Happy new year to all and with a new year always comes a look back and a look forward, so here are the top 10 most popular posts on the site during 2021.
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10. Property acquisition moving forward, March 1
The Redevelopment Agency submitted an offer for one of the six Essex Street homes included in the concept plan for the 300-unit Bridgeview proposal. As part of the same concept plan, a PSE&G substation at Clarkson Place and Monroe Street would have to be relocated and a potential site had been found.
9. MVC site to be rezoned, Sept. 7
City Council approved an ordinance to rezone the 18-acre Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) site from medium-density, single-family residential (R-2) to light industrial (I-L), or a new Port-related zone (if one is eventually created). The legislation followed through on one of the recommendations in the 2019 Master Plan Reexamination.
8. Rahway tapped for Best Small Town Arts Scene, April 2
The city was among 20 nominees for Best Small Town Arts Scene in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2021 poll. Rahway fared well among the other 19 towns with populations of less than 30,000, leading the vote for weeks but ended up finishing second to Tubac, Ariz.
7. Council supports two marijuana facilities, Dec. 20
City Council endorsed the establishment and operation of cannabis cultivation and/or manufacturing facilities at two locations: the site of the former Galaxy Diner at 293 St. Georges Ave. and 211 E. Inman Ave. Earlier in the year, City Council adopted legislation to allow five of six types of cannabis licenses — all but retail — within light industrial and heavy industrial zones.
6. New BA, police director spur reorganization, May 17
City Council approved the appointments of a new business administrator, Jacqueline Foushee, and police director, Jonathan Parham. In addition to creating the police director position, Council carved out a Department of Code Enforcement and Engineering and Land Use from the Department of Community Development.
5. First phase of Meridia Brownstones completed, Dec. 17
The first phase of Meridia Brownstones has been completed, with temporary certificates of occupancy (TCO) granted for 184 of the 298 units and 114 units outstanding until some issues are resolved.
When completed, the multi-building development will have 487 units across four, five-story building along Elizabeth Avenue, from West Grand to West Scott avenues, at the site of the former Wheatena factory and Quinn & Boden building.
4. Poll results: What’s your favorite coffee in Rahway? April 9
Among 126 votes in all, it was Melao Cafe & Creamery on Irving Street that took the top spot, outpolling its downtown neighbor, The Coffee Box, at Irving and East Cherry streets.
3. Hurricane Ida hits Rahway, Sept. 3
Rahway received almost 10 inches of rain over a 24-hour period, leaving much of it underwater, washing away the Irving Street bridge, on top of a gas leak that destroyed a River Road home.
2. A look at Rahway’s Park Score, June 24
Readers found the Trust For Public Land‘s (TPL) ParkScore interesting as I did. It estimates that 97.5% of Rahway residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park — considerably higher than the national average of 55% and only 743 of almost 30,00 residents live beyond a 10-minute walk from a park. The data tool also suggests areas for new parks.
1. Poll results: Your favorite pizza in Rahway, Feb. 25
Readers love the RahwayRising.com polls but none more than the annual-ish favorite pizza poll. It wasn’t particularly close either, with almost four times as many page views as the No. 2 and No. 3 most read posts of 2022 and popular enough to rank No. 7 all-time on the blog. Maybe it’s because the pizza poll has become a grudge match of sorts, with the title primarily passing between two local establishments over the years: Nancy’s Towne House and Il Forno a Legna.
And there you have it, the top 10 most popular posts on RahwayRising.com for 2021. Remember, if you enjoyed one of more than 100 posts (including 12 podcast this year!) that kept you informed about #Rahway in 2021, please consider supporting the site:
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Thank you to everyone who has supported the site over the past year. Happy new year to all!
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