The Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District, working with the Queens Lighting Collective and Holiday Street Lights, funded by the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has unveiled a new lighting initiative on Greenpoint Avenue, one of the main commercial corridors of Sunnyside, Queens.
In 2024, the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District applied to the NYC Department of Small Business Services for their Public Realm Grant, a very competitive grant. Sunnyside Shines was selected to implement our Greenpoint Lighting Initiative and awarded $100,000.
The BID had just worked with the Queens Lighting Collective (QLC), a local group of Sunnyside lighting designers on our Urban Design Forum Grant, where they had crafted the Gateway to Sunnyside lighting installation in Sabba Triangle, which was up for five months and was very well received by local residents. As such, Sunnyside Shines asked the Queens Lighting Collective to continue their collaboration and design an innovative and welcoming lighting project to bring Greenpoint Avenue to life at night – making it safer and brighter, and bringing more shoppers to the commercial corridor. The initial design was very similar to the holiday lights the BID installs every November was not approved, but the Queens Lighting Collective went back to the drawing board and came up with a vibrant Sun design that could be attached to 12 light poles. In getting these designs fabricated, Sunnyside Shines reached out to three lighting companies and one came in with a great proposal, one that was modern and affordable and which could be controlled via electronic devices – Holiday Street Lights.
Together, the team of QLC, Holiday Street Lights and the BID, worked with NYC Department of Transportation and NYC Department of Small Business Services to identify locations, secure approvals, finalize the lighting design, and then get fabrication completed. Two community meetings were held with good turnout and vibrant discussion. In addition to the Sun designs, a number of light polls will be wrapped in lights and will be able to be lit up in the colors of the flags of the countries of origin for many of the merchants along Greenpoint Avenue. Merchants from Peru, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, the Philippines, Korea, Chile, China and many more now have the ability to share their heritage in lights and the BID and the team are working together to make this a reality. Greenpoint Avenue will henceforth be known as the “Avenue of the World.”
Over the last two weeks, the lights started going up on Greenpoint Avenue to excitement.
Credit: Cameron Blaylock
Dirk McCall de Palomá, Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines, declared, “We have heard from our merchants on Greenpoint Avenue that we need additional lighting and better marketing to attract more visitors. This corridor is rich with restaurants and bars and now it is even brighter and more attractive!”
“Our city’s 77 Business Improvement Districts play a vital role in improving our vibrant and dynamic commercial corridors, and SBS is proud to provide them with the resources and support they need to make their communities thrive,” said NYC Small Business Services Commissioner Dynishal Gross. “I am excited to see how our Public Realm Grant can make a positive impact for the merchants along Greenpoint Avenue. It’s no question that these new lighting installations will put the ‘shine’ into Sunnyside Shines!”
“Effective street lighting creates a vibrant atmosphere that supports economic development and public safety by encouraging more people to be on our streets at more hours of the day,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “NYC DOT is proud to partner with Sunnyside Shines and business improvement districts across the city to provide public spaces that make New Yorkers proud to call our city ‘home’.”
Credit: Cameron Blaylock
“This new lighting on Greenpoint Avenue’s “Avenue of the World” shines a spotlight on the incredible diversity and energy of our small businesses,” said Council Member Julie Won. “It truly illustrates the vibrant cultures that come from the small businesses in the area and creating home in Sunnyside.”
“Sunnyside has long been a home for entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “This illuminating project will celebrate the diversity of each storefront and street.”
“This lighting initiative along Greenpoint Avenue is a big win for our Sunnyside community,” said Assemblymember Claire Valdez. “Improved lighting will support local restaurants and bars and create a more welcoming atmosphere for everyone. The additional plan to highlight the various countries and backgrounds represented by all the participating merchants is such a beautiful tribute to the diverse communities that power our local economy and make Queens and our district so special.”
“Greenpoint Avenue is one of our borough’s most diverse and dynamic dining and shopping corridors, and I’m excited about brightening up this strip of incredible small businesses with new lighting,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Making our streets safer and more inviting is always a sound investment on behalf of those who live, work and play in our communities. Thank you to the Sunnyside Shines BID for your advocacy on behalf of the businesses you serve.”
“The leadership at Sunnyside Shines assembled a dream team that was able to execute pivot and deliver amazing results. I am proud to be chosen as a part of that team,” explained Michael Laino, President of the Mobile Stage Network/Holiday Street Lights.
“The Queens Lighting Collective (QLC) is excited to continue developing lighting elements for our community, taking ongoing inspiration from our neighborhood’s Art Deco past while creating iconic and accessible imagery for residents and visitors alike. We were especially delighted by our first collaboration with Mobile Stages, who were enthused about reimagining what street lighting could be – a productive and affirming thought partner the whole way,” explained Masha Tsimring, a QLC leader and local Sunnyside resident.
