Tag Archives: downtown

City Council

Council OKs water rate, taxi fare hikes

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The City Council tonight approved three separate ordinances to raise water rates and taxi fares, as well as a revised downtown redevelopment plan.

The governing body last month introduced the ordinance (O-11-13) to increase water rates as well as the ordinance (O-12-13) to increase taxi fares. Here’s a Google Map that details the taxi zone boundaries (and has more than 1,800 views).

Virtually all three ordinances were approved unanimously, 9-0, with the exception of the redevelopment plan, which had one abstention (Council President Samson Steinman). There was no comment from council members on the three measures:
O-6-13, revised redevelopment plan
O-11-13, water rates
O-12-13, taxi fares

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City Council

City Redevelopment Plan to be revised

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The City Council is set to approve a revised redevelopment plan that will consolidate more than three dozen amendments to the existing, 15-year-old redevelopment plan.

Continue reading City Redevelopment Plan to be revised →

Commercial, Downtown, restaurants, Retail

Mangos Grill on the block

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Mangos Grill, a downtown restaurant and bar on Fulton Street, is up for sale.

Woodbridge-based Kislak Realty is handling the real estate listing, describing it as “large kitchen with opulent dining room, bar and entertaining area,” as well as on-premises parking. The liquor license is available for purchase, according to the listing. No word on asking price.

The property at 1349 Fulton St. is owned by G&T, Inc., which bought it in January 2004 for $555,000. The 0.7-acre site houses a two-story building and is assessed at $518,300, yielding a property tax bill of more than $32,000 last year, according to property records.

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City Council

Artist housing PILOT approved

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The City Council passed a series of measures on Monday night aimed at bringing affordable housing targeted for people in the arts and entertainment industry to the Arts District, including a financial agreement that will provide a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT).

Continue reading Artist housing PILOT approved →

Apartments, Downtown

Property for Station Place project acquired

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Demolition of the main property for Station Place, a 116-unit rental project, likely will begin later this year after it was acquired by the redevelopment in November for almost $3 million.

Use and occupancy of the 1.3-acre property by A&M Industrial Supply runs through next month and if the Campbell Street facility is vacant by the end of March, the redeveloper expects to start demolition by mid-April, according to Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier, who briefed the Redevelopment Agency in his report last  month.

Completion of the five-story development could be approximately 18 months from the start of demolition. Building permits are expected to be obtained by February 2014. No word on where A&M Industrial Supply would be relocated, which is the responsibility of the redeveloper, Heartstone Development.

The property at 1414 Campbell St. was acquired by Metro Rahway Urban Renewal, LLC in East Hanover for $2.87 million on Nov. 20, according to property records. The 1.3-acre site currently is assessed at $974,800, for an annual property tax bill of about $57,000. The developer also acquired neighboring 1442 Campbell St. for $425,000 in 2007. The project will include 85 parking spaces on the ground level, along with another 17 on-site spaces and 18 on-street spaces.

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City Hall Plaza, library

Water’s Edge to rise over next several weeks

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Meridia Water’s Edge, a 108-unit project under construction between the library and Rahway Plaza Apartments, will begin rising significantly over the next month.

The five-story building should top out within the next five weeks, according to construction manager Jim Wendell, who briefed the Redevelopment Agency at its Jan. 9 meeting. Trusses are ready to be shipped and the building will be “really going vertical in the next four to five weeks,” he said. “It’ll really be coming alive.”

The development being built adjacent to the Center Circle complex originally was scheduled to be completed by May, and groundbreaking occurred last spring.

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Apartments, Downtown

Lot B: A street runs through it

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Monroe Street would stretch across Main Street between two five-story apartment buildings and connect with West Cherry Street in a concept plan presented to the Redevelopment Agency last month.

Continue reading Lot B: A street runs through it →

Downtown, Rahway, Redevelopment Agency

Redevelopment Agency marketing plan

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A 30-minute video chronicling redevelopment history and the key players behind it, a pocket-size downtown map of significant projects, and a tablet/smartphone app were among the tools presented to the Redevelopment Agency by a marketing firm to lure potential developers.

The DavidHenry Agency presented a video and demonstrated an app at the Dec. 10 Redevelopment Agency meeting, outlining the history of redevelopment in Rahway, along with the efforts of the agency and city officials, and highlighting several key projects. The Redevelopment Agency awarded a $135,500 contract in May to the Westfield-based marketing firm.

The priciest items in the contract were about $18,000 each for print/production of a folder and brochure; a website with social media integration including layout content and design; and, an interactive project development app. David Fink of The DavidHenry Agency said the demo will be a platform to lure developers with the brochures and websites.

In addition to the 30-minute DVD, the development app was demonstrated at the December Redevelopment Agency meeting. The app can be viewed on a smartphone or tablet and provides information and background, including video, about various projects within the city. A website specifically dedicated for the Redevelopment Agency is not yet live and the agency also has a Twitter account, LinkedIn account, and Facebook page. UPDATE: The Redevelopment Agency website is now live, including the video.

The video features excerpts from interviews with city officials, including Redevelopment Director and former longtime City Administrator Peter Pelissier, Redevelopment Agency Chairman William Rack, former Mayor James Kennedy, and other developers and officials. (Conspicuously absent from the video, other than perhaps a passing reference as the current mayor, is Mayor Rick Proctor.). The video lasts a considerable 30 minutes but is broken down into about five chapters, including one of near canonization of former Mayor Kennedy that’s almost to the point of embarrassment.

Redevelopment Agency Secretary Cindy Solomon said the agency will be sending packets to developers and the video will play at Hamilton Stage, other facilities as well as the local cable access channel.

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