Revitalization of Downtown Perth Amboy a Factor

PERTH AMBOY – The City of Perth Amboy was awarded a $90,000 grant specifically to improve the area around the train station. This was announced by Mayor Diaz as she sat beside Annie Hindenlang (Senior Planner, Office of Economic and Community Development) during the Caucus portion of the 11/13/13 meeting held at the City Hall Council Chambers.

Hindenlang was there to talk about the Together North Jersey Grant and to introduce those participating in helping the City towards the goal of becoming a Transit Village District.

The Together North Jersey Website states: Together North Jersey, a project administered by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is the recipient of a $5 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant award.

The grant will develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD) for the 13-county NJTPA region. The plan will use sustainability, transit system connectivity, and transit-oriented-development as the central framework for integrating plans,regulations, investments, and incentive programs at all levels of government to bring jobs and create additional economic development opportunities in the area.

Several speakers were present to give an overview of how Perth Amboy’s Train Station and downtown area’s specifically Smith, Market and High Streets and New Brunswick Avenue can become the anchors to revitalize Perth Amboy’s commercial and financial growth.

The advantage that Perth Amboy has is that the downtown area (Smith Street) has a number stores and businesses within walking distance.

Some of the wider streets (such as High Street) would be ideal for bike paths. The goal is to make bike paths one of the main modes of transportation within the City to the downtown area.

One of the oldest buildings in Perth Amboy is occupied by a furniture store which has a large empty second floor. The owner of that building showed interest in possibly converting that second floor into loft apartments.

The speaker said that Perth Amboy’s assets make it ideal for cultural and civic activities. But there’s also a lot of under-utilized space.

Market Street and New Brunswick Avenue should be targeted for redevelopment.

The Train station at South Orange was used as a possible example of what Perth Amboy’s Train Station could become. “We need to attract people who are more geared towards an urban lifestyle. Parking is the most problematic, especially at the Five Corners Intersecting, New Brunswick Avenue, State and Smith Streets. It needs to be used in a more efficient manner.

The Jefferson Street Parking Garage also came into play. There was talk about having an area there for recreational use, utilizing some of the area as an expansion to a seating area for an outdoor area for dining or relaxation.

For these changes to be feasible, zoning would have to be revised.

Former Councilman Kenneth Balut spoke during the public portion about what was said during this presentation. He stated, “This town is too congested.” He mentioned the 37 apartments that will be included when a building on Hobart Street is renovated. Overcrowding in the downtown area has been a main concern of Balut’s during and after his term on the Council.