Monthly Archives: January 2021

Rahway

12: Bridgeview agreement, new contracts for director

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The concept calls for the development of the entire block around Clarkson Place, Essex, Monroe and Bridge Street — which includes a PSE&G substation at the corner of Monroe Street and Clarkson Place. The pre-development agreement allows the agency to be involved in property acquisition, according to Redevelopment Director Robert Landolfi.

The agency likely will be involved in the acquisition of at least one foreclosed property and it’s easier for the agency to deal with PSE&G than a private developer, Landolfi said. While the agency can’t condemn the property, he said it can help identify another property for the utility. The five-story Bridgeview concept would be about 300 units across two buildings — one with 140 units and another with 160 units — on the entire block. The original concept plan had developers acquiring five parcels of about 1.8 acres. The newer plan includes 11 properties that total about 3.25 acres.

There have been instances in Rahway where original concepts didn’t make it through the final version partly because of property acquisition. Listen to the podcast for more on that.

Looking ahead:

There are no scheduled municipal meetings this week: City Council will next meet Feb. 8. The Redevelopment Agency’s next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 17. But something is coming this week: Look out for a new reader poll out early this week – be sure to vote.

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City Council, Rahway, Redevelopment Agency

Director’s contracts renewed

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The Redevelopment Agency and City Council renewed contracts totaling $130,000 with its executive director and administrator, respectively, through 2021.

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Apartments, Downtown, Rahway, Redevelopment Agency

Pre-development agreement approved

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A proposed 300-unit development across the river from downtown could be built in phases depending on property acquisition, which would ideally include relocating a PSE&G substation.

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Downtown, Rahway, Retail, Routes 1/9, St Georges Avenue

11: Skeptical of Supermarkets

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One of the most frequent conversations among readers is about bringing a supermarket to downtown Rahway. It’s been the subject of the occasional reader poll and there was even a campaign five years ago to lobby Trader Joe’s to open in town.

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That’s not to say there aren’t options in and around downtown Rahway. The Cherry Street Market has been around a long time. There’s also Universal Meat Supermarket on Elizabeth Avenue and Rahway Farm in the Deals Plaza on St. Georges Avenue, a half-mile from downtown.

Matt Casey of Rahway-based Matthew P. Casey and Associates has been analyzing supermarket retail for more than 30 years. He helps open new grocery stories, conducting feasibility studies on a geographic area, studies the best places to build a story and projects how much business a store might do.

I spoke with Casey for a blog post in 2017 and it was among the most popular posts that year. I thought it would make for a good podcast episode to revisit the supermarket conversation with him. We talked back in October as I was brainstorming ideas for podcast episodes and not much has changed. We discussed the local options in and around Rahway and why it’s so difficult to attract one to Rahway..

We also discussed the cult of Trader Joe’s, the rise of home delivery during COVID and its short- and long-term impact on the supermarket industry, and what a Rahway market would have to do to compete. “If I’m doing a supermarket study for an individual who wants to open a supermarket in downtown Rahway — or anywhere — my first question is going to be what are you going to do different, what are you going to offer the customer that’s unique or different that’s going to change a customer’s mind from ordering from Walmart” and having it delivered to your door within two hours.

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City Council, Rahway

City Council approves appointments

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Amid tens of appointment and reorganization resolutions to start the year, City Council approved various appointments to Planning and Zoning boards and the Redevelopment Agency.

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Bars, Commercial, Downtown, Rahway, restaurants, Retail, Routes 1/9, St Georges Avenue

Second round of business grants available

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Another $250,000 in forgivable loans grants will be available to eligible businesses in a second round of Rahway CARES Act funding. Eligible businesses can receive up to $4,000.

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Apartments, City Council, Rahway

City Council moves on new redevelopment agreement

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City Council introduced an ordinance to accept changes to the financial agreement for Meridia Brownstones, a 487-unit at the former Wheatena site that recently cut the ribbon on its first phase.

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Apartments, Downtown, Rahway

Abstract of ratables, 2020

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The total taxable value of Rahway properties grew last year by $4.5 million, or 0.32 percent, with the industrial class inching up for the first time in years while residential assessments increased their share of assessments to a recent high of almost 68 percent of the city’s value.

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