Working to Keep Woodside a Thriving Commercial and Cultural Center

Woodside on the Move aims to improve the quality of life in Woodside; for both current and potential residents, neighbors, businesses, and visitors.

Culture and Neighborhood Beautification

To support this goal, we produce free special events and performances in parks, schoolyards, and public open spaces in and around Woodside. This includes a culturally diverse summer series of musical concerts and performances; a Christmas tree lighting service and caroling; and several additional events, street fairs, and celebration festivals which showcase both local businesses and artists. In 2012, WOTM inaugurated some new traditions with its first Annual Woofside Halloween Pet Parade (which brought more than 50 costumed pets and their owners) and its first Annual Taste of Woodside, a community culinary event where attendees sample a range of specialties from local stores and restaurants.

To keep Woodside a beautiful and inviting place to live, work, and do business, WOTM has collaborated with local artists to create murals to brighten otherwise dark underpasses; initiated a long-standing graffiti-removal initiative, which it completes with the help of local volunteers and NYC Summer Youth Employment Participants; and also has seasonal gardening initiatives which it integrates with both SYEP and its Education Department.

Creating a Business Improvement District in Woodside

WOTM believes that additional investments by critical stakeholders will yield important value to the current business and residential communities in Woodside.
Since 2009, WOTM has been working with Community Board 2 and several local politicians, business owners, property owners, and residents to research the benefits of a Business Improvement District and determine its viability in Woodside.
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have been important partners in the economic development of New York City for more than 20 years. From central business districts to local shopping areas, BIDs make valuable contributions to the life of our neighborhoods.

A BID is a public/private partnership in which property and business owners elect to make a collective contribution to the maintenance, development and promotion of their commercial district.  BIDs deliver a range of supplemental services in coordination with municipal services and invest in the long-term economic development of their districts. Resulting improvements may include maintenance, public safety, hospitality, business development, marketing, capital improvements, landscaping and community services. These additional services will complement the services already provided by the city.

Funds to pay for the BID programs and services are generated from a special assessment of benefited property owners. The resulting fee is based on each property’s front footage and assessed value.

Currently, the NYC Department of Small Business Services (who oversees BID development), has presented a scaled-back version of the full BID model which, to start, may better suit Woodside’s needs. Upcoming meetings discussing the BID are posted on the Community Board 2 website; and are open to the community to attend. Once a BID (or a less-formal Merchant’s Association) is established, WOTM will be able to implement a service grant pledged by the DSBS, which covers the creation and design of a website for the new BID or Merchant’s Association.

Creating a BID in Woodside is a critical step in improving the environs of the Woodside shopping and culinary strips for residents, shoppers, merchants, visitors as well as potential new businesses. If successfully implemented, the Woodside Business Improvement District will help improve our environment, make it safer, encourage investment in our area, promote new business, attract customers, and increase property values.