Retired Glen Cove BID director Koehler making future plans

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After serving as executive director of Glen Cove’s downtown business improvement district for almost 20 years, Francine Koehler is now planning something a little different — her life after retirement.

Glen Cove’s BID was formed by property owners, businesses and residents in 1996 to revitalize the city’s downtown. It encompasses part of Route 107/Glen Cove Road, Pulaski Street, Glen Cove Avenue and Brewster, School, Glen and Bridge streets.

Koehler said that the BID is trying to “bring about a renaissance.” But in the past, the downtown consisted of a lot of retail stores. Since the creation of malls and online shopping, the retail environment has changed in the city. “Our downtown has to move with the times and meet the needs of today’s community,” Koehler said. “I think that looks more like entertainment, and cultural.”

The Glen Cove BID stages all of the annual downtown events, like Downtown Sounds, the Halloween parade and the Christmas tree lighting. It also helps with visual and capital improvements, including maintaining public walkways, seasonal plantings, and purchasing litter baskets. Koehler said that the BID is currently planning to install paintings in the Brewster Street parking garage, and is also looking to bring in street artists to take on more creative endeavors throughout the area.

“Francine was a proponent for bringing creative ideas to attract visitors, and enjoyed the ever-increasing numbers of attendees that participated in our parades and concerts,” said BID board member and Glen Cove Deputy Mayor Barbara Peebles. “We appreciate Francine’s contributions, and we look forward to seeing her relaxing at the events and celebrating the next wave of success for our downtown.”

While the BID arranges many successful events, their planning is not simple. “The farmers market was definitely challenging,” Koehler said. “While many people were asking for a farmers market, it ultimately was discontinued because the vendors didn’t feel like they were getting the support from the community.” But, she added, she thinks it is an idea that can be revisited. She also said that one of her biggest challenges is educating the community on what is available downtown.

The annual Downtown Sounds event is one of the projects Koehler said she is most proud of. “When I started here, Downtown Sounds was a little jazz festival held during July,” she said. “Over time I sort of changed the focus of the concerts to greater diversity of music. They appeal to all different parts of the community.”

Another event Koehler worked on was the First City Art Project, in which dozens of street artists transformed a historic 300-year-old Glen Cove mansion into an eclectic art museum. “I hope that the BID will continue to capitalize on the excitement that was created with that,” Koehler said. “I can see downtown Glen Cove becoming a real artist center.”

She said she also believes that in a few years, the city will be more active. “I think there are so many possibilities, and it’s a really exciting time,” she said. “I think Glen Cove is on a kind of cusp.”

“She worked hard,” said Brian Mercadante, owner of Accent on the Home and co-chair of the BID Capital Improvements District. “You don’t get as much credit because the city gets credit, but she always tried to make sure the BID got some credit. She did a great job for 18 years. We’re going to miss her.”

Koehler’s official last day is June 30. After that, she said, “I’m going to spend a little time decompressing and giving myself a chance to see what my life will look like going forward. Sort of in a planning phase.”