State for small businesses as well as ESD's specific investments in three projects on 125th Street. Mr. Adams discussed various helpful programs for small businesses:
From left to right: Artists Tomo Mori; Justin West; Marivel Mejia; Soyca Mphahlele; Laura Gadson
Click to Enlarge
The Annual Meeting's theme, Building an Innovative District, referred to the 21 private, public, and private/public partnership initiatives currently taking place on 125th Street.
Over 150 people were present at the meeting, including special guests New York City Comptroller John Liu and State Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez in attendance. Honorable John Liu expressed his thoughts on the valuable work that BIDs do in New York City and congratulated the 125th Street BID on their accomplishments. He presented the President (Barbara Askins) with a Commendation recognizing her creation of the first and only Business Improvement District in Harlem; her efforts to shape 125th Street as an essential cultural destination; her dedication to creating growth and sustainability in the BID; and her tremendous contribution to the City of New York.
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Left to right: Honorable John Liu (NYC Comptroller); Barbara Askins (125th Street BID President & CEO); Blondel Pinnock (125th Street BID Chair); Honorable Robert Rodriguez (Assemblyman, District 68)
Honorable Robert Rodriguez (New York State Assemblyman, District 68) commended the BID on its work and spoke about an initiative that he had been directly involved with at the state level for small businesses. He provided a summary of development activities east of Fifth Avenue on 125th Street and expressed his support to work with the BID to continue the development activity on the east side.
Honorable John Liu, NYC Comptroller Honorable Robert Rodriguez, NYS Assemblyman
BID Members voted to re-elect four members and to elect three new members to the Board and presented the budget for Fiscal Year 2013.
"Building an Innovative District", a video discussing the current development sites and future of 125th Street, was shown at the meeting. The video provided intimate and frank conversations with many of the developers involved with different initiatives across 125th Street. Click here for a list of projects. Video participants included Seth Pinsky (NYC EDC); Edward Lewis (Harlem Village Academies); Dr. Joseph Tait (Harlem Commonwealth Council); Drew Greenwald (Grid Properties); and more. Click for .pdf of all video participants' photos and biographies.
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Rendering: 301-303 W. 125th Street Rendering: 261-267 W. 125th Street
The segment played at the meeting was a Sneak Preview of the BID's upcoming promotional video, "Harlem: Believe In Dreams," which will elaborate on Harlem's past, present, and future, as well as the work of the BID. "Harlem: Believe In Dreams" will premier this fall.
- Innovate NY Fund
- Small Business Revolving Loan Fund
- State Small Business Credit Initiative
- General Small Business Information
Kenneth Adams, President & CEO Barbara Askins and Kenneth Adams
and Commissioner, Empire State Development Corp.
Prior to the Annual Meeting, there was a Press Conference to unveil the winners of the 2012 "BID On Culture" Banner Competition. These five banners were chosen from over 70 submissions and will adorn the 125th Street business corridor for one year beginning in late July 2012.
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From left to right: Artists Tomo Mori; Justin West; Marivel Mejia; Soyca Mphahlele; Laura Gadson
Click to Enlarge
Click here for more information on the "BID On Culture" Banner Program
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