Since the FCBID launched its Streetscape Improvement program in 1996, many street elements have been implemented to improve the district’s appearance and safety, including: decorative lampposts and waste receptacles, information pylons, building address plaques, colorful banners, winter holiday lighting, coordinated street signage, a custom multirack newsbox and innovative security lighting.

LAMPPOST DECOR In Summer 2005, the FCBID dis-played 100 basket planters, filled with colorful annuals that hung from lightpoles throughout the Fashion Dis-trict. This was followed by a display of lighted holiday snowflake decorations that adorned the lightpoles from November through February.

AVENUE SIGNAGE In Spring 2006, the FCBID installed coordinated street signage on avenues throughout the district. Similar street signage had already been installed on side streets in 2004. This completes the signage project that has allowed the FCBID to remove signage that had been cluttering the lightpoles and replace it with new signage on dedicated poles.

MULTIRACK NEWSBOX PROTOTYPE In December 2005, the FCBID unveiled its long awaited new multirack newsbox structure. The first multirack was installed on Broadway between 39th and 40th streets, adjacent to the 1411 Broadway Plaza. The unique structure, designed by Antenna Design, incorporates a planter into the multirack design. Its purpose is to reduce clutter on the street by coordinating and consolidating the distribution of paid and free publications, and to add greenery to the Fashion District landscape. Pending completion of a successful test period, the FCBID plans to install multiracks throughout the Fashion District.

The FCBID’s stylish new multirack newsbox.

Antenna Design is the renowned firm which is respon-sible for the design of, among other things, the new NYC subway cars and MetroCard vending machines. Antenna has also won numerous awards, including recognition from I.D. Magazine, Business Week and Wired magazines. In 2003, the firm’s principals, Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger, were finalists for the National Design Award in Product Design from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Two of their latest projects were recently exhibited at MoMA’s “SAFE: Design Takes on Risk” exhibition. Forbes also recently ranked Udagawa and Moes-linger among the ten most influential industrial designers working today.

MAKE A GRAND ENTRANCE The FCBID’s popular Make a Grand Entrance Program was renewed for the 2005-2006 fiscal year. The program encourages property owners and ground floor retailers to make important improvements to their premises by offering a $1000 incentive to those who replace a solid security gate with a new see-through security grille, replace a sidewalk, or install decorative façade lighting. To date, the FCBID has received 56 applications.

Make a Grand Entrance improvements at 20 West 37th Street included decorative façade lighting.

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