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Some street parking to be restored

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After meeting with the Traffic Bureau on Monday, City Administrator and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier said areas around downtown have been identified to restore some parking spaces lost after two-way traffic was established. He estimated between 20 and 30 spaces might return and it would happen as soon as signage and striping can be completed, which he said could be a couple of weeks. About 40 spaces were lost initially.

Some of the parking spaces to be restored include two to three spots on East Milton just under the train tracks and on Main Street opposite the retail stores, where one owner said his business has dropped off by as much as 50 percent since on-street parking was eliminated.

In an interview after last week’s City Council pre-meeting conference, Pelissier also mentioned other long-term possibilities to address downtown parking: something on Coach Street to accommodate the arts center, and the corner of Elizabeth Avenue and Main Street, which currently houses a construction trailer for the Park Square project.

Changes in the Parking Authority’s rates that took effect Aug. 1 include the first 30 minutes free in the Main Street deck.

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Renaissance bumped up to 88 units

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With two more properties acquired since May, developers of Renaissance at Rahway have boosted the number of units from about 64 to 88. Representatives came before the Redevelopment Agency Wednesday night for approval.

In May, Rahway Rising reported that Renaissance had acquired five of the eight properties necessary and would move ahead with 64 rental units and possibly include a second phase once other properties were secured. Developers have since acquired Lots 5 and 8 of Block 379, leaving only Lot 1 (the corner of Monroe Street and East Grand Avenue). The revised project entails Lots 2 to 8.

Originally, the project was to be 72 condos, an even split of one- and two-bedroom units. Now the project will be 88 rental units (80 two-bedroom, 8 one-bedroom) in the five-story structure, with 88 parking spaces on the ground level.

Redevelopment Agency commissioners had some concerns about having enough parking (only one per unit, regardless of bedrooms) and whether parking would be covered (the property creates a triangle in the center of the building where spaces in the middle might be uncovered), but ultimately gave their consent. Commissioners preferred the parking be covered but developers are considering both schemes.

Entrance to the residences will be at the corner of Montgomery Street and East Grand Avenue, though it will no longer be a corner since the development includes building over Montgomery Street from East Grand to Monroe. Parking will be accessed from Monroe, near the present corner of Montgomery, essentially where the former Triangle Inn currently stands.

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Condos, Downtown

Steel going up at The Savoy

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Steel began to rise about two weeks ago at The Savoy after months of what appeared to be little tangible activity at the site. Steel for the project had been expected to arrive since February.

Occupancy at one point had been scheduled for June 2007 (according to this December 2006 release), but now is targeted for April 2009, according to Ralph Pascale, sales manager for Maplewood Homes, a division of Dornoch Holdings.

In addition to steel shortages in the construction industry, the project was slowed down by state regulations that require archaeological studies to be done in certain areas. Work is also being done to renovate the sales trailer across the street and remove a pile of dirt from the site, Pascale said.

The four-story project at 1551 Main St. will have 36 two-bedroom and two-bath condos ranging from 1,150 to 2,000 square feet, with street-level retail and underground parking. According to those red banners on fencing at the site (photo left), units will start at $315,000.

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Old signs of downtown

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AM New York had a neat online feature recently about all kinds of signs — vintage, odd and quirky — around New York City. It reminded me of a few photos taken downtown, as well as a story last year about what was “unearthed” after the buildings across from The Savoy were knocked down. I couldn’t find that original story I saw but The Rahway Center Partnership has something in the window about it (photo, above left) by Tony Giaccobbe:

The mural likely dates to the late 1800s when the building stood alone. It was the home of Jay-Dee Furniture and before that for many years the Marks Harris department store.

The mural is since gone (photo left) and the buildings eventually will make way for The Westbury and its parking deck. One of my favorite signs downtown is the old Robinson’s paint sign on Main Street (above, right), which last I heard has plans to become an upscale wine and cheese shop or liquor store at some point. Certainly there are more elsewhere in Rahway but these are just some shots from walking around downtown.

Downtown looks a lot different than it did even just a few years ago, and with the current and future construction, it’s likely to change even more, but hopefully it can retain some of their character amidst all of the new structures. I’m really only familiar with the Rahway of the last 10 years or so, but I’m sure some of you longtime residents can share some interesting anecdotes and stories about what used to be where.

And then there’s this AMNY story about New York City’s ugliest buildings that reminded me of another potential future post, if anyone has any local suggestions.

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Downtown, Polls, Traffic

Two-way traffic, good; Stop signs, bad

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Readers are pleased that downtown traffic is going two ways now, but not very happy about all the Stop signs. It seems they’re not nearly as upset as some merchants about the loss of street parking.

Continue reading Two-way traffic, good; Stop signs, bad →

Commercial, Downtown, restaurants, Retail

From West Scott to East Cherry

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East Cherry Street will be getting “Just A Little Healthier” when the eatery moves in to replace a former soul food establishment by late August or early September.

Whether it becomes a second location or relocates from its current West Scott Avenue digs is “still up in the air,” owner/founder Ron Livingston said in a telephone interview last week.

Just A Little Healthier opened at 228 W. Scott Ave. about a year-and-a-half ago, focusing on low-fat, low-carb offerings and even got a write-up in The New York Times last October. Livingston said the location at 95 E. Cherry St. opened up some time after he started looking into a downtown space, and signed a five-year lease.

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Arts space for old Woolworth building

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A multi-purpose arts space will fill the former Woolworth building, 1433 Main St., at least for the near future.

The property was acquired by Landmark Companies, developers of Park Square, but has been leased to Rahway Cafe and Stage for two years until they come up with a plan for it. Eric Harvitt of Landmark Companies said they’re still deciding on concept proposals for the property.

The approximately 6,000-square-foot space will be used for practice/rehearsals, showcases and receptions while the front area will be open all the time as a cafe/lounge and retail area selling the works of local artists, according to general manager Marc Calamares.

“We figured the space would be perfect for our purpose, and would also coincide in the direction in which the city wants to move,” said Calamares, who expects to open before the end of this month.

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Park Square update: October

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The first rental units of Park Square are expected to come on line by October. Once the exterior brickwork is finished on the four-story development, streetscape along Irving Street will begin, with a target of Sept. 1.

Certificates of occupancy will be done by floor — about 20 units at a time — said Eric Harvitt of Keasbey-based Landmark Companies during a tour of the project earlier this month.

The Main Street side of the project (right) is expected to be completed in about 18 months and should move quicker since there are no design decisions to make, as it’s very similar to the Irving Street structure.

Park Square will have 159 rental apartments: 63 units on Irving along with 7,000 square feet of retail space, and 96 units on Main Street, with a courtyard and driveway between the two buildings. Retail tenants also are expected to begin operation by the fall; they are in discussions with a coffee/teahouse and an optometrist.

The project broke ground more than a year ago and occupies a block of downtown that once housed, among other things, a bank, hardware store, boarding house, gas station and thrift shop.

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