Existing Land Uses

Existing land uses downtown include a mix of residential, commercial, industrial, cultural, religious, parking, and public uses There are three larger residential projects in the southern end of downtown: 219-unit Reva Rahway on Main Street, completed in early 2020, 108-unit Meridia Water’s Edge on City Hall Plaza, completed in 2014; and the 288-unit Rahway Plaza Apartments on Main Street, constructed in the early 1970s.

Commercial

Commercial uses are generally located along Main, Irving, Cherry, and Lewis streets, with some on the fringe of the area, including Elizabeth Avenue and Broad and Essex streets. Existing commercial uses downtown are diverse, with a “fairly even split” between restaurants/bars/cafes, retail, service, and other uses.

Mixed Use

Mixed-use development most commonly contains ground-floor storefronts with apartment units above. It’s most common along Main Street, including more recent redevelopment projects such as The Mint, the 108-unit second phase of which is under construction at Poplar and Main streets; the 116-unit first phase was completed in 2020 (for a total 222 units). Other recent mixed-use redevelopment projects are also located along Irving Street, including Carriage City Plaza, which includes the Watt Hotel on the first four floors topped by apartments and condos, and the 159-unit Park Square, built in phases in the late 2000s.

Industrial

The majority of the industrial uses within downtown are located on the east side of the Rahway River. There is a cluster of automotive-related uses generally bounded by Bridge Street, Clarkson Place, and Monroe Street. There are light manufacturing uses along Elizabeth Avenue including Classic Confections, Dason Stainless, and an auto body shop.

Cultural

Cultural institutions are clustered in the northern portion of downtown along Hamilton Street and Irving Street, including Hamilton Stage, the Union County Performing Arts Center, The Gallery Spaces, Union County College, and the YMCA.

Parking

City-owned parking facilities are throughout downtown, with the largest concentration is in the southern end. Municipal Lots F and H both have frontage on Broad Street, and the 524-space parking garage, which was constructed at the intersection of Main and Lewis streets in 2004.

Public Uses

Except for the parking garage and its associated offices, public uses are located in the southernmost end of downtown. They consist of City Hall, the Recreation Center, and library along East Milton Avenue, the Post Office at Main Street and East Milton Avenue and the Fire Department along Main Street.

Parks

There are two public parks located downtown, both on the east side of the Rahway River. Lower Essex Street Park is a linear park located in the southern portion of downtown between Essex Street and the Rahway River. It includes a gazebo and a meandering gravel path dotted with fitness stations.

Wheatena Park is located in the northeast portion of downtown on the north side of Elizabeth Avenue. It includes a portion of the Rahway River Parkway, a passive recreation path with seating areas, which extends northward.