UNION SQUARE PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE AREA’S
RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

Façade Improvement Program Will Provide Funding & Resources to Participating Businesses

New York (February 22, 2007) – The Union Square Partnership (USP) today launched a new façade improvement program to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the area’s shopping district. This is the latest component of the Partnership’s ongoing effort to ensure 14th Street’s vitality as one of New York City’s main retail districts.

The program offers storefront property owners and retail tenants up to $3,000 in financial assistance to undertake and complete certain physical improvements to their buildings and stores, specifically to install new signage and/or awnings and open-link security gates. The program offers design and other technical services to the participating merchants. USP has retained Gigantic, Inc., a local graphic design firm, to provide these services.

The program, funded entirely by the Union Square Partnership, will use the basic design criteria set out in NYC Department of Small Business Services’ “Guide to Storefront Design.”

“This new initiative is part of the USP’s growing number of programs to bolster our retail business community by complementing our core security and sanitation services,” said Danny Meyer, Co-Chairman of the Union Square Partnership. “It goes without saying that an attractive, welcoming storefront is more inviting to customers and contributes to a more hospitable streetscape. We hope that all eligible businesses will choose to participate in the program, which will help to enhance the allure of this great neighborhood.”

“The objective of the façade improvement program is to create a clean, uniform retail environment that will strengthen the Union Square shopping experience,” said Jennifer Falk, Executive Director of the Union Square Partnership. “Currently, some awnings and signs deter customers and are out of compliance, or their solid-metal security gates are covered with graffiti, making the shopping district feel boarded up when stores are closed. We look forward to meeting with local businesses and exploring options to create a more vibrant, engaging neighborhood.”

Any ground-floor business or retail space located in the Union Square Business Improvement District may participate in the program, as long as the business to receive the improvements meets the following criteria:

· The business must have a minimum of five years remaining on its lease;
· To receive funding for sign or awning replacement, the existing signage or awning should either be non-compliant or in need of replacement due to damage; and
· To receive funding for security gate replacement, the existing gate should be all or mostly solid metal.

The BID’s boundaries are 14th Street from First Avenue to Avenue of the Americas and the perimeter around Union Square Park.

Businesses wishing to participate in the façade improvement program should contact the Union Square Partnership at (212) 460-1200.

Contact:

Lee Silberstein or Shane Kavanagh
The Marino Organization
(212) 889-0808

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