The Rahway River is both a strength, for its green spaces and identity that it brings to the city, as well as threat, given the flooding that it creates, as recently as Hurricane Ida in September.

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Editor’s note: This the second post in a series about the 94-page downtown strategic vision plan. The Planning Board unanimously adopted the plan during a special meeting on Feb. 8. City Council was presented with the plan during its regular meeting on Feb. 14. This post focuses on the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis.

Likewise, while the train station is a strength for its connectivity and easy commute but the flip side of it is the appearance of the train trestle as a weakness. Repairing the train trestle is identified as an opportunity,

The downtown strategic vision plan identifies a half-dozen or so items in each category of the a SWOT analysis (Page 40).

Strengths

1. Train station connectivity
2. Walkable downtown
3. Historic identity
4. Labor potential
5. Easy to commute (access to multiple train lines)
6. Downtown hotel across the street from train station
7. Presence of Rahway River, which positively contributes to green spaces and city identity

Weaknesses

1. Appearance of train trestle
2. Lack of green areas in central downtown
3. Increase in building costs
4. People leave the city during the day – no patrons during business hours
5. Underutilized properties
6. Lack of diversity in uses downtown / missing amenities
7. Physical division and flood risk created by Rahway River

Opportunities

1. Repair train trestle
2. Private sector interested in development
3. Tourism incentives, e.g., Arts District
4. Opportunities for active lifestyle
5. Opportunities for updated ordinance to remove red tape for business owners
6. Recruit private sector to provide missing amenities

Threats

1. Flooding
2. Natural disasters
3. Developers that ignore cultural assets
4. E-commerce driving commercial business away from brick-and-mortar stores
5. Lingering COVID-19 threats – potential for other restrictions
6. Unknown market changes that may impact development and land uses

The strategic plan’s vision statement (Page 41) is as follows:

The Strategic Vision Plan aims to build upon downtown Rahway’s existing assets and to address its weaknesses to ensure future sustainable growth of the Downtown.

One of Downtown’s greatest resources is the arts. It is envisioned that the arts will be the central theme and building block of the Downtown to promote activity and vibrancy. The Arts Vision will be accomplished by providing space for artists to live and work, promoting complementary businesses, and facilitating strong urban design.

The overall vision for downtown Rahway centers around balance. The Downtown should have everything a resident or business needs so someone can live, work, and play — all in downtown Rahway. This will involve incorporating uses that will serve residents and employees Downtown, and will attract outside visitors. Promoting development that creates a daytime market by providing space for small and mid-size offices can accommodate missing uses Downtown, and support new and improved public spaces.

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