The successes of the year were celebrated at the Sunset Park Business Improvement District’s annual meeting, held on Thursday, June 27 at the Young Dancers in Repertory studio.
Craig Gabrian, executive director of Young Dancers in Repertory, said that he was glad to host the gathering, which was catered by Sunset Park Diner.
“Because the community is an essential part of the arts…with our partnership, we can make Sunset Park a more dynamic location,” Gabrian said.
Five and seven-year-old ballerinas performed two fantastic numbers, including “The Mouse Dance.”
“It’s important to see this. This is the future here in Sunset Park, and I think we have a great future,” Gabrian said.
Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, was the keynote speaker. He called Renee Giordano, executive director of the BID, “one of the most fierce advocates for business” and Sunset Park “one of the hottest neighborhoods in New York City.”
Scissura said that “Brooklyn commerce is run by those along Fifth Avenue. . . 50 percent of new businesses are mom-and-pops that help the neighborhood grow. If you don’t help the neighborhood retailers, you will never go far,” he contended.
“I believe this neighborhood in 10 years will be hotter than DUMBO. Over 600 million square feet of space is coming, with lots of jobs,” Scissura contended. “Those jobs and those people will have to buy breakfast and lunch on Fifth Avenue. We will make sure that as businesses open on the waterfront, people come and do their shopping on Fifth Avenue.”
Giordano presented awards to “people who have made extra contributions to help the BID succeed over the past year or took part in BID events.”
The Service Provider of the Year award went to Police Officer Dean Hanan, who is in the 72nd Precinct’s Community Affairs Unit. The Friend of the BID award went to Sky Packets, which helped the BID provide free Wi-Fi. Business of the Year was the Wash Club, a large laundromat that services other businesses and Property Owner of the Year was Tim Chang, a BID board member.
Captain James Grant, commanding officer of the 72nd Precinct, gave a special shout-out to Giordano.
“Renee doesn’t get enough credit for all the work that she does,” Grant said. “She takes a strong interest in representing Sunset Park.”
