[ RECOMMENDATION ]

4. Use pay-scale systems or fee structures and establish insurance waivers based on areas of need.



WHYStakeholders shared that high annual insurance requirements required to become DOT Plaza Partners or to become Concessionaires on DOT Plazas, and total annual fees incurred to obtain multiple public realm activation and programming permits across various City agencies, have become financially burdensome, particularly in neighborhoods with small BIDs or none at all.
GOALS
︎ A User Experience
︎ B Long-Term Coordination
︎ C Inclusive Design
︎ D Collaboration and Communication
︎ E Support commerce and entrepreneurship


CATEGORY / TYPE
︎ Process / Regulatory Framework
︎ Funding
︎ Technical Assistance


HOW TO IMPLEMENT
To ensure the equitable distribution of public realm maintenance, programming, and activation, the City’s “Public Realm Working Group” (see earlier recommendation) should refine NYC DOT’s Street Plans geographic “areas of need” to include neighborhoods or communities that feature nonprofit organizations with small operating budgets, and/or have, in the last five years, received limited City funding, partnerships, and resources for the management and activation of the public realm, and therefore are in immediate need of subsidies and fee waivers to continue providing public realm activations and programs.
 



    Case Study ︎︎︎  Case Study ︎︎︎  Case Study ︎︎︎  


    ︎ NYC Housing Recovery

    Build it Back Program

    City of New York, NY

    Although the “Build It Back Program” has faced some criticism and challenges, it has been one of few City programs that has enabled the waiving of permit applications and fees. The Department of Buildings waived fees for demolition applications and permits;  new building and alteration permit applications; permits to renovate or repair; records management fees; electrical and plumbing applications (including limited alteration applications); and associated work applications and permits (i.e. elevators, sheds, scaffolds, construction fences) for homeowners and contractors in geographic areas of need, i.e. regions affected by Hurricane Sandy.



    WHO DOES THIS HELP
    Commercial districts in underserved neighborhoods.