A stretch of West Main Street could make for a waterfront walkway or park since it’s located in a flood zone while a couple of buildings with historical architectural features also might be appropriate for a public amenity, such as an artist space or youth center.
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Editor’s note: This is the 11th part in an ongoing series about the 94-page downtown strategic vision plan that was unanimously adopted by the Planning Board during a special meeting on Feb. 8 and presented to City Council on Feb. 14. This post focuses on two of the 14 sites along and near Elizabeth Avenue.
Around the corner on Elizabeth Avenue, the downtown strategic plan recommends flexibility in permitted uses that would be compatible both with the adjacent Rahway River and Wheatena Park across the street.
East side of West Main Street between railroad and Elizabeth Avenue
Reducing the scale of existing and future development abutting the Rahway River may be an appropriate strategy, according to the strategic plan. This stretch of properties (Block 160, Lots 1-9) are shallow and are located within the floodway, as well as 100-year and 500-year flood hazard areas, which “presents significant development challenges.”
Instead of commercial or residential uses, a waterfront walkway or park with limited “complementary public facilities” could provide a multi-faceted amenity that enhances resilience during flooding events, provides public space, and creates view sheds and access to the river.
The properties include a former firehouse and American Legion building, acquired by the city in 2019, that both have historical architectural features and may be retained and used as an artist space, a youth center, or a public amenity building associated with a riverfront park.
South side of Elizabeth Avenue between West Main Street and Meridia Brownstones
Three different zones that govern this area (CBD Redevelopment Area, B-4 Service Business Zone, and I-L Light Industrial Zone) should be revised to make the entire block one zone, with an opportunity to connect Meridia Brownstones at Elizabeth and West Grand avenues to downtown.
One option would be to explore expansion of the CBD Redevelopment Area. The block currently has diverse ownership and may require the city to play a “proactive role in parcel assemblage.”
A portion of this area is located across the street from Wheatena Park, a valuable resource that can be better utilized, planners wrote in the report. The city should consider flexibility in permitted uses, according to the plan, but consider those that would be compatible with the river to the west and the park across the street.
The strategic plan suggests the city consider focusing on a variety of uses that would be compatible with this area:
- Mixed-use development that permits residential uses;
- Childcare uses that would benefit from the park across the street and be well-positioned to serve the new residential developments in the area;
- Fitness-related uses that may use the park for outdoor fitness training;
- Specialty food shops whose customers may use the park as a picnic area;
- Restaurants that may want to capitalize on the western end of the area for outdoor dining located on the river; and,
- Medical-related use complex that can capitalize on access from drivers and train users. This use should include a fitness or physical therapy use that can utilize the park.
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