It’s the end of yet another year. Happy new year and stay safe whatever your plans for new year’s. In the meantime, have a look at the most viewed stories (by number of page views) posted on the site in 2019:
10. State of the City 2019, April 2
In his first State of the City since being elected to his first four-year term, Mayor Raymond Giacobbe announced the appointment of a new city administrator (who would later not bow out of the post before being made permanent), a plan to install more than 3 miles of bike lanes, efforts to develop a comprehensive parking plan, and the usual updates on redevelopment projects and new businesses.
9. St. Mark’s Church building demolished, April 10
Demolition of the former St. Mark’s Church building on Hamilton Street actually began the previous summer but paused for several months before being razed this past spring.
8. St. Mark’s to be studied for potential redevelopment, Feb. 13
The first step in the redevelopment process, City Council by resolution directed the Planning Board to study the former St. Mark’s Church property and five adjacent properties, to determine if they qualify for a condemnation redevelopment area under state law.
7. A brief update on current redevelopment projects, Aug. 19
Just an update on three redevelopment projects under way during 2019: The 219-unit Reva Rahway at the former site of the Center Circle on Main Street; the first, 112-unit phase of the 208-unit Main & Monroe on Monroe Street between Main and East Cherry; and the first, 172-unit phase of the 487-unit Brownstones at the former Wheatena site on Elizabeth Avenue.
6. Interim city administrator appointed, Jan. 7
A week after the previous city administrator stepped down, City Council approved a contract for an interim business administrator.
5. Study to examine downtown housing, Feb. 18
City Council awarded a $24,000 contract for the “services of a firm specializing in analyzing market characteristics, assessing its need for additional housing, and creating a framework for econometric analysis consulting services to perform” the work located in the Central Business District.
4. City to acquire site where jazz club was planned, Nov. 12
City Council began the process of acquiring three lots, for $550,000, at the corner of Irving Street and Seminary Avenue where KC Jazz Club had been proposed years earlier.
3. City to buy American Legion building, May 1
Another city acquisition, this time the home of American Legion James E. Mackie Post No. 499 on West Main Street for $77,500.
2. Industrial property sold for $19.5 million, Oct. 21
The property, at 970 New Brunswick Ave., has previously won multi-year tax appeals and sold for almost $20 million, according to the Edison-based realtor that represented the seller.
1. Downtown parking plan unveiled, Aug. 30
The city revamped parking regulations in and around downtown, which came out of the earlier parking study that was commissioned. Keep an eye out on the blog for more on the parking study in the coming weeks.
