How to Encourage and Enhance Investment in Your Downtown – From Infrastructure to Management and Marketing

How To Make Your Downtown a Success

Every downtown has its own character and issues. Recognizing your obstacles and your opportunities – not copying another municipality –is the key to success. Attendees learned how to embrace their town’s identity; understand their trade area; understand the ever-changing world of retail; how to attract unique downtown retailers; and the value of independently owned businesses and how to support them.

Among the questions this session addressed:

  • How do we know what retail will be successful in our communities?
  • How do developers evaluate a downtown to ensure project success? Are financial or other incentives necessary incentives to make the project financially feasible?
  • What are examples of proactive downtown recruitment techniques?
  • How has the downtown rental market changed or recovered since the 2007-8 recession?
  • How can new temporary/semi-permanent uses (for example: pop-up uses, parklets, “take back the streets” bicycle- and pedestrian-only days, etc.) offer added value to owners and other tenants?

Panelists:

  • Hon. Pasquale Menna Esq., Mayor, Borough of Red Bank (Moderator)
  • Joe Getz, President, Community InsightsSM, JGSC Group LLC
  • James Hughes, Keller Williams Realty – New Jersey Metro Group
  • Stephen Santola Esq., General Counsel, Woodmont Properties
  • Bob Zuckerman, South Orange Village Center Alliance

This panel was coordinated by Downtown New Jersey as part of the in-person 2016 NJLM Annual Conference, so there is no video of session.

 

DNJ Events

2025 dnj retail trends

Retail Reset: Trends Shaping the Future of Downtowns

June 26, 2025 – Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring experts in development, retail strategy, design, and dealmaking. This session will explore emerging retail trends impacting walkable downtowns, strategies for attracting and retaining tenants, and the evolving relationship between restaurants and retail.

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