LATEST ARTICLES

Annual NJ Downtown Conference Explores Big Ideas for Downtowns

October 19, 2023 – We gathered in Red Bank for the 2023 NJ Downtown Conference & Excellence Awards where industry experts provided insights about downtown management best practices.

2023 NJ Downtown Excellence Awards Announced

We’re please to announce the recipients of the 2023 Downtown Excellence Awards. Join us at the NJ Downtown Conference in Red Bank on October 19th to celebrate their achievements.

Downtown Hackensack, New Jersey: A Gem of the Garden State’s Downtowns

In the past ten years, Hackensack has undergone an amazing metamorphosis, which is a genuine testament to the amazing work done by the amazing leadership of the City of Hackensack and the Main Street Business Alliance.

Creating A Unique Art Program to Invigorate Your Business District

Art Programs have long been recognized as valuable business district placemaking programs. In large cities like NYC and Los Angeles, public art installations are commonplace, but there are many advantages of art programming for smaller townships as well.

Strategies for Safer Streets: How Business Improvement Districts Lead the Way

As New Jersey’s largest cities continue to face unprecedented levels of homelessness and instability caused by inflation and an increase in evictions, place management organizations are taking the lead on tackling complicated quality of life and public safety issues that impact our central business districts.

Local News: The Lifeblood for Your Town’s Business Community

Local news is the lifeblood of any community. A high-quality local news outlet allows residents to be more engaged and involved in the community.

Archives

2023

2023 Annual NJ Downtown Conference Explores Big Ideas for Downtowns
October 19, 2023 - We gathered in Red Bank for the 2023 NJ Downtown Conference & Excellence Awards where industry experts provided insights about downtown management best practices.
2023 2023 NJ Downtown Excellence Awards Announced
We're please to announce the recipients of the 2023 Downtown Excellence Awards. Join us at the NJ Downtown Conference in Red Bank on October 19th to celebrate their achievements.
2023 Downtown Hackensack, New Jersey: A Gem of the Garden State’s Downtowns
In the past ten years, Hackensack has undergone an amazing metamorphosis, which is a genuine testament to the amazing work done by the amazing leadership of the City of Hackensack and the Main Street Business Alliance.
2023 Creating A Unique Art Program to Invigorate Your Business District
Art Programs have long been recognized as valuable business district placemaking programs. In large cities like NYC and Los Angeles, public art installations are commonplace, but there are many advantages of art programming for smaller townships as well.
2023 Strategies for Safer Streets: How Business Improvement Districts Lead the Way
As New Jersey’s largest cities continue to face unprecedented levels of homelessness and instability caused by inflation and an increase in evictions, place management organizations are taking the lead on tackling complicated quality of life and public safety issues that impact our central business districts.
2023 Local News: The Lifeblood for Your Town’s Business Community
Local news is the lifeblood of any community. A high-quality local news outlet allows residents to be more engaged and involved in the community.
2023 Meet us in Atlantic City for the League
The League of Municipalities Conference brings the "who's who" of the Garden State to Atlantic City for a few days of seminars, educational credits, and networking.
2023 The Charm of Downtown Red Bank
Nestled along the picturesque banks of the Navesink River, downtown Red Bank stands as a vibrant and enchanting hub of cultural, culinary, and commercial activity.
2023 Many Hands Make Light Work: Best Practices for Quality Downtown Event Programming
Downtown events play a vital role in enhancing the vibrancy and economic vitality of main streets across the world. Organizing successful events requires careful planning, collaboration, and effective marketing strategies. Montclair Center shares tips based on their experience.
2023 Make Your Restaurant Week an Economic Catalyst
One of the great pleasures in life is eating and drinking with family and friends. A strong dining scene (combined with public art, walkable streets, and streetscape design) can draw shoppers to Downtown districts and promote overall economic development in communities. Explore Millburn-Short Hills shares success stories and lessons learned from their first restaurant week.
2023 Business Improvement Districts Get Places “Investment Ready”
Delivering value and having an impact with limited resources is always a challenge. BIDs are often presented with issues similar to the municipalities in which they operate. Commercial District Services explains how BIDs play a tremendous role in demonstrating the investment readiness of a place.
2023 Elevate Your PR Game in Summer 2023: Trends, Strategies, and Success Tips
Make a splash this summer and take your PR game to new heights in 2023 with this guide to help your brand shine during the sunny season. Suasion Communications shares the latest trends, effective campaigns, and powerful techniques that will elevate your public relations efforts and make this summer a season of success.
2023 DNJ Testifies before Assembly Committee about Liquor License Reform Reform
May 24, 2023 - Downtown New Jersey testified before the NJ Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Regulations Committee to express their support for comprehensive liquor license reform.
2023 Liquor License Reform Alliance
After decades of advocacy from Downtown New Jersey and others, New Jersey is on the precipice of real liquor license reform. With an end goal in sight, we need your help once again to push reform forward!
2023 Downtown Jersey City: Emerging from the Shadows
In the last two decades or so, Downtown Jersey City has developed a unique character and vibe: cosmopolitan with a small-town feel and a Jersey edge.
2023 Fort Lee: A Mecca for The Arts
Fort Lee is a mecca for the arts, with beautiful streetscapes, a burgeoning mural program, and many nods to its place in film making history.
2023 The Cannabis Industry and Municipal Planning
Cannabis can be a complex issue for municipalities to navigate without special guidance. Balancing both the real and perceived concerns of our residents with zoning regulations that are responsive to the desires of the business community and advocates is the work of planners.
2023 What DEP’s Climate Rules Mean to Downtowns
The New Jersey Builders Association shares information about how NJDEP's "Protecting Against Climate Threats” (PACT) regulations could affect revitalization in your downtown.
2023 Oppressive Regulations are Limiting NJ’s Brewery Boom
Craft brewing and distilling is a developing industry in the Garden State. But while New Jersey passed legislation in 2012 to allow tasting rooms, the restrictive nature of New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) rules is hampering expansive growth.
2023 Gov. Murphy Hosts Liquor License Reform Roundtable
February 23, 2023 - Downtown New Jersey attended Governor Murphy’s roundtable discussion with local restauranteurs and lawmakers about his plan to reform NJ’s antiquated liquor license laws. The legislative proposal would increase the availability of liquor licenses gradually over five years.
2023 Gov. Murphy Announces Support for Liquor License Reform
January 11, 2023 – Governor Murphy galvanizes discussion to reform NJ's antiquated liquor license laws in his State of the State Address.
2023 Downtown New Jersey Announces New Board Members
January 3, 2023 - Downtown New Jersey announces the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors.

2022

2022 Annual NJ Downtown Conference Reveals How Downtowns Can Become Destinations
December 1-2, 2022 - The premiere downtown economic development event of the year, the annual New Jersey Downtown Conference hosts industry experts who provide insights into downtown management best practices, as well as development, business and retail market trends.
2022 Highland Park: A Small but Mighty Downtown on the Banks of the Old Raritan
A short walk over the bridge from New Brunswick and Rutgers University, Highland Park is a shining example of what can be done on a shoestring budget with a committed group of volunteers, local officials, and a tiny Main Street staff.
2022 Artisan Markets: 10 Key Components To Success
Outdoor Artisan Markets are an excellent way to increase excitement in your area, forge community connections and boost local economic development. These dynamic and interactive markets act as “Creative Placemaking'‘, providing a meaningful space where artists and makers share their creations and people can engage with one another, attracting local residents and visitors alike to your downtown area.
2022 Effective Growth Strategies for Business Improvement Districts
Creating a BID can often be the easiest part of the process. Growing it to be a successful and lasting organization is an entirely different challenge.
2022 Pro-Tips for Getting Press
Marketing is about effectively communicating your unique selling proposition. Through thoughtful planned content marketing and “earned media”, businesses can effectively and affordably communicate with their customers and potential customers and ensure that the right audience has the information they need to bring them through the front door.
2022 Expanding First-Mile, Last-Mile Access to Transit
First-mile, last-mile travel (FMLM), the beginning and final stretches of any transit journey, is overwhelmingly made by “active transportation modes (walking/biking/wheelchair/etc.)” When thinking about walking first and last miles, we need to prioritize better walks rather than shorter walks.
2022 2022 Downtown Excellence Awards
May 24, 2022 - Downtown New Jersey celebrated those dedicated to making NJ’s downtowns vibrant.
2022 Rethinking the Right of Way
May 18, 2022 - From Downtown New Jersey, NJTOD.org, and NJ Transit's Transit Friendly Planning program's TOD in Your Downtown forum series, a panel of experts from public and private entities to discuss their experience rethinking the right-of-way (ROW).
2022 New Jersey’s Single-Use Plastic bags and Polystyrene Foam Ban
New Jersey's plastics and polystyrene ban went into effect May 2022 - what it means for small businesses in New Jersey.
2022 Annual NJ Downtown Conference Provides Strategies to Reimagine and Reinvent
February 10-11, 2022 - Downtown New Jersey’s annual conference and New Jersey’s premiere economic development event, Reimage and Reinvent Downtown, offered insights and lessons into downtown management best practices, as well as development, business, and retail market trends.
2022 Downtown Somerville – The Evolution of Somerset County’s Gem
One walk down Main Street in Somerville, and you are captivated. This small downtown district is packed with things to do and see that have people consistently coming back to relive the magical experience.
2022 NPP 2.0: Connecting Neighborhoods & Commercial Districts
Through the Neighborhood Preservation Program, the NJ Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) provides grants and its State NPP Team offers a robust array of technical assistance and training in support of locally-sourced and bottom-up efforts.
2022 The 10 Rules of Successful Experience Design
These ten rules for creating successful experiences have helped store owners make tremendous impact on their business, neighborhood, and community by relying on the design of their storefronts.
2022 Successfully Marketing Your Downtown
New Jersey’s downtowns are reaping the benefits of implementing robust branding, marketing, and public relations campaigns. No matter the size of the town, promoting its unique assets spurs economic development, tourism, new business, and job growth.
2022 What Can an App Do For My Town That A Website Can’t?
Mobile apps are easier to use and will ultimately result in increased engagement, leading to better community participation and vibrancy.
2022 Downtown New Jersey Announces New Board Members
January 3, 2022 - Downtown New Jersey announces the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors, as well as new officers for 2022.

2021

2021 Policy Watch – October 2021
October 11, 2021 - Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking legislative, regulatory, and policy issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns.
2021 Invest Newark Creates Pathways to Opportunity for Newarkers
Invest Newark propels Newark’s strong and diverse economy, builds vibrant communities, and creates opportunities for all Newarkers.
2021 Your Downtown Can Surge with Electric Vehicle Charging Stations!
Are you looking for a new way to spark up your downtown district? Could your downtown use a recharge? Then you should consider adding new electric vehicle charging stations to your business district!
2021 Tools for [Small Biz] Titans
Main Street Online is a new tool to help businesses grow and strengthen their online and e-commerce capabilities.
2021 9 Actions to Ensure Your Town App is a Valuable Resource
Having – and maintaining – a purposeful and informative digital presence is the new ‘window shopping’, even for towns. Your digital presence might be a person’s first interaction with your town – you want to put your best foot forward!
2021 NJEDA’s Main Street Recovery Program Sets the Stage for Stronger, Fairer Recovery from COVID-19
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority's 'Main Street Recovery Program' is working to ensure a strong and equitable recovery from the economic impacts of Covid-19.
2021 Policy Watch – May 2021
May 25, 2021 - Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking legislative, regulatory, and policy issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns.
2021 Verona Plays to its Strengths
Verona’s evolution in recent years makes it home to some of the best restaurants and chefs in the state. With over thirty different eateries offering something for every taste, Verona has become a food destination, and its time the rest of the state knows our secret!
2021 Ride My Seesaw
Downtown Westfield Corporation leveraged their Main Street New Jersey grant to install a unique family-friendly attraction that would draw crowds to downtown in the winter.
2021 Brownfields Partners
Brownfields redevelopment is a team sport. Developing relationships and meaningful partnerships are critical to success.
2021 Policy Watch Prevailing Wage
February 8, 2021 - Action Alert: Advancing legislation is extremely detrimental to a municipality’s ability to incentivize and support downtown redevelopment.
2021 Special COVID-19 Policy Watch Update
February 5, 2021 - Another round of PPP and a new State Economic Recovery bill. Check out the special COVID-19 update to see how your downtown is affected.
2021 Policy Watch – February 2021
February 5, 2021 - Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking legislative, regulatory, and policy issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns.
2021 Keeping NJ’s Busiest Cities Clean & Succeeding
February 5, 2021 - As the COVID-19 pandemic was creating unprecedented public health and economic pressure across the state, Commercial District Services responded by helping districts rise to the challenge; offering heightened sanitation services, creating access to COVID testing, and providing financial support to local businesses and community members.
2021 The Importance of Flexible Streets
It is during challenging times that we get to rethink how we can work together to thrive and stay resilient. For many cities and towns, the secret to their success is something we have been advocating for long before “streeteries” and pop-up plazas were a thing - Flexible Streets.
2021 Annual NJ Downtown Conference Focuses on Recovery
January 19-22, 2021 - Downtown New Jersey’s annual conference and New Jersey’s premiere economic development event, Downtown Recovery: Survive and Thrive in 2021, offered insights and lessons into downtown management best practices, as well as development, business, and retail market trends.
2021 2021 Placemaking Awards Announced
January 21, 2021 - Downtown New Jersey recognized achievement in downtown placemaking at an awards ceremony during the annual NJ Downtown Conference.
2021 Transform Contaminated Properties into Downtown Assets
January 14, 2021 - The redevelopment of brownfields are unique opportunities for New Jersey’s downtowns to spur economic development, generate jobs, increase property values, reduce sprawl, and develop community needed assets such as mixed-use development, retail, health care facilities, and entertainment venues, just to name a few.
2021 Winter Tents for Your Downtown
November 17, 2020 - So, you’re thinking about putting tents up to extend outdoor dining through the winter, but aren’t quite sure of the requirements or how to go about doing it?
2021 Federal Help for Rural Downtowns—Yes, NJ has rural towns
January 4, 2021 - Since its formation under the 1990 Farm Bill, USDA Rural Development NJ has been helping rural communities with infrastructure improvements, job growth, affordable housing and essential health care, educational and emergency services.

2020

2020 Liquor License Reform Town Hall
December 4, 2020 - Downtown New Jersey hosted a panel of legislators, along with a local official and restaurateur to discuss liquor license reform.
2020 The NJBAC is Here to Help
The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) team knows that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the restrictions designed to combat the virus, means New Jersey’s downtown shopping and dining districts look much different than they did this time last year. If your downtown businesses have questions, the NJBAC works to get the answers.
2020 Downtowns Help Businesses Expand Outdoors
October 27, 2020 - The constraints of limited indoor capacity for restaurants and retailers has meant that municipalities and downtown organizations had to get creative expanding into the public realm. Many of our members have worked with their municipal governments to ease or remove barriers to outdoor commerce.
2020 Policy Watch – October 2020
October 22, 2020 - Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking legislative, regulatory, and policy issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns.
2020 Rethinking Public Space in 2021
October 19, 2021 - The COVID-19 pandemic has hurled both new and existing issues to the forefront of public space considerations, forcing placemakers and public space managers to rethink the way we plan, design, and program public space.
2020 Got Brownfields?
October 15, 2020 - NJ’s municipalities now have a free resource to help them overcome the challenges brownfields pose to our communities. The NJ Brownfields Assistance Center @ NJIT is the first-of-its-kind center that solely focuses on and serves New Jersey.
2020 Winning Winter
October 2, 2020 - Metuchen Downtown Alliance Executive Director, Isaac Kremer, and Storefront Mastery‘s Storefront Ninja, Jaime Izurieta, led a discussion about best practices in placemaking to make your downtown inviting and comfortable during cold weather.
2020 Marketing During a Global Pandemic
Sept. 21, 2020 - Small business owners have a lot to think about, but the possibility of a global pandemic was likely not chief among their worries. Now that we are facing one, local businesses are facing a host of challenges. Communicating effectively with customers and clients has never been more important.
2020 The Retail New Deal
September 18, 2020 - National retail consultant and Downtown specialist Mike Berne, President of New York City and San Francisco Bay Area-based MJB Consulting, led a discussion about harnessing creative thinking, collaboration, and adaptability to encourage the timely emergence of new innovations and business models in response to changing realities and unforeseeable shocks.
2020 Recovery Marketing
August 18, 2020 - At this forum, seasoned communications expert Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt of Suasion Communications Group, led a discussion about public relations, digital marketing, and creative brand strategy for downtowns in recovery.
2020 Reinventing Events
July 29, 2020 - At this forum, we were joined by John Donio, President of Wildwood BID, Ollyn Lettman, Director of Bloomfield Center Alliance, and Emily Manz of EMI Strategy who shared their experiences staging in-person and virtual events.
2020 Policy Watch – July 2020
July 22, 2020 - Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking legislative, regulatory, and policy issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns.
2020 Spotlight Relief Funds
July 21, 2020 - In this edition of Member Spotlight, we want to recognize and thank the many DNJ members that have implemented local fundraising efforts to provide direct assistance to the businesses, first responders, and vulnerable community members.
2020 Value Of SIDS
July 15, 2020 - Now more than ever, it is important to recognize that local governments and SIDs stand together, effectuating a critical partnership that supports and strengthens municipal services.
2020 Commercial District Recovery
June 26, 2020 - At this forum, Larisa Ortiz, Managing Director of Research & Analysis at Streetsense, provided an overview of the Commercial District Recovery Guide that provides place-based organizations and intermediary partners focused on community economic development with a curated roadmap for action to support COVID-19 recovery efforts in downtowns and commercial districts.
2020 Re-Entry for Retailers
June 19, 2020 - At this forum, we learned best practices from industry experts, and how NJ business owners are handling re-entry.
2020 Gift Cards Mean Money in the Register Now
June 17, 2020 - New Jersey business improvement districts and corporations are making purchases to support local restaurants and retailers, while also spreading the word about great restaurants and stores downtown.
2020 Digital Resources for Downtowns
June 12, 2020 - Now more than ever, “going digital” is necessary to stay relevant and present in the consumer’s mind. At this forum, we heard about a few of the digital resources that our members have found valuable for both their downtown and their businesses.
2020 NJEDA Phase 2 Small Business Emergency Assistance Grants
May 29, 2020 - At this forum, Christina Fuentes, Director of Small Business Services at NJEDA provided an overview of the Phase 2 Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program.
2020 Is Your Downtown Ready to Re-Open for Business?
May 22, 2020 - At this forum, panelists discussed how towns can amend their ordinances and permitting processes now to ensure they fully support their businesses’ ability to adapt to social distancing expectations.
2020 Downtown New Jersey Named to “Main Street”
May 18, 2020 - Downtown New Jersey’s Executive Director, Courtenay Mercer, has been named to the “Main Street” Committee of the NJ Restart and Recovery Council. The committee includes representatives from small business establishments, chambers of commerce, unions, small business lenders, and other related advocacy and education non-profits.
2020 Farmers Markets in the New Normal
May 13, 2020 - During an online Downtown Management Forum, we were joined by Rachel Sieg of the HDSID and Rebecca Hersh of Main Street Highland Park, to lead a conversation about reopening farmer's markets safely and successfully.
2020 Getting Back to Business Safely
May 8, 2020 - During an online Downtown Management Forum, members of DNJ discussed concerns, ideas, and needs for reopening safely.
2020 Supporting Local Economies
April 28, 2020 - As part of Sustainable Jersey’s Virtual Summit, Downtown New Jersey Executive Director, Courtenay Mercer and NJDCA’s Neighborhood Preservation Program Administrator, Jef Buehler discussed how we can support local business when it’s not business as usual.
2020 Downtown Budgeting Now
April 24, 2020 - We were joined by Donna Ann Harris of Heritage Consulting Inc. to discuss the BID board’s role in financial oversight and budgeting in light of COVID-19 economic impacts.
2020 Real Estate Market Recovery
April 17, 2020 - We were joined by Marta Person Villa, NJ Retail Lead and Senior Vice President with Jones Lang LaSalle and a former SID director, municipal administrator, and DNJ President. Ms. Villa discussed “what’s next” – how does your downtown recover from economic upheaval, and what can you do now to plan for a time when we’re all back to business?
2020 Economic Relief Legislation
March 27, 2020 - We were joined by Christina Fuentes, Director of Small Business Services at NJEDA and Erika Calderon, Small Business Legislative Aid from Senator Menendez’s office to discuss programs to provide economic relief to downtowns and small business.
2020 Downtown Manager Exchange
March 20, 2020 - During an online Downtown Management Forum, downtown management professionals exchanged ideas about best practices related to downtown economic development in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Participants shared concerns for small businesses and their employees, questions for clarity related to closures, and policy and legislative needs to further assist small businesses.
2020 How Local News Strengthens Communities
December 30, 2019 - In today's digitally driven world, getting the word out about what is happening in our communities has become even more challenging as local newspapers have disappeared. Local news is a vital service for communities and can provide benefits for downtowns, chambers of commerce and business improvement districts.
2020 Policy Watch – March 2020
March 11, 2020 - Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking legislative, regulatory, and policy issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns and then informing and educating members on these issues.
2020 Downtown Management Round Table
February 7, 2020 - More than 30 public officials, downtown managers, and economic development directors gathered at round table discussion in East Orange to exchange ideas about hot topics in downtown economic development.
2020 Public Plazas: 8 Key Considerations When Planning a Public Plaza
February 5, 2020 - Vibrant and active public plazas are an important element of successful redevelopment in downtowns and urban areas.
2020 East Orange Takes Local Energy to the Next Level
January 28, 2020 - The City of East Orange is experiencing a building boom. The most important ingredient to this success has been the proactive and inclusive growth environment that Mayor Ted Green and East Orange City Council have created.
2020 Downtown New Jersey Announces New Board Members
January 8, 2020 - Downtown New Jersey announces the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors.
2020 Downtown New Jersey Announces New Officers
January 8, 2020 - Downtown New Jersey announces the appointment of new officers to its Board of Directors.

2019

2019 TOD in Your Downtown Forum: Placemaking in Transit-Friendly Downtowns
February 11, 2020: Planners, municipal officials, members of the real estate community, and placemaking experts gathered on December 6, 2019 at the Edward J. Bloustein School in New Brunswick for the 2nd TOD in Your Downtown Forum.
2019 Annual Downtown NJ Conference: “The Value of Downtown”
October 18, 2019 - Downtown New Jersey’s annual conference and New Jersey’s premiere economic development event, “The Value of Downtown: Capitalizing on Your Assets to Realize Success”, offered insights into downtown management best practices, as well as development, business and retail market trends.
2019 Professionals Gathered at Annual Downtown Conference
The DNJ Annual Conference hosted industry experts who provided insights into downtown management best practices, as well as market trends.
2019 Shop, Dine, and Discover Downtown Haddonfield
September 19, 2019: There are several great reasons to visit Downtown Haddonfield, located in Camden County, just 20 minutes from Philadelphia.The downtown's 200 shops, inviting eateries, sculptures, historic sites and dramatic streetscape make it one of the most fabulous places to spend the day.
2019 2019 Downtown Excellence Awards
October 18, 2019: Downtown New Jersey celebrated initiatives that have made a major or sustained impact on downtown economic development in New Jersey at an awards ceremony during its annual Downtown Conference at the Westminster Arts Center in Bloomfield, NJ.
2019 Smartphone Technology
September 10, 2019: Smart phone use is omnipresent. According to Statista.com the current number of smartphone users in the United States is estimated to be 265 million. Besides social media, how can a downtown community connect to these smart phone users?
2019 Banning Single Use Plastic Bags, Straws & Styrofoam Containers
September 9, 2019: What do California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York and the District of Columbia have in common? They have banned single use plastic bags. While New Jersey was on the verge of leading the ban against plastic bags in Spring of 2018, the bill was vetoed by Governor Murphy because it was not strict enough.
2019 Policy Watch – September 2019
September 6, 2019 - Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking legislative, regulatory, and policy issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns and then informing and educating members on these issues. Since our last Policy Watch, there has been movement on a few bills impacting downtowns...
2019 DNJ Policy Watch – June 2019
June 6, 2019: Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking judicial and legislative issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns and then informing and educating members on these issues. Since our last Policy Watch, there has been movement on a few bills impacting downtowns...
2019 TOD in Your Downtown Forum: Making TOD Real
May 30, 2019 - Over 50 professionals in downtown management, design, and development joined together to watch the Downtown New Jersey and NJTOD.org co-hosted panel discussion, Making TOD Real – Planning & Building Transit-Oriented Development in NJ.
2019 Negative Impact on redevelopment linked to PILOTs
May 17, 2019: For decades, New Jersey has experienced notable success with redeveloping many of its distressed areas by affording municipalities the ability to provide tax incentives to redevelopers (e.g. PILOTs). These incentives encourage redevelopers to accept the substantial risks and additional costs that come with most redevelopment projects – for example, the risk factor for unknown markets and the often-required construction of highly-amenitized, elevator buildings, and structured parking (at a cost of roughly $25,000 per space vs. $3,000 per space in a surface lot).
2019 Placemaking a Success for Wildwood BID
May 14, 2019: Byrne Plaza, located in the heart of Downtown Wildwood, brings the community together for events, fun photo ops and relaxation. Situated on Pacific Avenue, just two blocks from the famous Wildwoods Boardwalk, Byrne Plaza offers 60,000 square feet of outdoor space, with plenty of space for events. The beautiful new themed venue was designed by renowned architect Richard Stokes. It features outdoor sculptures of beach balls, vast greenery, and a covered amphitheater – perfect for hosting events.
2019 Master Planning & Community Engagement for Your Downtown
April 30, 2019: The Town of Westfield, under the leadership of Mayor Shelley Brindle, has committed to leading a community-wide, collaborative process to reexamine its master plan to address issues of land use, transportation and parking, housing, downtown economic development, community facilities and historic preservation. The town wants a community driven plan, one that defines the vision that residents, business owners, and their employees have for the Town of Westfield, and therefore has established a comprehensive public engagement plan.
2019 Downtown Management Round Table
March 15, 2019: More than 20 downtown managers, economic development directors and non-profit representatives gathered at round table discussion in Newark on March 15th to exchange ideas about hot topics in downtown economic development. The topic for this round table was funding for facade improvements and other downtown beautification initiatives.
2019 Are There Virtues in Vice?
March 8, 2019: Vices. New Jersey cities and towns have long tried to regulate vices and the businesses that supply them: bars, tattoo parlors, smoke shops, and various forms of adult entertainment. Yet, as more towns look to reinvigorate their Main Street storefronts and downtown areas, are there ways that some of these vices could actually be beneficial to a municipality?
2019 NJTOD.org is New Jersey’s Home for TOD News
February 14, 2019: NJTOD.org (formerly known as the Transit-Friendly Development Newsletter) is New Jersey’s online resource for up-to-date information on the creation of vibrant communities around transit stations and stops. We explore the potential for and practice of development and redevelopment in station areas, commonly known as Transit-Oriented Development (or TOD).
2019 Downtown New Jersey Policy Watch – February 2019
February 12, 2019: Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking judicial and legislative issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns and then informing and educating members on these issues. Since our last Policy Watch, there has been movement on a few bills impacting downtowns...
2019 Jersey City’s Long History with SIDs
January 22, 2019: Special improvement districts (SID) enhance municipal downtowns all over the state. Jersey City, the second largest municipality in the State, is lucky enough to have six SIDs! Jersey City is a collection of multiple neighborhoods with its respective ‘main street’.
2019 Have You Met Newark?
January 8, 2019: For the sixth season in a row, Have You Met Newark Tours Shop Hop attendees took to the streets in Newark to spend their money.Have You Met Newark Tours is a tourism company run by Emily Manz, a new Downtown New Jersey member and owner of consulting firm EMI Strategy.

2018

2018 Annual Downtown NJ Conference Focused on Adapting to Change
Downtown New Jersey (DNJ) held its annual conference on Friday, November 2, 2018 at the New Jersey City University School of Business on the Jersey City waterfront. The premiere downtown economic development event of the year, the DNJ Annual Conference hosted industry experts who provide insights into downtown management best practices, as well as development, business and retail market trends.
2018 New Jersey’s Earned Sick and Safe Days Act
October 18, 2018: The Earned Sick and Safe Days Act, signed by Governor Murphy on May 2, 2018, takes effect on October 29, 2018. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development recently released the mandatory notice that must be posted and distributed to all New Jersey employees under the Act.
2018 DNJ Testifies in Favor of Historic Tax Credits
Oct. 18, 2018: In furtherance of our efforts to support and enhance the economic vitality of New Jersey’s downtowns, DNJ expresses its support for S1740 & 2031, the Historic Property Reinvestment Act.Thirty-five states have a historic preservation tax credit. Without a historic preservation tax credit, New Jersey is missing out on a proven tool for economic growth and revitalization.
2018 2018 Downtown Excellence Awards
November 2, 2018: Downtown New Jersey (DNJ) celebrated initiatives that have made a major or sustained impact on downtown economic development in New Jersey at an awards ceremony during its annual Downtown Conference at New Jersey City University School of Business on the Jersey City waterfront.
2018 The “Bloom” is on the Rise in Bloomfield
September 26, 2018: Located in the southern end of the township, Bloomfield’s downtown area is currently experiencing an exciting revitalization generating some buzz in various circles. Also known as Bloomfield Center, new residents, motivated entrepreneurs, and visionary investors are beginning to recognize the area’s potential growth and great promise.
2018 Municipal Ordinances: Is Your Town Open for Business?
September 26, 2018: A recent glossy four-page insert in The New York Times from Restoration Hardware—touting its upcoming 90,000 square foot store in Manhattan—proclaimed that “The death of retail is overrated.” That’s the good news. Now for the bad news. Many, if not most, of New Jersey’s municipalities are not ready for the “new” retail landscape that we face in 2018.
2018 Reducing Barriers to Economic Development
September 14, 2018: More than 20 downtown managers, economic development directors and public officials gathered at round table discussion in Fanwood on September 12th to exchange ideas about hot topics in downtown economic development. Members of Downtown New Jersey were invited to join this quarterly meeting of Union County professionals and officials in what it hopes to be the first in a recurring series of “lunch & learn” round table exchanges.
2018 Downtown New Jersey POLICY WATCH – September 2018
Sept. 25, 2018: Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking judicial and legislative issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns and then informing and educating members on these issues. Since our last Policy Watch, there has been movement on a few bills impacting downtowns...
2018 Connection Fee Credits
August 18, 2018: On August 10, 2018, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a bill establishing a “credit” system to aid redevelopment efforts while ensuring that municipal authorities are equitably compensated for connecting into their system. The legislation, S1247/A2779, was jointly crafted over several years by the New Jersey Builders Association and the Association of Environmental Authorities.
2018 New Brunswick City Center: Suburban Sophistication
June 19, 2018: Nestled along the Raritan River, New Brunswick City Center is lively, contemporary, and close to all Middlesex County has to offer. If you’re seeking it, it’s here and it’s within walking distance: first-class nightlife, acclaimed restaurants, Big Ten sports, abundant parks and recreation areas, an inspiring riverfront, and a rich arts and culture scene.
2018 When Public-Private Partnerships Come Together, Everyone Wins
The Journal Square SID leveraged a partnership to rapidly produce an event series in the summer of 2017.
2018 Legalization of Marijuana
June 19, 2018: For the past several years, the question of whether to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults has been a hotly debated topic across the country. The 2017 gubernatorial race brought this debate to New Jersey, when then-candidate Phil Murphy proclaimed that one of his goals for his first 100 days as Governor would be the passage of legislation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults.
2018 Downtown New Jersey Policy Watch – June 2018
June 13, 2018: Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking judicial and legislative issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns and then informing and educating members on these issues. Since our last Policy Watch, there has been movement on a few bills impacting downtowns...
2018 NJ Rule Change Simplifies Administrative Tasks of SIDs
For municipal clerks getting ready to submit financial disclosures statements to the NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) by the April 30th deadline, they can remove Special Improvement District (SID) directors and members from the list of officials that need to comply.
2018 Perth Amboy March 2018
March 27, 2018: Perth Amboy is known as a friendly and welcoming city by its longtime and new residents, local businesses and the thousands of guests who visit annually. People who enjoy great cuisine appreciate Perth Amboy’s many noteworthy restaurants and fast casual cafés that serve exceptional Latin American and Caribbean basin cuisine.
2018 Autonomous Vehicles are Coming to Your Downtown
March 27, 2018: Over the last few years, the conversation around Autonomous Vehicles, or AVs, went from being a seemingly far-off tech dream to an impending reality. Experts predict that by the year 2040 over 90% of all vehicles sold will be self-driving, or autonomous.
2018 NJNext.com Is a Publication Made for Downtown Districts
March 27, 2018: NJNext.com, a new New Jersey-based and focused digital publication, is working to connect NJ arts and cultural institutions, businesses, events — and downtown districts — to state-wide and regional audiences.
2018 DNJ Policy Watch – March 2018
March 27, 2018: Downtown New Jersey acts as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in New Jersey, tracking judicial and legislative issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns and then informing and educating members on these issues. NJ is in a new Legislative Session with a new Gubernatorial Administration - so a flurry of new and rehashed legislation was posted after the New Year.
2018 DNJ welcomes Courtenay Mercer as its new Executive Director
March 1, 2018: Courtenay Mercer joined Downtown New Jersey as its Executive Director at the start of 2018. As a former DNJ Board member, she steps into the role with extensiveness knowledge about the organization and its needs.
2018 DNJ MAKES POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNOR MURPHY
Feb. 5, 2018: Downtown New Jersey (“DNJ”), a statewide non-profit membership organization comprised of individuals, businesses, developers, government agencies, and local entities that are passionate about downtowns, has made policy recommendations to Governor Murphy’s administration that the organization hopes will result in a renewed commitment to the state’s downtowns from Trenton.

2017

2017 Bayonne: It’s More Than Just a Bridge
Dec. 11, 2017: There aren’t many municipalities that have a bridge named after them. But sometimes you can get lost in the shadow of a bridge. For a long time Bayonne has been the place on the Hudson that has not delivered on the promise of the “gold coast.”
2017 Two Bills Threaten Economic Feasibility of Redevelopment
Dec. 8, 2017: For decades, New Jersey has experienced notable success with redeveloping many of its distressed areas by affording municipalities the ability to offer tax incentives (i.e., PILOTs) to redevelopers. These incentives encourage redevelopers to accept the substantial risks and additional costs that come with most projects.
2017 Union County BID Directors Establish Monthly Networking Lunch Meetings
Oct. 19, 2017: Downtown managers and economic development directors in Union County met recently for lunch and networking, and decided to meet regularly to share ideas, concerns and experiences.
2017 2017 Awards of Excellence Announced
October 12, 2017: Downtown New Jersey celebrated initiatives that have made a major or sustained impact on downtown economic development in New Jersey at an awards ceremony during its annual Downtown Conference at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.
2017 Metuchen: The Brainy Borough’s ‘Overnight’ Success
Sept. 15, 2017: The fast-moving revitalization of Metuchen that’s been occurring lately makes the so-called Brainy Borough feel like an overnight success story. However, it’s an overnight success that’s been decades in the making.
2017 Letter Of Support for Liquor Licensing
Downtown New Jersey President Robert Goldsmith Esq. has sent to state Sen. Robert Gordon a letter indicating the organization’s support of Senate bill S3222, which would allow a municipality to issue one license allowing sales of alcoholic beverages in a downtown business improvement zone, pedestrian mall, or special improvement district.
2017 Downtown Westfield: A Classic Town Prepared for the Future
June 15, 2017: Downtown Westfield continues to provide its residents, visitors, and businesses with the goods and services readily sought after in a downtown environment. But the town has not merely rested on its laurels.
2017 Good Data Can Reinforce Your Downtown Redevelopment Strategy
April 11, 2017: At one of the breakout sessions at this year’s New Jersey Future Redevelopment Forum, Joe Getz from the downtown economic-consulting organization JGSC Group gave a clinic on the importance of using good data to make decisions on downtown redevelopment projects. The familiar developer refrain “We’ve done this many times,” he cautioned, “is not data.”
2017 Less Parking, Better Management
April 4, 2017: If you were planning to build a parking structure, would you invest in a 30-year bond to finance it?That’s the question Bob Goldsmith, partner and co-chairman of redevelopment and land use for Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP, posed at the beginning of the Redevelopment Forum session entitled “The Future of Parking, Today.”
2017 How Downtown Retail Is Changing
Downtowns across New Jersey are facing a unique set of challenges. While many towns are seeing a rise in the number of people who want to live in a walkable, mixed-use town center, they are also facing the challenges of keeping their downtowns vibrant and full of retail tenants when New Jerseyans increasingly do most of their shopping on laptops and not in stores.
2017 Somerville: Ask ‘Why’ To Rise Above the Crowd
Have you noticed that just about everyone is talking about downtowns these days? They’re finally cool again! Young people want to live in downtowns; older people want to live in downtowns. Changing national demographics are fueling mixed-use and mixed-income growth.
2017 Affordable Housing Can Help With Downtown Revitalization
Everyone in municipal circles is talking about affordable housing. More than 325 New Jersey municipalities have entered the judicial affordable housing process established by the Supreme Court in In Re Adoption of NJAC 5:97 (Mt. Laurel IV). The goal of these actions is to reach a judicial determination of each town’s affordable housing obligation.
2017 Financial Disclosure Letter
On March 16, 2017, Downtown New Jersey President Bob Goldsmith submitted a letter to Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Charles Richman detailing the organization’s opposition to a proposed rule that would require volunteer directors and members of a BID or SID to file financial disclosures.
2017 New Legislation Looks to Help Small-Town Downtown Businesses
According to a September news release from Assembly Democrats, the legislation, bill A2223, would establish the "Main Street Economic Growth Program" in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to provide financial and technical assistance to a business in a Main Street area within a small municipality.
2017 Cranford: Putting the ‘Live’ in Live-Work-Play
A terrific thing happened on the way to development in downtown Cranford. New stores and restaurants came, of course. Building renovations and new construction took off. But in addition, lots of new people moved in, creating a place they call their “neighborhood.”
2017 Rahway Decision Limits Municipal Flexibility in Designating SIDs
On Oct. 19, 2015, the Superior Court handed down a ruling that limits municipalities’ discretion in creating special improvement districts (SIDs). The issue at hand was whether a city is permitted to include in its SID the entire municipality (with the exception of residences) under the enabling statute N.J.S.A. 40:56-65 et seq. (the “Statute”).
2017 Department of Community Affairs Cuts Main Street Ties
On December 2016, the Local Planning Services office in the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) sent out a notice that, effective Jan. 1, 2017, it would no longer be the Main Street coordinator for New Jersey.

2016