HELP US KEEP FLATBUSH AVENUE CLEAN!

The North Flatbush Avenue Business Improvement District is working hard throughout our district to keep our street clean at all times. The BID maintains a contract with Atlantic Maintenance which provides  a supplemental sanitation worker  7 days a week from 7AM to 2PM.  Andres Flores is seen throughout our district picking up refuse and emptying our  mesh garbage containers for Sanitation pick up.  Andres also removes all flyer’s  from our lamp posts and street furniture.  In the winter, he is shoveling the snow from the corners for easy corner street crossing.

 The Department of Sanitation provides regularly scheduled curbside refuse and recycling collection services for every residential household, public building public school and many large institutions in New York City.

Please take a look at the DSNY Collection Schedule and Regulations for disposing of your refuse.  The BID is working actively with the DSNY to make sure that everyone follows this collection schedule.  Don’t wait for a summons, please follow the schedule and make sure all refuse is put at curbside after 5:00PM on the before pick up.  Not sure when your due for pick up, you can easily find out by entering your address on the site.

Dont throw it Away! Before you through anything away, the Department of Sanitation urges you to explore ways to help reduce the amount of waste in New York City and make it an even better place to live.

Please visit the Department of Sanitation site HERE and you will be able to find out how to dispose of anything from abandoned vehicles, fire extinguishers, food containers to window glass. 

Whether you live, work or visit New York City - Recycling is the Law!

FLATBUSH AVENUE IS ABOUT TO GET SAFER.

As part of the city’s recent Pedestrian Safety Study and Action Plan, and as a continuation of ongoing efforts to improve the pedestrian experience on Flatbush Avenue, the DOT will soon equip all Flatbush intersections between Fulton Street and Grand Army Plaza with safety-enhancing pedestrian countdown signals.

These signals are among 1,500 the Department of Transportation recently plans to install at intersections selected for their above average roadway width, unique layout, and high rates of accidents involving pedestrians. They  count down the number of seconds remaining before the “flashing hand” turns solid red, and help pedestrians determine whether there is enough time for them to cross the street. Studies and pilot programs have shown that they can significantly reduce the number of people in the crosswalk when the signal turns solid red. Installation along Flatbush Avenue is set to begin in 6 – 9 months as part of a citywide contract and should be complete within a year.

This effort is the latest in a series of area improvements that began with a resurfacing of Flatbush between Atlantic Avenue and Grand Army Plaza in May of last year. Since then, the corridor has seen the installation of new crosswalks and other pedestrian improvements at the Carlton Triangle; the prohibition of left turns from Flatbush to reduce congestion and improve safety; and, just last month, the alteration of signal timing to slow off-peak traffic and increase pedestrian crossing time. The combination of these efforts and the new countdown signals should significantly increase improve the walkability of our rapidly evolving corridor.

Vint 

Children were mesmerized by the pond

With 20 2 to 3 year olds in tow, the children spent the perfect weather morning observing the fruit trees, the veggie beds, the pond, squash plants and flowers.   Jiwon Choi, a long time Bears Garden member, was instrumental in using her past teaching skills to teach the children about important concepts and interactions among plants and birds by  observing the birds in the garden. The children took to the drawing pads and drew their inspirations of their garden tour.

The North Flatbush Avenue BID sponsored Facepainting and temporary botanical tattoos by BERT, reuseable canvas tote bags that the children decorated, seeds,soil and decomposable pots  and green garden activity books. 

Eladia’s Kids school has 3 locations, a  family run business, and a mainstay in our community for 10 years. Eladia’s Kids curriculum is designed to develope children’s comunication and social skills with a strong emphasis on building life-long learners.  

Learning to plant with seeds and soil

Burrito Bar and Kitchen located at 307 Flatbush Avenue on the corner of Prospect Place

 The winners of the 16th Annual Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest were announced on Tuesday, August 4th at a press conference sponsored by the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens GreenBridge Program.  And the winner is……… our very own Burrito Bar and Kitchen!  Burrito Bar won First Prize  for GREENEST STOREFRONT and by looking at the photo you can understand why.  After winning second place in 2008 and 2009, owner Greg Yerman was “thrilled” to have received this honor. 

 The Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest is a project of GreenBridge, the community environmental horticulture program of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Borough President Marty Markowitz. Sponsored by Brooklyn Community Foundation.

The North Flatbush BID, Burrito Bar and all the participants will be honored at a ceremony at Borough Hall with Borough President Marty Markowitz in September 2010.   

 To view all of the winners of this contest, please visit www.bbg.org.

BP Marty Markowitz showing off his new Burrito Bar and Kitchen t-shirt with owner, Greg Yerman

On July 14,The North Flatbush Avenue BID joined Brklyn Crepe and celebrated like it was 1785! We put down our freedom fries and ate sweet French crepes on Flatbush Avenue. Evan Franca, owner of BklynCrepe, located at 274 Flatbush Avenue, celebrated not only Bastille Day, but his 2nd Anniversary on Flatbush Avenue. A welcome surprise when Andrew Steininger dropped by from the Brooklyn Borough Presidents office and awarded Evan with a City Proclamation from Marty Markowitz. BklynCrepe serves delicious crepes all day and all year, from sweet to savory at great prices. Dont forget to try the Park Slope or the Prospect Heights crepe or the Coney Island… !! Made fresh to order.

The BigBelly is Coming to Flatbush Avenue!

It was announced at our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. 

If you were there,  you have heard Carlo Scissura, Chief of Staff, Borough Presidents office, as he told the audience that Marty Markowitz has awarded $120,000. to the North Flatbush Avenue BID for the BigBelly to line the streets of our District.  NFBID, is the first BID in Brooklyn to have these units.

Manufactured by DEC, Direct  Environment Corporation,located in the Bronx. The Solar Powered Trash Compactors demonstrates a commitment to the community and the environment, incorporates clean solar energy and allows for sponsorship opportunities.   They will decrease  litter along the district and will reduce collection pick up trips, instead of once a day, pick up will be once a week. There will also be a BigBelly recyclable attachment unit for cans and bottles. 

  Franklyn Cruz, President of DEC , a 100% minority organization, will walk the district with members of the North Flatbush Avenue BID to determine the best locations for these new units.  We hope to have them installed by the end of the year. A demonstration of these units for the public will be made when the official ribbon cutting ceremony is held at the 8th Avenue Triangle.  Keep watching our website for time and dates. If you have any questions or comments about the new solar powered trash compactors, contact our offices at 718-783-1685 or email at info@nfbid.com.