About Us
GatewayJFK is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) public-private partnership providing technical and professional services, supplemental services and improvements, and advocacy for the District’s off airport cargo community, a vital link in the global supply chain, and for all of those who live, work or visit the area. GatewayJFK - Off Airport. On the Move. is a distinct, unique New York City neighborhood of major economic significance to the region, the nation and the world.
GatewayJFK, formerly known as Greater JFK Industrial Business Improvement District (BID), is the 73rd NYC BID established in 2016. Geographically, the District is located in the Springfield Gardens neighborhood of the Borough of Queens, adjacent to John F. Kennedy International Airport with Rockaway Boulevard as its primarily access route. It consists of over 500 properties and is a complex assembly of private properties containing customs brokers, freight forwarders, couriers and logistical services, trucking and maintenance companies and many others that employ almost 8,000 workers and occupy approximately 4.1 million square feet in a broad range of industrial and commercial buildings.
The cargo related businesses exist alongside other light industrial and retail uses, hotels, community service and government facilities as well as 154 single family homes. Striking an appropriate balance between industrial, commercial and residential interests is a unifying principle that guides GatewayJFK in all that it does.
Under the direction and supervision of GatewayJFK property owners, businesses, residents, elected officials and community leaders, the annual BID budget of $500,000 supports the following:
Advocacy and Administration
Sanitation & Streetscape Maintenance Services & Snow Removal
Security & Public Safety
District Marketing & Communications
Industry Networking & Workforce Development
Technical Services & Planning Studies for Economic Development
Community Support Programs & Events
Governance
The $500,000 annual BID budget is primarily supported by the industrial and commercial property owners, while residential property owners are assigned a symbolic $1 per year. Non‐profit and publicly‐owned properties are exempt from the BID assessment.
It is important to note, however, that finances do not dictate governance of the BID organization. By law, property owners - residential and commercial - will have majority representation. Tenants - along with the built-in, careful oversight by government representatives - will aggressively ensure a balance in all operations and decision-making.
GatewayJFK Board of Directors
Board Members by BID Class
Class A1: Commercial Property Owners
Zachary Campbell - Wildflower Ltd
Debbie Cross - A.S.A.P Logistics
Shaun Jacobson - Edward J. Minskoff Equities
Suzy Kaye-Marana - Link Logistics
Joseph Lagano - Avison Young
Peter Levine - Mileson Corp
Frank Liggio - CBRE
Class A2: Residential Property Owners
Carolyn Ellis - Spring Jam Block Association
Veronica Hicks - Spring Jam Block Association
Kim Lawton - Spring Jam Block Association, President
Louise Torbert - Spring Jam Block Association
Deborah Wiggins - Spring Jam Block Association
Class B: Commercial Tenants
Raleigh Hall - RW Hall General Contractor
Roman Mizerota - Alliance Cargo Express
Sadiah Mohammed - OceanAir Logistics
Class C – Residential Tenant
Anthony Forbez - Spring Jam Block Association
Class D - Public Officials/Ex-Officio
Fred Leopold-Hooke - NYC Dept Small Business Services
Rebecca Lynch - Office of NYC Comptroller Brad Lander
Shurn P. Anderson - Queens Borough President Donovan Richards
Renee Taylor - Councilmember District 31: Selvina Brooks-Powers
Class E – Nonvoting
Robert Caton - RealTerm
Joyce Denny - United Neighbors Civic Association, President
Ayana Greene - Councilmember District 28, Adrienne Adams
Mark Mc Millan - Community Board 13, District Manager
Yvonne Reddick - Community Board 12, District Manager
Tom Grech - Queens Chamber of Commerce
Andrew Genn - NYC EDC, Aviation
Hersh Parekh - PANYNJ, Properties & Commercial Dev
Marvin Holland - NYS Senate District 10, James Sanders Jr
William Bao - NYS Assembly District 31- Khaleel M. Anderson
Latoya LeGrand - NYS Assembly District 32, Vivian E. Cook
Gregory Meeks - US Congressional NY District 5, Gregory Meeks
Chuck Schumer - US Senate, Chuck Schumer
Kirsten Gillibrand - US Senate, Kirsten Gillibrand
Kathy Hochul - NYS Governor
Board Vacancies to Fill
None
We Value Your Perspective and Encourage Your Participation.
Interested in being on the Board? Contact Us: director@gatewayjfk.org
Key Documents
History of GatewayJFK Formation
The JFK Cargo Study (January 2013), prepared for the NYC Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the Port Authority of NY & NJ, prompted the planning initiative for a Business Improvement District (BID) represented by the off-airport community, seeking to enhance the quality of life for all those who live, work and visit the area now and in the future. The NYCEDC with the support of NYC Department of Small Business Services, providing oversight for BID formation, support from government officials, and a Planning Committee of diverse stakeholders who worked together to create today’s GatewayJFK.
Now known as GatewayJFK, the planning process referenced the District as Greater JFK IBID (Industrial Business Improvement District). A Timeline for BID Formation and Press Release (2017) provides a framework for the tasks undertaken. A critical stage of BID formation are the formal public meetings that summarize the findings of the BID Planning Committee and proposes a BID plan for approval. Public Meeting (2014) Presentation By the end of 2015, the legislative approval process was in motion and signed into law in November 2016. In 2017, start-up tasks to establish the organization and its governance were completed. January 2018 began the first full year of operation.