The newest business improvement district in the Bronx is up and running after appointing an executive director this summer.
After filling that position in June with the appointment of Sasha Ortiz, the newly established Castle Hill Business Improvement District (BID) has been officially active since July 1 — and ready to help provide support to local businesses.
The BID, which encompasses many businesses, merchants and property owners on the thoroughfares of the intersecting Castle Hill and Westchester avenues, was created to enhance the local business community as well as neighboring areas in the Bronx.
The commercial corridor in Castle Hill includes nearly 200 businesses consisting of restaurants, personal care services, retail stores, fitness centers and more.
The borough’s 12th business improvement district, the Castle Hill BID was established in May 2022 after it was signed into law by Mayor Eric Adams.
However, the creation of the Castle Hill BID had been in the works for years. Councilmember Annabel Palma, who represented the 18th Council District for nearly 15 years, initiated the process of a business improvement district in Castle Hill in the mid-to-late 2010s.
The 18th District, which represents the Castle Hill, Clason Point, Harding Park, Parkchester, Unionport, Shorehaven and Soundview neighborhoods, is now represented by Councilmember Amanda Farías, who took office at the beginning of 2022 and sponsored the legislation establishing the new BID.
She also allocated $100,000 to support the efforts of the BID.
“The (Castle Hill) BID is a fantastic start to the real investments that the Castle Hill neighborhood and surrounding communities truly deserve,” said Farías. “Building up local economies and small businesses keeps money in our own backyards, while improving our community’s economic wellness on both a short-term and long-term scale.
“This will no doubt create more opportunities as a result of long-term plans and investments in this area and the surrounding neighborhoods. The business leaders of Castle Hill Avenue have organized together for years to make this happen for our shared community.”
The creation of the BID was established by law, but Farías, the Westchester Square BID and the Castle Hill BID Steering Committee helped bring it to reality.
According to Ortiz, Castle Hill BID’s newly tapped and first-ever executive director, the district was created to provide supplemental services to area businesses.
“The Castle Hill BID is important for the neighborhood and other nearby areas of the Bronx — because it revitalizes the community and showcases the wonderful businesses in the district,” said Ortiz, who was appointed on June 26. “The Castle Hill BID, as well as all business improvement districts, promote economic growth, attract visitors and foster a vibrant and thriving economy.
“We aim to build relationships among merchants, attract more customers to the district while revitalizing our district and the community as a whole.”
Ortiz, a Bronx native who was born and raised in the South Bronx before moving with her family to Castle Hill, worked previously with the nearby Westchester Square BID as a director of community engagement and is familiar with how business improvement districts function — while personally witnessing the positive impact they can have.
She said that one of her main goals is to continue to improve the appearance of the BID’s corridor, made up of many businesses on Westchester and Castle Hill avenues. She also said that teamwork between the local merchants and the community is key — and is what will make the businesses in this area successful.
Ortiz also looks to bring more pedestrian traffic to the district by keeping the area safe, improving lighting and hosting community events.
She also added that being the BID’s first-ever director is “truly an incredible honor.”
The Castle Hill BID, headquartered at 1239 Castle Hill Avenue Ave., is the Bronx’s latest business improvement district following the Morris Park BID, which was established in 2018, and the Throggs Neck BID’s establishment in 2019, according to nyc.gov.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the 2023 season could be the first with neighborhood holiday lights.
Reach Steven Goodstein at sgoodstein@schnepsmedia.com or (718) 260-4561. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
