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Residents revisit revitalization plan in Jamesburg
Star Ledger
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
BY SHARON ADARLO
Staff Writer
Jamesburg residents met last night to jump-start plans to revitalize the borough's commercial strip and form a coalition to solicit funds for the project.
"There's money out there we can channel into Jamesburg, revitalize it and draw people to our town," said resident Teddy Eh mann, chairman of the Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition, which was formed in the beginning of the year to address possible improvements to the downtown area.
Ehmann said there are several vacant lots along Forsgate Drive and West Railroad Avenue. Residents also say East and West Rail road avenues are not pedestrian- friendly due to heavy traffic and a lack of crosswalks. Ehmann and other residents are hoping to change that.
Ehmann and Elliott Stroul, president of the Jamesburg Civic Association, have been meeting with local officials and various organizations to see what can be done to revitalize the area.
About 50 people attended last night's meeting. Several called for greater pedestrian safety, improvements to the facades of shops and businesses, creation of a community theater as well as a place for teenagers and young adults to hang out.
"There's nothing for people like me to do," said 21-year-old Tom Bodall, a resident and borough historian.
This is not the first effort to revitalize Jamesburg's downtown.
A previous plan for improving it was prepared in 1997, but never got off the ground, Ehmann said.
More recent attempts have included discussions with developers, but Mayor Anthony LaMantia said this latest effort is not about redevelopment.
"Everybody wants to keep Jamesburg the way it is and not change it," LaMantia said.
Stroul agreed and said the latest effort is about improving what Jamesburg already has.
"We don't want to displace any businesses already here," he said.