Not good news for those of you hoping to see a Trader Joe’s downtown anytime soon.
Tag Archives: Main Street
Town Center scaling back, has new developer
The Town Center project, originally proposed 18 months ago as a massive residential-retail plan for property around City Hall, has a new developer and scaled-back plans.
Continue reading Town Center scaling back, has new developer
Cubanu gets 2 1/2 stars
Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. Rest assured we’re getting back in the swing here working on some updates for the coming week.
In the meantime, check out this review last week in where Cubanu received 2 1/2 stars from The Star-Ledger’s food critic.
This was our take last year when the restaurant opened. We’ve been back a few times and our opinion probably hasn’t changed much; it’s still a solid visit, but we’d agree with some commenters that service can be spotty at times for dinner, though the drinks and bar area can be a great visit. I’ve heard the busiest night tends to be Thursday for the free salsa lessons and dancing.
Study to evaluate parking deck, needs
A consultant will evaluate downtown parking needs, including the feasibility of constructing a deck on Lot B (behind East Cherry Street) and adding two levels to the Main Street deck. A preliminary report to the Parking Authority is expected by the end of the year.
Until the residential housing meltdown of the last several years, the parking deck at Lot B (photo, below left) was to be part of The Westbury by Dornoch, which is also constructing The Savoy. Original plans included a 324-space, five-story parking deck, 150 condos and 17,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.
Instead, the Parking Authority and the city will take the lead on the Lot B garage. City Administrator and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier said the developer would be back-charged for each unit that would require a space in the deck. Changes also will require renegotiations to the redevelopment agreement with Dornoch, which could take several months, said Redevelopment Agency attorney Frank Regan.
Developers have spent about $5.5 million i
n recent years to assemble properties for The Westbury project, according to Regan. That total could surpass $7 million once they acquire the Greek-American Deli on Main Street and a Parking Authority parcel, he added, and so the project has simply become too cost prohibitive to put together at this point.
In an interview after last week’s Parking Authority meeting, Chairman Matt Dobrowolski said there’s already been discussion with the city administration about a possible third location for a parking deck. “We’re looking long-term, not just the Dornoch project,” he said. Adding two levels at the Main Street deck (photo, right) is more difficult with Carriage City Plaza now constructed, he said, but they have the ability to do it although it won’t solve the Lot B issue.
The Main Street deck took about a year to erect and Dobrowolski expects the same timeline with the Lot B deck. Opened in December 2004, the six-story, 524-space deck cost $11 million — $3 million of which is to be paid back to NJ Transit.
Some street parking to be restored
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.
Steel going up at The Savoy
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.
Old signs of downtown
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.
Arts space for old Woolworth building
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 approximat
ely 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.