Special district planning ideas topic at meeting

Speaker to outline what could be done

to further redevelop downtown businesses
By:Laura Pelner
   Manville’s business and property owners on Main Street as
well as Borough Council members can attend a breakfast June 27 to hear new
ideas for possible "special improvements" to be made to the downtown
district.
   The Manville Business and Professional Alliance is hosting
the breakfast, which will feature speaker Seth Grossman, president of
Cooperative Professional Services, at 7:30 a.m. at Borough Hall.
   Dick McCurdy, owner of Town Centre Hardware on Main Street
and member of the MBPA, said Mr. Grossman will give a presentation and show
the borough what it can and cannot do to improve Main Street.
   "We’ve managed to get through the flood, we’re coming
back," said Mr. McCurdy. "The north end of town is pretty much developed,
now we want to get the south end of town developed."
   Councilman Martin Wierzba said Mr. Grossman’s presentation
will go over the groundwork needed to create a special improvement district
in Manville, and the possible benefits of doing so. He said Mr. Grossman
would probably tell those who attend how the borough could create an
improvement district, how much it would cost and what it could
accomplish.
   Mr. McCurdy said these improvements could supplement the
facade program that will begin soon and the revitalization projects
currently going on in the borough. "This is another way of making all that
work go even further," he said.
   Creating a special improvement district allows
municipalities to set aside special funds and assessments to make
improvements to an area. For example, Somerville and Westfield used special
improvement districts to help renovate downtown areas and construct parking
facilities.
   Mr. Grossman’s presentation is intended to give MBPA
members and others at the meeting some ideas on how to help Main Street
Manville develop and Mr. McCurdy said nothing is final yet.
   "It will be between us and the council to decide where to
go," he said. "We’re not committed yet."
   If the borough decides to move forward with special
improvements, Mr. McCurdy said the council would have to make a resolution
to proceed. He said he believes the council and MBPA members will support
the improvements.
   "This is a fact-finding thing," he said. "To find out what
we can and can’t do, what we’re eligible to do."
   Mr. Grossman will help the borough figure out the best
ways to proceed with improvements. Mr. McCurdy said Mr. Grossman has an
"impressive" background with such matters as he’s worked for the state for
10 years and ran its special improvement program.
   All business and property owners are invited to attend the
event, which is free and includes breakfast. Those interested in attending
can make a reservation with Cary Johnson at 541-0404.