FROM THE STAR LEDGER (Newhouse Newspapers)
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Jamesburg needs people for revitalization project
BY SHARON ADARLO
Star-Ledger Staff
The Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition tasked to improve the borough's downtown is made up of business owners and municipal officials, but the panel is missing a vital component, organizers say.
"Residents," said Teddy Eh mann, a member of the coalition. "We don't have enough residents involved."
In a campaign to involve more people, the coalition has been ac cepting nominations from residents who would like to run for president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the organization.
"We really need people," said Ehmann, owner of Family Framers in the downtown. "We really need hundreds of people in the initial phase of the project."
To attract more residents, coalition members have been attending borough events such as the carriage rides and the Christmas tree lighting to hand out "I Love Jamesburg" bumper stickers and spread the word.
Elliott Stroul, the organization's chairman, was excited that their recruitment meeting on Dec. 4 at tracted new faces.
"We had a good turnout," Stroul said. "It exceeded our ex pectations."
The volunteer-run coalition is going to need as many townspeople as they can get, Stroul and Ehmann said.
They are soliciting suggestions on what could revitalize the downtown, which has seen better days. Vacant lots are scattered through Jamesburg, heavy traffic crawls through Railroad Avenue and residents try to cross the busy streets. Many residents feel the downtown's tired appearance deters people from stopping to explore the borough's stores.
Suggestions include adding re tail stores, an entertainment center and annual festivals that draw people from the surrounding area.
"People have said we need a coffee shop, jewelry store or shoe store," Stroul said. "They are reasons to shop in town."
A previous plan for improving Jamesburg's downtown was prepared in 1997, but never got off the ground, Ehmann said. Recent at tempts have included discussions with developers, but coalition members and municipal officials said they don't want to consider redevelopment and eminent domain.
The coalition members said they hope to eventually partner with the state Department of Community Affairs in the later phases of the revitalization project.
For now, the coalition has formed an association with stu dents from Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
It's a cost-effective solution for the cash-strapped organization and provides a helpful tool to the Rutgers students, who will get work experience redesigning the borough's downtown and suggesting alternatives that would be considered by the coalition.
The students plan to present their suggestions to the coalition in May.
"We want people to bring their ideas," Stroul said.
Rutgers is scheduled to make a presentation to the coalition Feb. 17 at borough hall. The next regular meeting is Jan. 18, when the coalition plans to adopt a constitution and elect officers.