Village Alliance FY 2018 Annual Report Dear Neighbors, Since 1993, the Village Alliance has focused on keeping the streets of the Central Village sparkling clean and comfortable. Twenty-five years later, we still deliver these important core services, which comprise almost half of our annual budget. Day after day, our hard-working street teams are dedicated to the small details that improve quality of life for everyone. Be it sweeping sidewalk debris, removing graf- fiti, clearing snow from street corners or tracking anti-social behavior, the Village Alliance ensures that the beauty and District Population welcoming spirit of the neighborhood shines through. 44,593 / 50,343 A quarter-century ago, not many people enjoyed a stroll along 8th Street – they couldn’t. Decades earlier the sidewalks had been narrowed to accommodate a streetcar line, which later disappeared. But the sidewalks remained slivers. It took more than five years to remedy the situation – by widening the sidewalks, planting trees, and installing elegant streetlamps. There is now an international movement of such street re-balancings – known as “complete streets” – implemented here in the Village years before the trend emerged. Clean Team Members Beyond physical improvements, the Village Alliance advocates for and promotes local busi- 4 / 8 nesses that contribute to our neighborhood fabric. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the Alliance produced community events such as the Rock-n-Roll Fashion Show on 8th Street and devel- oped targeted promotions to improve the local economy. These days, walking tours, tourist information booths, neighbor discounts and advertising campaigns are but a few of the critical marketing services we offer. As core services, streetscape and marketing initiatives define our role in the neighborhood, Clean Team Hours but the Village Alliance also produces and hosts events aimed at bringing the community 10,016 / 22,868 together. Whether it is a networking event, a fundraiser, a lecture or art program, we strive to showcase local businesses, creative talent and academic institutions to both a local audience and the world beyond. The evolution of our placemaking efforts began over a decade ago in Ruth Wittenberg Triangle and on 8th Street, but expanded to include and the newly refurbished plazas. Tons of Trash I would like to express tremendous gratitude to our community partners, our elected offi- Removed cials and colleagues in government agencies for partnering in our efforts to improve life 621 / 1,094 in over the past quarter century. We hope to see you out on Astor Place and throughout the Central Village supporting our local businesses, attending events and in general enjoying the Village’s magnificent history and character. Visit us any time at 8 East 8th Street, we welcome feedback and ideas on how we can make the neighborhood a better place to live, work and visit. Trash Receptacles Sincerely, 52 / 103

William Kelley Martin Dresner Executive Director President VILLAGE ALLIANCE BY THE NUMBERS ( 1993 / 2018 )

Median Income District Population (in 2015 dollars) Median Age Group Blocks Managed 44,593 / 50,343 $83,500 / $110,000 25-39 / 20-34 25 / 44

Clean Team Planters/ Members Tree Pits Hanging Baskets 4 / 8 39 / 145 0 / 103

Blocks Managed 25 / 44 Street Furnishings Sanitation Clean Team Hours Painted Scorecard % % 10,016 / 22,868 387 / 6,885 79 / 100

Storefront Illegal Sidewalk Businesses Vendors Tons of Trash 317 / 435 126 / 2 Community Events Incidents of Removed Produced Graffiti 621 / 1,094 2 / 16 1,500 / 377

Public Safety Incidents Trash Receptacles Professionals Logged Patrol Hours 52 / 103 8 / 3 3,228 / 2,860 9,984 / 6,219

Info Guides Village Access Card Digital Distributed Participants Audience 0 / 20,000 0 / 81 600 / 35,000 OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SPACE

Improving public open space is central to the Village Alliance mission. Since the beginning, our goal has been to create and maintain beautiful streets, sidewalks and public spaces, ensuring a pedestri- an-friendly environment that is the hallmark of Greenwich Village. The Village Alliance prioritizes the human-scale experience by advocating for major ventures like widening 8th Street sidewalks, to the more recent Village Gateway project and Astor Place plaza reconstruction.

Our first major capital improvement project was completed in 2003, a $2M streetscape enhancement of 8th Street between and . Wider sidewalks, dozens of new street trees and decorative cast iron lamp poles with hanging baskets marked a turning point in the previous decline of one of Greenwich Village’s most famous and oft-visited commercial corridors.

More recently, the Village Gateway project brought pedestrian safety enhancements to Sixth Avenue and 8th Street corridors in 2016, doubling the size of Ruth Wittenberg Triangle and creating landscaped pedestrian zones at major intersections. The improvements now allow neighbors to enjoy outdoor seating, bicycle lanes and parking corrals, and safer traffic conditions due to lane striping and signal timing changes.

The $16M Astor Place/ renovation project was the district’s most ambitious capital project to date opening to the public in 2017. The stunning urban design by WXY Studio reimagined

A group of local property 1993 1994 owners and merchants The Village Alliance Supplemental District Manage- sanitation and led by Norman Buchbinder ment Association is graffiti removal came together in 1990 incorporated; services begin in Mayor David Dinkins March to address deteriorating signs BID into law Public safety patrols street conditions along on September 30th begin in May, with th covering 25 blocks 8 Street. The group an immediate crack- with an annual down on vending of eventually formed the assessment of stolen goods on St. $476,000 Village Alliance and Marks Place sponsored the creation of the city’s 28th Business Improvement District in 1993. OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SPACE

and replaced underutilized streets to create over a half-acre of landscaped public plazas in an area of the city sorely lacking in gathering spaces.

Our newest public space initiatives involve the production of temporary public art installations in the Central Village. In 2018 we presented the massive sculpture, The Last Three, by Australian artists Gillie and Marc. The Astor Place installation was part of a global campaign entitled “Goodbye Rhinos” aimed at drawing public attention to the imminent extinction of the northern Since the beginning, our goal has been to white rhinoceros due to poaching. create and maintain beautiful streets, sidewalks and public spaces, ensuring a On the western side of the district, pedestrian-friendly environment that is we worked with Czech artist Ondrej the hallmark of Greenwich Village. Kobza to bring Poetry Jukebox to Ruth Wittenberg Triangle. An interactive art piece, visitors may select and listen to any of 20 famous local poets reading a sample of their work in their own voices. The Village Alliance will continue to feature public art in locations throughout the district as a means to reflect the artistic heritage of Greenwich Village, engage the public and enliven the neighborhood.

1995 1996 1997 1999 First outdoor Customized First Back to Astor Place subway “Rock & Roll Information Kiosks School coupon book triangle landscaped Fashion Show” are constructed for produced for the first time features youth- Ruth Wittenberg Holiday lights, oriented fashion on Triangle and Astor caroling and window 8th Street Place. design competition First 8th Street Retail façade master debut retail market study plan completed conducted Weekly free guided walking tours begin 1998 First comprehensive Greenwich Village Vornado renovates tourist website and ; VNU business directory is leases 500,000 sf developed and adds over 1,000 employees to district OF COMMUNITY, COMMERCE & CULTURE

At the core of Village Alliance programming is the belief that a truly successful neighborhood contains not only beautiful public open space, but also a diverse array of retail and cultural establishments. Through the years we have promoted and advocated on behalf of the local independent business community and supported local social service and cultural organizations with modest resources. Our events and promotions have always sought to connect community with commerce and culture.

In the days before the digital revolution, the Village Alliance promoted our businesses through coupon books and printed tour guides. We even hired trolleys to bring visitors downtown and experience a bit of Greenwich Village bohemia. Today we still encourage the community to patronize local establish- ments through digital promotions like Village Vitality and original content on our lively social media channels, @GreenwichVillageNYC and @AstorPlaceNYC. The Village Access Card program, now in its third year with over 80 participating merchants, offers exclusive benefits to neighborhood residents and workers. Our small businesses need your patronage more than ever, visit www.greenwichvillage. nyc/deals to sign up for your free card and explore the best shopping, dining and services the Village has to offer.

In addition to our small business promotions, we also produce year-round events aimed at introducing neighbors to our retail, restaurant and cultural partners. Events like the Positively 8th Street Festival, Creativity Cubed, Networking Happy Hours, the Astor Alive! Performing Arts Series and our continued support of Taste of the Village all provide community residents with opportunities to discover new

2003 2005 First Taste of the Gwathmey Siegel’s Village produced to “Sculpture for benefit Washington Living” building is Square Park developed by The Related Companies 2004 at Astor Place. Greenwich Village 2000 2002 Elegant steel trash Historic Walk of Community Board 2 8th Street construc- receptacles replaced Fame created for votes to approve 8th tion complete, in wire baskets self-guided walking Street urban design all, tinted sidewalks throughout the tours master plan with granite curbs, district 34 street trees and 19-25 St. Marks 36 cast iron light Place redeveloped, 2001 poles with hanging site of the original Construction on flower baskets are Electric Circus 8th Street sidewalk added to the street- widening begins scape WELCOME NEW MERCHANTS

&pizza La Contenta Oeste OF COMMUNITY, COMMERCE & CULTURE th 740 Broadway 78 West 11 St Astor Plate La NewYorkina Astor Plaza South Astor Plaza North Aunt Jake’s Mango Mango 47 West 8th St 19 St. Marks Place Ben & Jerry’s Ono Bowls 24 St. Marks Place 33 East 8th St Blue Bottle Sergimmo Coffee Salumeria 101 University Place 462 Sixth Ave E.A.K. Ramen Shake Shack 469 Sixth Ave GRK Fresh Greek Some Good Beer 51 East 8th St 9 East 8th St Il Laboratorio del South of the Gelato Clouds 56 University Place 16 West 8th St Juice Generation Sweetgreen experiences and enjoy the neighborhood, while providing 4 Astor Place 101 University Place valuable patronage to Village merchants. In 2018, stay Kubeh Szechuan 464 Sixth Ave Mountain House tuned for a full slate of free events, along with the Made 23 St. Marks Place LAC Early th th on 8 Street series on the 8 of each month (Facebook/ Childhood Center UBREAKIFIX Instagram: @Madeon8thStreet). 2 5th Ave 48 East 8th St

2006 2008 2009 2010 ERA completed Greenwich Village First Annual Norman Founding Executive economic analysis to Destination Guide Buchbinder Award Director Honi Klein diversify and attract developed to drive presented to NYU for retires; William retail tourism dollars to careful restoration Kelley hired from local merchants; of 6-26 East 8th Union Square 2007 thousands distribut- Street Partnership ed to hotels citywide BID expands Online marketing northward along classes created for Sixth Avenue, district retailers University Place and Broadway, increasing to 44 blocks and a budget of nearly $1M OF CLEAN & GREEN STREETS

Since the early 1990s when magazine declared, “The Village is Under Siege,” clean and safe streets have been our top priority. For 25 years we have supervised an eight-person Clean Team that sweeps the 44-block district seven days a week, rain, snow or shine. This past year we removed nearly 2.2 million pounds of garbage from the Central Village, and scraped, cleaned or painted 7,262 incidents of graffiti. Our Clean Team also cleared away snow and standing water from public plazas, bus stops and corner crosswalks and maintained the 144 individual chairs, tables, benches and infor- mation carts at Astor Place and Ruth Wittenberg Triangle.

Over the years we have also focused our efforts on patrols to keep our streets and shops safe. As crime statistics have dropped in local precincts over the past quarter century, we have shifted our funding from paid detail (off-duty) police officers to daytime patrols by a private public safety vendor. Our three public safety ambassadors walk the district seven days a week, and logged 2,860 incidents

2011 2013 2015 2016 Organizational policy Positively 8th Street Sixth Avenue tree 8th Street/Ruth changes and staff Festival debuts pits widened and Wittenberg Triangle additions refurbished pedestrian enhance- First street condi- ments built Communication tions census Village Gateway digitized, first social performed sidewalk master University Place plan approved by media channels planters and tree Minskoff Equities LPC created pits installed opens 51 Astor 10,000 subscrib- 2012 Place, IBM Watson ers reached across Mobile app created inks lease 2014 digital platforms with 25 self-guided Washington Square walking tours of Park renovations Marlton Hotel opens Greenwich Village open to the public Crazy 8 Cartoon Jim Power’s Website expansion Festival produced Mosaic Trail Poles and rebranding, Astor Place recon- preserved at Astor optimized for mobile struction breaks Place use Village Access Card ground launched Since implementing 2018 NORMAN OF CLEAN & GREEN STREETS private safety patrols in 2013, BUCHBINDER AWARD major incidents are down 43%. And now we’ve come full circle, from our beginnings under founding in FY 2018, engaging with the public and providing valuable President Norman Buchbinder to the award given annually in his “eyes on the street” information for local police precincts. honor and memory. This year, the Since implementing private safety patrols in 2013, major 2018 Norman Buchbinder Award is incidents are down 43%. presented to Ancolie, a French-in- spired epicurean eatery at 58 West th Beautification initiatives round out our core services, putting 8 Street that opened in 2016. the “green’ in Greenwich Village. Our first horticultural endeavors filled three dozen flower baskets along 8th Street as part of our 2002 streetscape master plan. Since then, we have added large planters at Ruth Wittenberg Triangle and along Sixth Avenue, 8th Street and University Place, and now care for lushly landscaped areas at Astor Place. Tree pruning and tree pit maintenance have also been a staple of Ancolie is the brainchild of founder our work, and in 2018 we renovated the tree pits along East and chef Chloe Vichot, who wanted 8th Street to make them more permeable to rain water and to create an elegant and inviting promote better tree health. Our green efforts add beauty to oasis offering home cooked meals and efficient service. Her unique the everyday Village streetscape; we now maintain 145 tree concept, sourcing healthy ingredi- pits, 55 street planters and 48 hanging flower baskets along ents and placing them in a reusable glass jar, makes for a fresh, portable with hundreds of shrubs, flowers and grass plantings at and guilt-free dining experience. Astor Place. Ancolie is one of the only 4-star Certified Green Restaurants in . 2017 2018 It is not only Ancolie’s efficient $16M Astor Place/ Public Art Program and delicious fare that merits an Cooper Square instituted (The Last award, but also Vichot’s dedication plazas open to the Three and Poetry public Jukebox) to her business and its place in the surrounding community. Her hard th Village Vitality 8 Street tree pits work on behalf of merchants and fitness & lifestyle refurbished the branding of 8th Street are evident promotion kicks off Long-term mainte- in her time and dedication spent district-wide nance plan imple- brainstorming new ideas to promote 20,000 subscribers First full season mented for streets- the neighborhood as well as regular across Greenwich of Astor Place cape furnishings participation in community events. Village NYC and programming: Made on 8th Street It is this pride in community with a Astor Place NYC Poetry Jam, Astor lifestyle branding focus on neighborhood revitaliza- channels Blaster Silent Disco, launched tion that was the hallmark of Mr. Creativity Cubed, Buchbinder, and for which Ancolie Astor Alive! and the Digital audience enthusiastically deserves the award Cube/’s 50th milestone of 35,000 Birthday Party. reached this year. FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET Revenue FY2018 Budget FY2018 Actual FY2019 Budget NOTES: BID Assessment $1,400,000 $1,400,000 $1,400,000 1. Revenue from Astor 1 Place kiosk concessions Astor Place Concessions $75,000 $66,000 $75,000 (opened 4Q FY 2017) Astor Place Event Fees2 $50,000 $75,000 $75,000 2. Maintenance fee paid Astor Place Sponsorships3 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 by third-party events at Interest $2,000 $2,500 $2,000 Astor Place Grants/Other $5,000 $20,000 $5,000 3. Program sponsorships from direct fundraising TOTAL REVENUE $1,582,000 $1,613,500 $1,607,000 efforts (Astor Place) 4. The proportionate share Expenses of Sanitation and Public Safety expenses are Program Services accounted for under Sanitation & Graffiti Removal4 $435,000 $425,000 $472,500 Astor Place Programs. Public Safety4 $83,000 $81,000 $93,000 5. Includes Washington Promotion, Marketing & Events $117,500 $111,500 $119,000 Square Park Fund disbursement: Streetscape/Capital Maintenance $10,000 $30,000 $25,000 50% in FY 2017 and 50% Horticulture $45,000 $45,000 $45,000 in FY 2018. Funds have accrued separately in the Community Programs5 $62,500 $67,500 $2,500 Park Fund. 6 Astor Place Programs $279,000 $240,000 $229,500 6. Includes Sanitation, General Administrative Public Safety, Horticul- ture, Capital Mainte- Rent & Utilities $57,412 $60,500 $62,170 nance and Community Office Administration $52,200 $56,763 $58,327 Programs at Astor Place Astor Place Administration7 $138,500 $136,494 $131,984 7. Includes Equipment, Supplies, Permits, Wages/Taxes/Benefits $361,345 $351,643 $372,228 Insurance, Professional Fees and a portion of TOTAL PROGRAM & staff time. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURES $1,641,457 $1,605,400 $1,611,209 NET OPERATING COSTS ($59,457) $8,100 ($4,209) PROJECTED CASH RESERVES As of July 1, 2017 $634,612 $1,613,500 FY 2018 Revenues ($1,605,400) FY 2018 Expenses As of July 1, 2018 $642,712 BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF Class A: Property Owners Class B: Commercial Tenants Hon. Margaret Chin OFFICERS Margaret Crowell Jon Feldman NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL Martin Dresner, CAPE ADVISORS, INC. STUMPTOWN COFFEE ROASTERS Class E: Public Members President Greg Gushee Richard Geist VORNADO REALTY TRUST THE RELATED COMPANIES UNCLE SAM’S ARMY NAVY Jeff Ferzoco Will Morgan Ian Ginsberg Michael E. Levine Douglas Gross, Esq., IDEAL GLASS Vice President C.O. BIGELOW Meghan Joye GOETZ FITZPATRICK LLP Kim Newman REPRESENTATIVE, CB #3, THE Class C: Residential Tenants Village Alliance Staff William Abramson, Arlene Peralta Cormac Flynn Treasurer William Kelley BUCHBINDER & WARREN, LLC Tony Hiss EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Adam Pomerantz Shirley Secunda, SIXTH AVENUE EQUITIES Class D: Elected Officials Terri Howell Secretary Bruce Spiegel Hon. Bill de Blasio DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS REPRESENTATIVE CB#2 MANHATTAN ROSE ASSOCIATES, INC MAYOR, CITY OF NEW YORK Daniella LaRocco Jeffrey Sussman Hon. Gale Brewer DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & ECONOMIC MINSKOFF EQUITIES MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT Donna Vogel Hon. Scott Stringer Will Lewis GFP REAL ESTATE COMPTROLLER, CITY OF NEW YORK DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & EVENTS THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Astor Place New York Studio School Workshop Winter Indie Film Festival Amy’s Kitchen NYC Parks Awards Ann Taylor LOFT NYCDOT Weekend Walks Scribble Art Workshop Service Vendors Astor Plate Storm Ritter Studio The Strangers Project Karin Bacon Con Edison Textile Arts Center TD Bank Blenderbox The Cooper Union Uncle Sam’s Army Navy Promotional Partners Bulfamante Landscaping Dyson Ch’I Design Washington Square Park 305 Fitness Facebook Conservancy Citiesense Agata & Valentina GFP Real Estate West 8th Street Block Coffee Cup Design Studio Association Amelie HBO Reva Cooper Ancolie MailOnline Performing Arts Partners Jane Cowan Il Bambino Minskoff Equities American Mime Theatre Design Group Italia Barre 3 New York Health & Blue Man Group Ian Douglas Photography C. O. Bigelow Racquet Club Poetry Electrical Illuminations by Blue Man Group New York University The Cooper Union Arnold East Village Independent New York Sports Club Fulcrum School Merchant Association New York University Grafilicious Hetrick-Martin Institute Eva’s Kitchen & NYC Department of Joe’s Pub at The Public Supplements Julie Brown Harwood Transportation Photography La Mama E.T.C. Eve Salon La Newyorkina Hello World Productions Ori Flomin Dance Flywheel Sports Pine Mountain Honig Conte Porrino Peridance Contemporary Greenwich Village/Chelsea The Related Companies Insurance Dance Chamber of Commerce Sabra Intersection Media The Public Theater Greenwich Village Society Senator Brad Hoylman for Historic Preservation Landscape Forms St. John’s University Smartwater Intelligent Nutrients Ariel Lembeck Public Art Partners The Standard Hotel Karine Kazarian Live XYZ Buchbinder & Warren, LLC Three Jewels Yoga The Library at the Public Loom Britannia Vornado Realty Trust City Lore Theater Charles Ludeke Photography Zagat’s The Cooper Union Loring Place Jane Marx Zico Coconut Water Councilmember Rosie Nix Mendez Metro Rentals Positively 8th Street Ono Bowls Czech Tourism Board Joanna Micek La Paniniera 305 Fitness Fourth Arts Block MTWTF The Public Theater Analogue One Dream Sound Gillie & Marc Salon V Ancolie Julie Powell Bob Holman See’s Candies Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor Preferred Security Manhattan Sideways Textile Arts Center Buchbinder & Warren, LLC Project for Public Spaces James and Karla Murray Three Jewels Greenwich Village/Chelsea Nat Geo Wild Skody, Scot & Co. Chamber of Commerce Tortaria NYC Parks SOS Security Greenwich Village Society Uptown Pilates Streetplus for Historic Preservation NYC Department of The Villager Transportation Tuuci Il Bambino The Walker Hotel Clayton Patterson Urban Arborists Washington Square Park Lomography Oj Pejeta Conservancy Conservancy Victor Stanley Neighborhood Jim Power Wildlife Conservation Film Western Pest Services Preservation Center Processional Arts Festival WXY Studio Village Alliance 8 East 8th Street New York, NY 10003 212.777.2173

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Astor Place NYC – www.astorplace.nyc

About the cover

For 25 years the Village Alliance has supported its local businesses as an integral part of the community. These 25 portraits of 8th Street entrepreneurs by photographer Julie Brown Harwood exemplify the vibrancy and diversity of Greenwich Village’s retail and restaurant scene. From top left, moving left to right: Row 1 – Lena, Sticky’s Finger Joint, Eva’s Supplements, Culture Yogurt Co., Shop Untitled Row 2 – See’s Candies, La Panineria, 305 Fitness, Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor, 8th Street Winecellar Row 3 – Village Alliance, Lomography, Salon V, Mind Boggler, New York Studio School Row 4 – Rasa, Ancolie, Some Good Wine, Uncle Sam’s, Analogue Row 5 – Mount Sinai Doctors, Village Alliance, Storm Ritter Studio, Amelie, Il Bambino Photo credits: Ian Douglas, Julie Brown Harwood, Honi Klein, Will Lewis, Annie Schlechter, David Sigal Design: Fil Vocasek