Tag Archives: downtown

East Cherry Street lighting project

Work is expected to begin this week on the East Cherry Street lighting project, which should be completed by the end of August.

City Council, at its May meeting, awarded a $90,600 contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Rahway-based Berto Construction.

City Administrator and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier said there had been complaints about the existing electric gas lamps which were difficult to maintain and costly to operate. They will be replaced with gas electric lamps.

Funds for streetscape improvements will come from federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), according to Pelissier.

Here’s a story from MyCentralJersey.com last month about a local merchant worried that the lighting project and related utility work will disrupt business.

Effort to revive chamber of commerce

Nearly a decade after it dissolved, the Rahway Chamber of Commerce is making a comeback. The Chamber will host its first meeting, open to the public and non-members, Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Masonic Temple on Irving Street.

Continue reading Effort to revive chamber of commerce

Agency may buy burned out E. Cherry property

Although 65 E. Cherry St. may be beyond repair, the Redevelopment Agency might make an offer on the property.

City Administrator and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier told commissioners at their meeting earlier this month that the property may be worth $75,000 but demolition costs could run as much as $65,000.

Continue reading Agency may buy burned out E. Cherry property

Obvious who developers support in Dem primary

A quick look around town will show you who developers are supporting in next week’s Democratic primary. Campaign signs appear in the windows and on the buildings of several properties owned by developers: the sales office of SkyView at Carriage City Plaza (above) and the former Dornoch offices (still owned by Dornoch) at 1513 Main St. (right).

and the building on the corner of East Milton Avenue and Main Street (below), purchased in 2008 by Landmark Companies, which is building Park Square, the 159-unit rental project at Elizabeth Avenue and Irving Street. CORRECTION: I’ve been told the space the corner of East Milton and Main was rented by the Proctor campaign and is not an endorsement by Landmark.

The June 8 primary will be the city’s first contested primary in about 20 years. City Health Officer Rick Proctor, also a county freeholder and the municipal Democratic chairman, got the backing of the local party, while former Housing Authority chairwoman Renee Thrash is running off the line. Three at-large council seats are up, with incumbents James Baker, Sal Mione and Nancy Saliga challenged by Yvonne Wesley, Lynn Parker and Grace Jacquet. The Republican primary is uncontested, with local GOP chairman Patrick Cassio running for mayor with council at-large candidates James Grady, Kevin Retcho and Jeff Spatola.

Mayor James Kennedy, a Democrat, decided not to seek re-election this year after five, four-year terms. He plans to remain as unpaid executive director of the nonprofit Rahway Arts District, which now receives funding generated by the Special Improvement District (SID).

Art sneaking into downtown

The first of several planned public art pieces recently went up in the alley between Main Street and the River Place parking lot.

A few more murals are expected to go up in the alley over the next few months and others are tentatively planned, according to Jim McKeon of the Art Hive.

The Art Hive also will take over space in the former Main Street Barber Shop storefront on Main Street. McKeon expects the first official opening at the site this summer.

The space is three times the size of the East Cherry Street storefront and will allow up to eight artists. The Main Street building will be the first of a pilot program to transform empty store windows into art exhibitions, McKeon said, along with new awnings.

Dirt makes way for more parking near Lot B

Temporary sidewalks have been constructed along The Savoy site in recent weeks. The site has stockpiled some of the dirt from across the street adjacent to Lot B where additional surface parking is planned this summer.

Continue reading Dirt makes way for more parking near Lot B