JAMAICA CENTER is a dynamic, bustling retail and commercial area, enriched by historic, cultural, and educational entities. As a major transportation hub, we are home to a multitude of government offices, social services agencies, financial institutions, health care facilities and a diversified residential community.
The Jamaica Center Improvement Association (the Business Improvement District, i.e. BID) was created in 1979 by state legislation and is a non-for-profit, tax-exempt organization, funded by special assessments paid by the property owners. The district encompasses Jamaica Avenue from the west side of 169th St. to the east side of Sutphin Blvd. and Union Hall St. from Jamaica to Archer Avenues. We are joined by the Sutphin Blvd. BID on the west end and by the 165th St. Mall Association at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 165th St. to create a harmonious greater Jamaica area with mutual goals and objectives --- to provide supplemental services to the district; sanitation services, litter and graffiti removal, maintenance of sidewalk brick pavers; pruning and watering of trees; promotion and marketing through a variety of initiatives; and act as an advocate on behalf of this urban downtown in the heart of Queens.
Starting at 7 am, 7 days per week, our sanitation crew works to have the sidewalks litter free prior to the opening of our stores,
as well as cleaning 18" into the curb. The work day ends on a staggered basis
and is extended for daylight savings time. Throughout the day trash receptacles
are relined with beige bags with 31/2 tons of bagged trash picked up each day
and taken to a NYC Department of Sanitation site. Additionally, the crew removes
posters and stickers from streetlight poles, parking meters, telephone kiosks
and fireboxes. Graffiti is removed from store gates on an as needed basis.
Once a year the brick pavers are power-washed removing the unsightly gum deposits. This is labor intensive, but well worth the time when the task is completed and the bricks look like new. We maintain one of our most precious resources, our trees, by pruning, watering as needed; and fixing tree pits with Belgian blocks. During the spring, the blooming trees are a welcomed sight. Each year we plant trees that have been damaged or removed. In the spring we paint the fireboxes and the mailboxes in conjunction with Adopt-A-Mailbox program with the USPS.
For several years we have implemented an 'AMBASSADOR PROGRAM', a way of extending a welcoming hand to our shoppers -- those who come by bus from out of town and our very own day-to-day shoppers. Each Saturday we have a greeter meet the shoppers who come from as far away as Michigan and South Carolina to shop on 'The Avenue'. We distribute our signature shopping bags, our updated shopping guides and this year's special, packets of annual flower seeds thanking our shoppers for patronizing our stores. In addition to the giveaways, our ambassadors, give directions, provide general information and most importantly, a warm smile and assistance. Over the year, more than 12,000 shoppers come on Saturdays and perceive Jamaica Center as a user-friendly, safe, clean and wonderful place to visit. We know that our Ambassador Program has done much to reinforce these beliefs.
We printed our third edition of the 'Jamaica Center Shopping Guide' having distributed more than 35,000 over the year. Along with the shopping guides, we gave away 45,000 Jamaica Center 'It's In The Bag' shopping bags. Their distinctive color, size and design make them easily identifiable and are a 'hot item' on the Avenue In addition, we distributed 10,000 packets of flower seeds that had a special thank you from the merchants of The Avenue imprinted on the back.
