LOOKING BACK AT 2001–2002
As we review the Fashion Center Business Improvement District (FCBID) activities of the past year, things like trash collection or the printing of a new brochure at first seem unimportant in comparison to the larger events that have taken place in our own city and around the world. However, as we found in the weeks and months following September 11th, comfort is derived from the smallest details of our daily lives and strength from the spirit of our neighborhoods and communities. The world was forever changed that day but, despite new cautions, life has gone on, as it should, here in the Fashion District.

The FCBID continues its daily mission to improve the district for all who live, work and do business here. Happily, there is much to report from the past year in each of our program areas.

• Public Safety saw a year of new challenges. After September 11th, our phones rang with reports of bomb scares and suspicious pieces of mail. Our supervisors attended security briefings and strategy sessions to plan for emergency situations, and our staff developed a comprehensive Crisis Management Guide for property owners and managers.
However, amidst the uneasiness of last fall, there were successes too. Overall crime in the Fashion District decreased by 13% in 2001, and we worked more closely than ever with law enforcement to combat the everyday quality of life problems that have such a big impact.

• Sanitation experienced a banner year, achieving its highest yearly scorecard ratings ever and reaching milestones in trash collection. After nine years, our presence and constant attention to street cleanliness have had a tremendously positive impact on the district.

• Streetscape Improvements received a much-needed infusion of funding last summer as City Council Member Christine Quinn and the Manhattan Delegation of the City Council allocated $418,000 in funding to complete our side street Bishop’s Crook lighting project.

• Eight more fashion luminaries were honored at a breakfast in July 2001 as they were inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame. A final eight have been elected for induction in 2002, when we will complete the Walk.

• We turned up the volume on our district promotional efforts with the publication this winter of “You can’t get more Midtown than this,” a new real estate brochure designed to prompt brokers and their clients to consider what they may be missing. We also redesigned our popular Fashion District map to reflect a stronger consumer emphasis.

• Despite a temporary drop-off after September 11th, this year more people than ever took advantage of the Information Services offered by the Fashion Center Information Kiosk. To date, more than 100,000 individuals from around the world have used our extensive resources.

• To assist the 85% of our commercial tenants that can be characterized as “small businesses,” we regularly conducted, or partnered in, a variety of business seminars and programs.

• As Midtown West became the increasing focus of talk in the real estate development community, the FCBID turned its attention to the plans and ideas that have been circulating. Knowing that our zoning designation will affect how any nearby development impacts the Fashion District, we distributed a Request for Proposals for a study to examine the current zoning and project its future implications.

• And finally, for six months this past summer and fall, the FCBID organization underwent an exhaustive audit by the City Comptroller’s Office, which produced an extremely positive evaluation of the FCBID’s operations, practices and procedures.

GEORGE KAUFMAN, CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT	BARBARA BLAIR RANDALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.