Three Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Brownsville, Sunnyside, and the Bronx Capitol District Release Public Realm Vision Plans to Transform Their Commercial Corridors
CONTACT: Hadley Stack, hadley@urbandesignforum.org
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(New York City – April 8th, 2025) — BIDs in Brownsville, Brooklyn; Sunnyside, Queens; and the Bronx Capitol District published Vision Plans for the future of their public spaces, after 12 months of community engagement and collaboration with designers. The Vision Plans from Pitkin Avenue BID, Sunnyside Shines BID, and 161st Street BID lay out a blueprint for how to reimagine public spaces in their commercial corridors through installations, programming, and capital improvements. The BIDs received funding, technical assistance, and consultation with city agencies through the Local Center, a partnership between Urban Design Forum and the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (“ANHD”).
The BIDs worked with teams of designers to construct creative improvements to their public spaces to drive foot traffic and strengthen neighborhood connectivity and safety. They engaged 100+ residents, small businesses, and community stakeholders in each neighborhood to understand local priorities for public space. The teams tested those ideas in Summer and Fall 2024 through short-term activations like lighting installations, night markets, and shading structures in plazas and parks. These and other ideas are captured in the BIDs’ Vision Plans.
The plans include short- and long-term strategies for transforming the districts’ public spaces to reflect the identities and priorities of local businesses, artists, and residents. Each BID will work with community stakeholders and city agencies to advocate for additional investment and support to advance these strategies in 2025 and beyond.
By directing more investment into comprehensive vision planning and lively public spaces in under-invested commercial corridors, this initiative helps further the New York Governor and New York City Mayor’s “New” New York Action Plan to reinvigorate New York City’s business districts and amplify cultural and economic vibrancy in public spaces across the boroughs.
161st Street Business Improvement District, serving the Capitol District in the Bronx, worked with MUD Workshop, Habitat Workshop, and Sighte Studio to develop a vision plan for Lou Gehrig Plaza and other public spaces in the 161st Street corridor that enhances the pedestrian experience and creates opportunities for rest, community gathering, and celebration. In 2025, the BID plans to implement ideas from the plan, including the expansion of their pilot installation that provides seating, shading, and lighting in Lou Gehrig Plaza.
Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District, serving Sunnyside, Queens, worked with di Domenico + Partners and the Queens Lighting Collective to produce the Sunnyside Vision Plan focused on transforming underutilized areas, including the plazas and parking bays underneath the 7 train and Sabba Park, into vibrant spaces that reflect the neighborhood’s diverse communities, encourage community interaction, and stimulate local businesses. In 2025, the BID will advance vision plan ideas for night markets and performance space in Lowery Plaza and a new lighting installation on Greenpoint Avenue.
Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District, serving Brownsville, Brooklyn, worked with Studio Cooke John to develop a vision plan to turn Zion Triangle and other public spaces in the district into destination spaces for neighbors through programming and infrastructure improvements. In 2025, the BID will implement installations and events to celebrate the history, culture and community spirit of the Pitkin Avenue area and Brownsville.
The Connected Corridors program is a unique partnership between Urban Design Forum, ANHD, and city government agencies, including the NYC Department of Small Business Services, NYC Department of Transportation, Office of the Chief Public Realm Officer, and Office of the Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce. The Connected Corridors program was made possible by lead support from National Grid’s Project C and the NYC Department of Small Business Services and additional major support from Charles H. Revson Foundation, Deutsche Bank, and the NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund, administered by City Parks Foundation.
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“Every neighborhood should have a say in its own future. We are thrilled to have supported our neighborhood partners and their design teams to produce these public realm vision plans,” said Daniel McPhee, Executive Director of the Urban Design Forum. “Each team has surfaced creative ideas to transform spaces that reflect their neighbors’ priorities. All three BIDs have begun to activate their public spaces through built installations and programming, and we’re excited to continue supporting their efforts.”
“Each partner has engaged in a thoughtful year-long process to come up with public realm visions with their residents, businesses, and community stakeholders,” said Barika Williams, Executive Director of the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development. “We are excited about the potential for these plans to build thriving, equitable neighborhoods through public spaces that connect neighbors and support local economic activity.”
“New York City’s 76 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) know their neighborhoods and commercial corridors better than anyone, and I’m thrilled to see them take the lead in planning for our city’s future,” said New York City Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Dynishal Gross. “I want to thank Urban Design Forum and the Association for Neighborhood Housing and Development for spearheading this ambitious project, and for empowering our BIDs, neighborhoods, and small businesses to shape the city and build a New York that’s safer, more livable, and more vibrant for all.”
“At the Pitkin Avenue BID, we understand that public spaces, sidewalks, and plazas alike are vital third places where Brownsville residents connect, experience joy, and relax,” said Tiera Mack, Executive Director of Pitkin Avenue BID. “Equitable investment in these spaces is essential to beautifying, promoting public safety, supporting local economic growth, and overall well-being. This visioning document places Brownsville’s voices at its core, and we hope it serves as a blueprint for future public space planning, whether within or beyond the BID’s boundaries.”
“This was a wonderful opportunity to reconceptualize the use of our public spaces in Sunnyside and have structured conversations on how to improve the spaces and maximize their use by the community,” said Dirk McCall de Palomá, Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines BID. “We are incredibly grateful to the Urban Design Forum, ANHD, and all of their funders, especially the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) for teaming us up with a design firm and a lighting firm to embark upon this process together. It was incredibly helpful and will result in improvements to our public spaces and have deepened our connections to our local community”
“Working with the design teams during the vision plan process helped our organization clearly identify the capabilities of Lou Gehrig Plaza and how our current projects can help transform the entire district,” said Trey Jenkins, Executive Director of 161st Street BID. “Being located a stone’s throw from Yankee Stadium and being in the area where most of the Bronx municipal buildings are located, we have constant foot traffic from those visiting the stadium and those who work in the Bronx Capitol District. This vision plan lays out what is possible in an area that is ripe for so much more when it comes to design, transportation and placemaking. We hope we are able to move the conversation in placemaking innovation in an important neighborhood of the Bronx.”
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About Us
Urban Design Forum connects and inspires New Yorkers to design, build and care for a better city. We are a member-powered organization of 1,000+ civic leaders committed to a more just future for our city. We believe the built environment—our neighborhoods, buildings, public spaces and infrastructure—shapes our city’s health, culture and economy. We bring together New Yorkers of diverse backgrounds and experiences to learn, debate, and design a vibrant city for all. Learn more at urbandesignforum.org.
The Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD) builds community power to win affordable housing and thriving, equitable neighborhoods for all New Yorkers. As a member organization of 80+ community groups across New York City, we use research, advocacy, and grassroots organizing to build equity and justice in low-income, historically marginalized neighborhoods and city-wide. Learn more at anhd.org.
The Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) is a nonprofit community development organization serving businesses and property owners on Pitkin Avenue between Howard and Mother Gaston and Rockaway between Glenmore and Belmont. The Pitkin Avenue BID also creates programming for the entrepreneurs and residents in Brownsville, Brooklyn. We aim to make Brownsville a better place to live, work, shop, and visit.
Sunnyside Shines is a Business Improvement District (BID) covering all properties fronting Queens Boulevard from 38th Street to 50th Street, as well as Greenpoint Avenue from Queens Boulevard to mid-block between 42nd and 43rd Streets. The mission of Sunnyside Shines is to invigorate and enrich the economic life of the neighborhood by creating a safe, welcoming and dynamic commercial district in Sunnyside, Queens.
Founded as the Capitol District Management Association in 2009, the 161st Street Business Improvement District (BID) was created to provide a vibrant commercial district and improve the quality of life for those who live, work, visit, and shop on 161st Street in the Bronx. The 161st Street BID aims to keep the streets clean, promote commerce, and enrich the area through special events and cultural projects.