01 JC Cover - Central Avenue Special Improvement District

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JERSEY CITY : Gateway to Opportunity
Special Improvement Districts: Public–Private
Clockwise from top left: 1. Christopher Columbus stands high above the activity of Journal Square. 2. Jersey City Heights residents and workers all love the frozen treats of Amourville Ice
Cream. 3. The Plaza at McGinley Square. 4. The sights and aromas of Goehrig's Bakery are simply irresistible! 5. The Grove Street PATH Station entrance mirrors the surrounding area.
YEARS AGO, EACH TOWN HAD A MAIN STREET THAT FORMED THE
heart of the community. As towns grew into cities, and cities became large
urban municipalities, several Main Streets developed into the heart of various
neighborhoods. This is especially true in Jersey City.
To keep these areas thriving and operating in great condition, the State of New
Jersey initiated a Special Improvement District (SID) program in the Township of
Cranford in 1985. A SID enables property owners and merchants to form a local
management association—usually a non-profit corporation—with the authority to
collect voluntary special assessments from area businesses (residential properties
within the districts are exempt from these assessments). These assessments—which
are matched with Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) funds—may be used to finance
new sidewalks as well as building façade improvements, extra security, sidewalk
and street cleaning services, special events, marketing and promotional ventures
and much more. Funds may also be utilized for hiring a professional manager to
oversee the district and to administer programs that will attract consumers and
recruit new member businesses.
Special Improvement Districts are created by municipal ordinance and are managed
locally with ongoing technical assistance provided by the New Jersey Department
of Community Affairs. The SIDs are grassroots organizations that are driven by community
support. Jersey City’s Special Improvement Districts have been in position
since the establishment of the Central Avenue SID in 1992. Today, there are a total of
four SIDs in Jersey City—the Central Avenue Special Improvement District, the
Historic Downtown Special Improvement District, the Journal Square Restoration
Corporation and the McGinley Square Special Improvement District. Each works to
maintain and improve the unique character of their neighborhoods while attracting
shoppers and new businesses.
The Jersey City Economic Development Corp. Urban Enterprise Zone program
oversees the SID program and assists the SIDs with their operations and with writing
proposals, budgeting and finding professional managers. Jersey City Economic
4 NOVEMBER 12, 2007 ● Special Supplement to NJBIZ
All photos courtesy of Jones & Associates Communications, © 2007
Development Corp. Chief Executive Officer Eugene Nelson explains that the area’s
SIDs act as lifelines in neighborhoods. “Our Special Improvement Districts protect
local businesses and aid in their growth. They also stabilize residential property values
and improve the quality of life for everyone. We are very proud of their development
and of the roles they play in making Jersey City New Jersey’s premier municipality,”
Nelson says.
THE CENTRAL AVENUE SID
Located 100 feet up on the Palisades, the Heights section of Jersey City is home
to more than 60,000 people—about one-quarter of Jersey City’s population. Its threequarter-mile-long
main street—Central Avenue—runs from North Street to
Manhattan Avenue.
The Central Avenue Special Improvement District—Jersey City’s very first SID—
includes more than 240 businesses. The organization is dedicated to assisting businesses
while preserving the highly valued traditional neighborhood quality that is so
unique to the area. “We are especially proud of the fact that we offer an incredible variety
of shopping, dining and services and that many of our member businesses are
fourth-generation,” states Central Avenue SID Executive Director David Diaz. A sevenmember
Board of Trustees—who volunteer their time with no monetary compensation—governs
the SID. “Our Board members—Michael Yun, Gilbert Mendez,
Domingo Handal, Sanford Fishman, Gary Solomon, Marco LoShiavo and Grace
Cutri—take great pride in fulfilling their obligation to care for Jersey City as good
neighbors,” Diaz says.
Heights residents need not venture any further than Central Avenue to handle
nearly all of their needs. Stores and offices along the way offer opportunities for purchasing
apparel and accessories, groceries, books and magazines, hardware, furniture,
carpeting and home furnishings, electronics, flowers, groceries, produce, meat, fish,
health care needs and gifts galore. The Avenue is also dotted with doctors’, attorneys’
and other professional offices as well as banks, dry cleaners, hair salons and barber-