Four years after the idea of a hair salon was rejected for the site, an Irving Street storefront gained approval Tuesday night to become art gallery and events space.
Continue reading Art gallery, event space OK’d for Irving Street
Tag Archives: Arts District
Concept for artist housing grows to 69 units
Developers of an affordable housing concept for artists hope to present their project to the Planning Board later this year as they tweak the original plan, increasing the number of units from 60 to 69 in the latest version.
Continue reading Concept for artist housing grows to 69 units
Artist housing survey launched
The developer behind a proposed affordable housing facility for artists launched a month-long online survey yesterday to help shape the Rahway Residence for the Arts, a 69-unit project planned for the former Elizabethtown Gas Building.
Retail comings and goings, Part II
Given the slow time of year, and my aim to post at least a couple of times a week, we’ll make this a part two of a retail update of sorts while I work on something more substantial for an upcoming post.
Here’s some recent turnover on the eastern end of Irving Street:
Agency amends lease, authorizes payment
The Redevelopment Agency amended an agreement to lease the Hamilton Stage for Performing Arts to the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) from 10 years to 30 years while authorizing the final $100,000 payment to the Rahway Arts District.
Agency designates redeveloper for artist housing
The Redevelopment Agency at its meeting earlier this month conditionally designated the Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation (AFHDC) as redeveloper of the former Elizabethtown Gas building on Central Avenue (Block 167, Lot 1), where it has proposed 60 units of affordable housing for artists.
Continue reading Agency designates redeveloper for artist housing
Ordinance would allow temporary, ‘pop-up’ uses
The City Council is scheduled to adopt an ordinance Monday night that would allow property owners to use vacant storefronts as “pop-up” galleries or cafes until a tenant can fill the space.
City Council President Samson Steinman said the amendment will strengthen the city’s current outdoor dining ordinance while also allowing the temporary use of vacant storefronts for such things as “pop-up” galleries or cafes.
As an example, he cited an Irving Street property currently under renovation (across from the Klavierhaus Piano Conservatory) that is likely to participate. The ordinance would amend existing regulations to include permanent or temporary food establishments and outlines the application process, which includes a $45 fee.
Pop-galleries are being employed in Chicago’s Loop area and this 2009 story from The New York Times details various neighborhoods in New York City where the initiative has been employed. Some places have even used parking spaces to create “pop-up cafes” — decked out with seating, tables and plants — including Lower Manhattan, Westport, Conn., and Austin, Texas.
Panel discussion on arts-fueled redevelopment
I’ve been invited to participate next week in a panel discussion about redevelopment and since it’s been a few months since we had a Rahway Rising happy hour, maybe you’d like to consider it and join us.
The Young Community Development Professionals Association (YCDPA) and New Jersey Emerging Arts Leaders will host the discussion on how cities are using arts to redevelop, specifically looking at efforts in Rahway to spur downtown redevelopment. The panel will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, at Nancy’s Towne House, 1453 Main St. Admission is free and will include a question-and-answer session.
The panel will include former Mayor and former Arts District executive director James Kennedy and Rodney Gilbert, founder and CEO of Yendor Productions, a Newark-based consulting firm that develops and produces arts education and programming and events.