After some of the FCBID’s new park ing signs were stolen from the poles a pilot program was implemented to retrofit the signs and render them more tamper resistant. Under the new system, rather than sliding into a frame, the signs are bolted to a solid black background using tam per resistant bolts. The newly designed signs are now on most of the avenues, and will soon be on all the side streets. In the meantime daily and weekly checks of all othe street furniture and infrastructure conditions continue to be performe by our infrastructure intern, and problems are routinely referred to 311, property owners, or the appro- priate department within the BID.

At the request of the Municipal Art Society, the FCBID, along with other BIDs, is conducting a survey of news boxes and their placement and violations. It is hoped that the results of the survey, when for- warded to the city, will spur the Department of Transportation to truly enforce or tighten the regula- tions that control these sidewalk obstructions.

The Fashion District has its first new, Cemusa-designed newsstand on the west side of Sixth Avenue, between 38th and 39th Streets. Although all the newsstands throughout the city are scheduled for replacement, the FCBID has urged DOT to prioritize the Fashion District’s newsstands since the ones in this district are in such deplorable condition, especially for a strategic Midtown location. The FCBID is delighted to see that this one newsstand was included in the first round of replacements. Many thanks to DOT for recognizing this need. Additional replacements are anticipated with much enthusiasm!

The FCBID’s Make a Grand Entrance program provides incentives to encourage property owners and/or retailers to make simple but important improvements to their entrances and storefronts. The BID provides $1000 to any owner who undertakes any of the following improvements: a new sidewalk, a new see-through security grille or new retail signage that is designed or approved by the BID. In addition, the BID will paint any loading dock or freight entrance free of charge, as long as owners agree to install adequate lighting. To date, 17 freight entrances and loading docks have been painted and brightened up! To participate in any of the property improvement programs, contact Bill Daly at the FCBID at 212-764-9600.