Post by admin on Mar 17, 2007 11:13:01 GMT -5
FREEHOLD OFFICIALS CHART MAIN STREET'S FUTURE
Downtown's upturn
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/17/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
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FREEHOLD — Mayor Michael Wilson has said the borough rounded third base a few years ago in efforts to fix up its downtown but hasn't scored yet.
To help bring it home, the borough is conducting a $32,000 vision study to aid in determining the future of the downtown business district.
The study, $25,000 of which will be paid for by a state grant, will address the appearance of buildings and set design standards.
"It will surely serve as a blueprint to the downtown community," Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina said. Property owners are not going to be forced to remodel buildings, but as properties change hands, the borough will offer "strong suggestions" as to how it wants them to look, Bellina said.
He said the borough wants to punctuate and preserve the downtown's charm.
"There's a lot of towns that would love to have what we have. They're trying to create Main streets. What we're trying to do is enhance what we have," Bellina said.
Engineering and consulting firm Schoor DePalma, which is conducting the study, is expected to make a presentation to the Planning Board on March 28.
As part of the study, the borough also is in the process of getting the state to designate the downtown an "area in need of rehabilitation."
However, Bellina stressed, "There's no eminent domain as part of this process."
Getting the designation will enable the borough to offer perks such as tax abatements, according to Jayne Carr, executive director of the Freehold Center Partnership, which works with the borough to improve and bring more attention to downtown.
The two-block area of Main Street between Throckmorton and Center streets, reaching back to Hudson Street and Lafayette Place, contains businesses, apartments, churches and borough and Monmouth County government properties. According to a memo from Schoor DePalma, the area qualifies for the state rehabilitation designation because all of the housing stock is more than 50 years old.
Moreover, the memo said the designation would enable the vision plan to be drafted as a redevelopment plan and be adopted by ordinance of the council. Once the ordinance is adopted, the borough would have greater flexibility in working with the county and property owners.
Bellina said the borough could talk with the county about ways to maximize the use of its property for parking, commercial or office space.
Parking has been an issue in Freehold for some time. The idea for the vision study was talked about during a parking study that was was completed in 2005.
Eric Darnley, 35, of Freehold Township, who owns the Cornerstone Cafe at Main and South streets, said: "What's good (about the downtown) is that there is a variety of things that attract people," but the lack of parking is a hindrance. He suggested the borough build a parking garage in one of the county lots.
A few people walking along Main Street on a recent day gave local restaurants a thumbs-up, but said there are not enough shops or parking.
Beverly Kristol, 59, of Aberdeen, who works in the county clerk's office, said there are nice restaurants in town.
"I love it. I think it's very nice. I wish there were more places to shop," Kristol said.
Laura Leamer, 20, of Freehold echoed those sentiments, saying she goes to the restaurants sometimes, but does her shopping at the Freehold Raceway Mall.
Some Borough Council members have expressed the hope the downtown might attract trendy and specialty shops, higher-end ones rather than dollar stores.
But Jose Flores, 20, of Freehold, who was walking with Leamer, said he'd be happy just to see a Foot Locker downtown.
"I always buy boots, Timberlands," Flores said, pointing to his footwear.
Councilman Marc LeVine said the vision study will help serve as a marketing plan to attract businesses and give the downtown an identity.
LeVine encouraged citizens to share what they want with borough leaders by attending council and other meetings or writing to borough officials.
"That way we'd have a better sense of what's needed in the area," he said.
Council President Kevin Kane, council liaison to the Planning Board, said borough officials met a few weeks ago with a consultant responsible for the development of Pier Village in Long Branch. The consultant is not involved with the study; the meeting was just for information-gathering purposes, Bellina said.
"She liked what we already had in place. She said it was something that could really work," Kane said.
Bellina said implementing the plan will take hard work and the borough will have to go door to door and convey the concept to property and business owners.
But such a plan will put the borough in a strong position, Bellina said, noting that state planning authorities are trying to foster development in downtown areas.
"We want to put ourselves in a viable position to reap the benefits of that," he said.
Nick Petruncio: (732) 308-7752 or npetruncio@app.com
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070317/NEWS/703170368/1004/NEWS01
Click on link, very nice pictures ;D
Downtown's upturn
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/17/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
Post Comment
FREEHOLD — Mayor Michael Wilson has said the borough rounded third base a few years ago in efforts to fix up its downtown but hasn't scored yet.
To help bring it home, the borough is conducting a $32,000 vision study to aid in determining the future of the downtown business district.
The study, $25,000 of which will be paid for by a state grant, will address the appearance of buildings and set design standards.
"It will surely serve as a blueprint to the downtown community," Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina said. Property owners are not going to be forced to remodel buildings, but as properties change hands, the borough will offer "strong suggestions" as to how it wants them to look, Bellina said.
He said the borough wants to punctuate and preserve the downtown's charm.
"There's a lot of towns that would love to have what we have. They're trying to create Main streets. What we're trying to do is enhance what we have," Bellina said.
Engineering and consulting firm Schoor DePalma, which is conducting the study, is expected to make a presentation to the Planning Board on March 28.
As part of the study, the borough also is in the process of getting the state to designate the downtown an "area in need of rehabilitation."
However, Bellina stressed, "There's no eminent domain as part of this process."
Getting the designation will enable the borough to offer perks such as tax abatements, according to Jayne Carr, executive director of the Freehold Center Partnership, which works with the borough to improve and bring more attention to downtown.
The two-block area of Main Street between Throckmorton and Center streets, reaching back to Hudson Street and Lafayette Place, contains businesses, apartments, churches and borough and Monmouth County government properties. According to a memo from Schoor DePalma, the area qualifies for the state rehabilitation designation because all of the housing stock is more than 50 years old.
Moreover, the memo said the designation would enable the vision plan to be drafted as a redevelopment plan and be adopted by ordinance of the council. Once the ordinance is adopted, the borough would have greater flexibility in working with the county and property owners.
Bellina said the borough could talk with the county about ways to maximize the use of its property for parking, commercial or office space.
Parking has been an issue in Freehold for some time. The idea for the vision study was talked about during a parking study that was was completed in 2005.
Eric Darnley, 35, of Freehold Township, who owns the Cornerstone Cafe at Main and South streets, said: "What's good (about the downtown) is that there is a variety of things that attract people," but the lack of parking is a hindrance. He suggested the borough build a parking garage in one of the county lots.
A few people walking along Main Street on a recent day gave local restaurants a thumbs-up, but said there are not enough shops or parking.
Beverly Kristol, 59, of Aberdeen, who works in the county clerk's office, said there are nice restaurants in town.
"I love it. I think it's very nice. I wish there were more places to shop," Kristol said.
Laura Leamer, 20, of Freehold echoed those sentiments, saying she goes to the restaurants sometimes, but does her shopping at the Freehold Raceway Mall.
Some Borough Council members have expressed the hope the downtown might attract trendy and specialty shops, higher-end ones rather than dollar stores.
But Jose Flores, 20, of Freehold, who was walking with Leamer, said he'd be happy just to see a Foot Locker downtown.
"I always buy boots, Timberlands," Flores said, pointing to his footwear.
Councilman Marc LeVine said the vision study will help serve as a marketing plan to attract businesses and give the downtown an identity.
LeVine encouraged citizens to share what they want with borough leaders by attending council and other meetings or writing to borough officials.
"That way we'd have a better sense of what's needed in the area," he said.
Council President Kevin Kane, council liaison to the Planning Board, said borough officials met a few weeks ago with a consultant responsible for the development of Pier Village in Long Branch. The consultant is not involved with the study; the meeting was just for information-gathering purposes, Bellina said.
"She liked what we already had in place. She said it was something that could really work," Kane said.
Bellina said implementing the plan will take hard work and the borough will have to go door to door and convey the concept to property and business owners.
But such a plan will put the borough in a strong position, Bellina said, noting that state planning authorities are trying to foster development in downtown areas.
"We want to put ourselves in a viable position to reap the benefits of that," he said.
Nick Petruncio: (732) 308-7752 or npetruncio@app.com
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070317/NEWS/703170368/1004/NEWS01
Click on link, very nice pictures ;D