Downtown Albany BID Starts New Year with New Office & Website

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Albany Mayor Jennings & BID Exec. Director Georgette Steffens remark about Downtown Albany BID's New Office Space

ALBANY, NY (02/08/2011)(readMedia)-- The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) celebrated the opening of its new office today at 40 N. Pearl Street in the heart of Downtown Albany with a ribbon cutting by Mayor Gerald Jennings, BID Executive Director Georgette Steffens, BID Board President John Graziano and BID Board Member Bob Belber. Prior to the ribbon cutting, the BID also formally christened its new downtownalbany.org website designed by award-winning communications agency, Zone 5.

"It was clear that in order for the Downtown Albany BID to deliver on its promise of having the 'Go-To' website for all things 'Downtown Albany', an update was a necessity," offered Georgette Steffens. "Fortunately, BID Board Member Bob Belber of the Times Union Center stepped forward with some sponsorship money to help us get started." After an RFP process, Zone 5 was awarded the contract. With the aid of new focus group data, Zone 5 created a visually stunning and interactive website for the Downtown Albany BID that offers: a comprehensive calendar of events provided by businesses in the district searchable by venue, event type, or date; a complete business listing for Downtown Albany including professional offices; interactive map functionality including parking detail; listings of available commercial and residential within the District, and much more. "We are thrilled with Zone 5's work and are confident "As a large venue and business partner with the Downtown Albany BID, we see first-hand the economic impact of the organization to the City and particular the role the BID's website plays in driving consumer and commercial business downtown," commented Bob Belber of the Times Union Center. "The opportunity to aid in making this dynamic website a reality was highly valuable." Georgette Steffens added, "We are thrilled with Zone 5's talented work and are confident that this new website achieves our objective of being the resource for Downtown Albany."

The office commemoration was the finale to nearly a year-long search for a new office location for the organization after sprinkler damage forced BID staff from their space at 522 Broadway in December of 2009. "The Board's directive was very clear – find street level space in the heart of the District," explained Georgette Steffens, BID Executive Director. Former BID Board Chair, Tracy Metzger of Hunt Commercial, and current BID Board Executive Committee Member, David Swawite of Omni Development Co. Inc., each came to the aid of the BID during their displacement by providing temporary office space and assisting with the leasing and build-out of this new space. "The Downtown Albany BID is grateful to Tracy & David for their generosity and would also like to recognize 3tArchitects for their talented design work, Greco Construction for completing the job with an aggressive time table, and our landlord, OGS, for their collaborative spirit in securing this perfect location within the District," summarized Steffens.

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About the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District

The Downtown Albany BID, incorporated in 1996, is a private, not-for profit 501 (c) (3) organization that works to restore, promote and maintain the character and viability of downtown Albany and to improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for all those who work in, live in and visit the Capital City. For information about the Downtown Albany BID, call (518) 465-2143 or visit www.downtownalbany.org.