Tag Archives: East Milton Avenue

More units proposed for Carriage City’s top floor

Space on the penthouse level of Carriage City Plaza — once held out for custom-designed luxury condos during the housing boom — could feature another 20 units and other amenities for the massive downtown complex.

Continue reading More units proposed for Carriage City’s top floor

Hotel taking shape off Routes 1/9

A hotel that broke ground early this year is taking shape along East Milton Avenue, just off Routes 1/9. The four-story complex, adjacent to Best Western on Paterson Street and abutting Lennington Street, is slated to become a 93-unit Home2Suites by Hilton.
Continue reading Hotel taking shape off Routes 1/9

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.

Continue reading Catching up on Carriage City Plaza

Frame of new hotel rises along Routes 1&9

The skeleton of a new hotel that broke ground earlier this year is beginning to take shape along Routes 1&9 near Lennington Street.

Continue reading Frame of new hotel rises along Routes 1&9

Hotel eyes more meeting space, rooftop bar

Hotel Indigo has plans to re-launch its restaurant, explore the possibility of expanding its meeting space, and finally get its long-anticipated rooftop bar off the ground.

Continue reading Hotel eyes more meeting space, rooftop bar

New hotel finally breaks ground off Routes 1/9

A new hotel just off Routes 1&9 finally broke ground last month.

A four-story, 93-unit Candlewood Suites gained approval from the Planning Board in March 2009, which was later changed to become a Home2 Suites by Hilton extended stay hotel. Originally, the plan was to construct a Sleep Inn just off Routes 1&9 at the corner of East Milton Avenue and Lennington Street.

The vacant 4.4-acre site was acquired in June 2008 for $2.35 million and currently pays about $6,000 in property taxes as two parcels (Block 338, Lots 3.01 and 3.02).

The city continues to see increased revenues from the local hotel tax enacted almost a decade ago. About $55,000 was realized in the transitional year 2011 budget, covering July to October 2011. Pro-rated, that would be about $110,000, compared to $103,000 in Fiscal Year 2011, $99,000 in 2010, $58,000 in 2009 and $36,000 in 2008, according to municipal budget documents.

The state imposes a 5-percent hotel tax and municipalities are allowed to impose an additional levy of their own of as much as 3 percent. The hotel tax was created during the McGreevey administration in 2003 and Rahway enacted the local tax effective Nov. 1, 2003.

Routes 1/9 red light cameras in effect

Two years after getting state approval, the city has installed red light traffic cameras on Routes 1&9 and East Milton Avenue.

The cameras went into effect Aug. 11 after a warning phase in July. Construction is supposed to start this week on cameras at St. Georges and Maple avenues, according to Police Chief John Rodger.

A survey by the Police Department at the time state approval was sought indicated as many as 60 violations per hour at Routes 1/9-East Milton Avenue, or almost 200 a day.

8/24 UPDATE: Based on 3,000 violations per month, Rahway would receive $1.6 million in revenue each year from paid violations, according to Rodger. Originally, both intersections combined were projected at 3,200 violations per month but he said Route 1 is far exceeding initial estimates and may do 3,000 monthly on its own. Some drop-off would be expected as people get acclimated, he said. Projections for the next applications the city will submit are close to 200 per day and 150 per day, respectively, though Rodger declined identify those until they are approved.

The $55 fine is split between the county and city, which receives another $18.50 for court fees (for a total $46). An additional $55 goes to the State Highway Trust Fund, according to Rodger, and the Safe Corridor violation (along Routes 1&9) is $140.

The vendor, which is responsible for equipment, software and notification costs, will receive monthly fees of $18,200 for East Milton and $17,000 for Maple, with the city and county splitting the total $35,200 monthly fee ($422,000 annually).