In what spokesperson Andrea Feinberg called a "grassroots" approach to fund raising, the Westbury Business Improvement District (BID) recently placed 20 donation boxes in some of the retail stores, banks and businesses along Post Avenue. The boxes are meant to provide the BID with more private funds with which to support future projects.

"When the BID first rolled out its Facade Improvement Plan in January of 1999, we immediately got 18 storefronts and their associated landlords who wished to participate," Feinberg explained. "After working on the first one, Alfredo's Pizzeria, we discovered that working with the various layers of government, the intermediaries that were involved, was a slower and sometimes more frustrating process than we felt was warranted. We are hoping with more privately donated funds, we can satisfy this community at a much quicker pace."

Organizations like local BIDs emphasize the importance of a strong retail presence in a community because if the tax base in the retail district declines, it is generally the surrounding businesses that will be asked to pick up whatever the immediate retail district cannot supply on its own. "We feel that all the businesses in Westbury, including those who draw on residents for employees, and those employees who are looking for places to have lunch or to conveniently shop, must maintain a strong tax base so that there is no undue burden put on some, as opposed to others, and also to give residents an attractive, safe shopping environment," Feinberg said.

Nineteen Post Ave. storefronts are slated for facade improvement, with United Stationery being the first. However, as the BID is mandated by laws as to what it can do with the funds it receives from a real estate assessment on the property within the BID district, it is a relatively slow process, which can be frustrating to both the BID and the landlords involved. "We are working with the Village of Westbury, Nassau County and New York State, and finding that going through the various levels of government, together with constant changes in government, can slow the process down," Feinberg said. "We need to keep the momentum going, to keep the interest of the landlords."

Recently, through the BID's beautification efforts, new planters were purchased and stationed on Post Ave. Future projects include planting new trees on the avenue, and changing the street lamps that illuminate the street at night. All improvements are to be done in an attractive, consistent fashion to create what Feinberg calls "Old World charm."

"We get 18,000 drivers up and down Post Ave. in a day," she said. "We need to make the area more conducive to pedestrian shopping, and ultimately, to attract more retailers by showing them that they will be in a really attractive environment that will spell success for their businesses."

Currently, both the BID and the County will contribute a significant amount toward defraying the cost of new signs for any merchant or retailer within the district. Additionally, the BID will help provide lighting to illuminate the new signs, which will be consistent with the look of the street lamps the BID will be replacing along the avenue.

The Westbury BID meets on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the community center. The annual meeting will be held in June, where a full financial report of the BID's accomplishments will be provided, and future goals will be discussed. "We would really like to see more participation, to get more feedback, to be criticized if need be, and to make sure everyone is well represented and understands our vision of Westbury," Feinberg said.

For more information call the BID office at 333-2335.