A plan for the former Savoy site downtown is scheduled to be heard by the Planning Board Tuesday night, with five fewer units than originally proposed to the Redevelopment Agency early this year.
Tag Archives: downtown
‘Destination’ retail tenants sought for Carriage City
The ground-floor retail and commercial space at Carriage City Plaza (CCP) has gone through a few tenants since it was constructed in 2008. Original plans (pre-recession) had a restaurant in mind. Eventually, a dry cleaner and coffee shop came and went and the lone tenant among several spaces is an Edward Jones investment office.
Continue reading ‘Destination’ retail tenants sought for Carriage City
Catching up on Carriage City Plaza
As many as 85 to 90 percent of the 160 rental units in Sky View at Carriage City Plaza are typically occupied, according to Joe LoMonaco, manager of 80 E. Milton Ave., LLC., which acquired the property last fall when it had the loan assigned to it during the foreclosure process.
City Council approves sidewalk cafe ordinance
The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday night to regulate sidewalk cafes, including an annual $500 fee for a license.
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City considers review of redevelopment plans
The city may consider reviewing and updating the nearly 15-year-old redevelopment plan that set the tone for the downtown construction over the past several years.
Continue reading City considers review of redevelopment plans
Revisiting Rahway’s Walk Score
One of our early blog posts was taking a look at a then-new site called Walk Score and examining how Rahway stacked up against neighbors and other redeveloping towns when it came to its Walk Score.
What would you like to see in this space?
While I’m on vacation this week, I thought I’d try a new feature that I picked up from some Patch.com local news sites, profiling some vacant storefronts and spaces and asking readers what they’d like to see in that space.
The ground-floor space of the two-story building at 69 E. Cherry St. has been vacant for some time (perhaps it had something to do with neighboring a burned out beauty supply shop for several years until it collapsed.). Previously, the space was occupied by Royal Treasure Antiques. The sign indicates 1,500 to 1,600 square feet plus basement are available immediately, along with one off-street parking space. No word on what the going rate per square foot might be.
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| (November 2010) |
In 2010, owners of the building approached the Redevelopment Agency about siting a Mexican restaurant and bakery, which never panned out.
Rather than post a poll, I thought I’d make it an open-ended discussion int the comments section. Fire away — just be respectful and try to be constructive (as opposed to incoherent and obnoxious).
Council to introduce sidewalk cafe ordinance
The City Council is scheduled to introduce an ordinance at its regular meeting Wednesday night, establishing regulations and licensing for outdoor sidewalk cafes. The ordinance (O-19-12) would come up for a public hearing and final approval at the July 9 pre-conference/regular meeting, and would take effect 20 days after/if it’s signed by the mayor.
The annual application for a sidewalk cafe would be accompanied by a $500 fee. The fee would cover the cost of the location being inspected and plans reviewed by the police chief, fire chief, city engineer, health officer and construction official.
Director of the Department of Building, Planning and Economic Development Richard Watkins told the governing body tonight that there is no existing ordinance and the city needs a method to regulate and license the practice since it would be a private business operating in the public right of way, requiring indemnification to protect the city as well as neighbors. The ordinance would require a minimum of six feet of paved sidewalk and not operate past 10:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and certain holidays).
Watkins said that Hotel Indigo has expressed interest in a sidewalk cafe and while no other restaurants have yet to do the same, he’s hopeful others will follow. Until now, eateries have had sidewalk seating under special arrangements with the city, he said. BYOB restaurants would be included in the ordinance.
Watkins estimated the process of filing an application until approval for a restaurant might take two to three weeks.