44 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2015 Impact Astoria: Central Astoria Local Development Coalition Story By Gabrielle C. Sherb When I look at the art framed on my walls, I admire the quality of the craftsmanship. For the last few years, the talented artists at Astoria Art & Framing on 32nd Street and 30th Avenue have taken even the most modest of prints and turned them into masterpieces. The small businesses of Astoria and the people who own them make our neighborhoods so special. The champion and advocate of these businesses are the hands-on, hardworking leaders of the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition. The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition (Central Astoria LDC) was founded in 1979. Recognizing the need to improve the quality of life in the community, business owners banded together to provide resources and support one another. According to their mission statement, The Central Astoria LDC is a “not-for-profit community organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the neighborhood of Astoria as a vibrant, affordable, harmonious and desirable community in which to live, work and do business.” The Central Astoria LDC consists of four key business districts and over 1,000 businesses along Broadway, 30th Avenue, 36th Avenue and Steinway Street. Through its technical assistance, resources and advocacy, the Central Astoria LDC keeps neighborhood businesses thriving and prosperous. “Astoria is a neighborhood where people know each other,” says Executive Director Marie Torniali. “There is a real sense of community.” To build on that sense of community, the Central Astoria LDC hosts diverse events, including concerts, fireworks, carnivals and street fairs. This spring the Central Astoria LDC hosted its first International Cultural Fest featuring the diverse cultures and traditions from residents of Astoria. Performances included music and dance from Bangladesh, Brazil, Ecuador, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Spain and North Africa. “We were very happy to have the cultural festival,” Torniali says. “This new initiative by the Department of Cultural Affairs promotes immigrant culture.” In addition to its social and cultural events, the greatest services they provide are housing advocacy and social services. With Astoria’s popularity growing every day, providing affordable housing to its residents and businesses owners becomes even more of a necessity, especially for senior citizens. Torniali says, “We assist seniors, low-income residents and small building landlords. De-regulation can ruin neighborhoods.” Torniali and her team invested in keeping Astoria the vibrant, diverse and welcoming community for businesses and residents that it is. “We try to focus on every facet of the community— residents, culture and immigrants—every facet of living, working and doing business in Astoria,” Torniali says. “There are so many community organizations that do a lot of great work—housing, culture, health services. It motivates you. I love this community and am lucky to live and work in the same neighborhood.” VOL UNTEER Here are three easy ways you can work with Marie and the Central Astoria LDC to enhance our small businesses and the residents who own them: 1 If you see something, say something. The Central Astoria LDC is there to help with any issue, big or small. From broken meters to excess garbage, reach out (but don’t forget to call 311 first to ensure they can track and follow up). 2 Volunteer with a Central Astoria LDC Event. Hand out brochures, work an event, or just ask how you can help with the great events that go on throughout the year. 3 Spread the word. You don’t have to do it on your own. The Central Astoria LDC can help. Their services are free. To lend a hand and get involved, contact Marie at [email protected], call 718-728-7820, or visit http://centralastoria.org/, find the Central Astoria LDC on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/centralastoria or follow on Twitter @central_astoria.
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