Committee crafting plan for upgrades
By: Candice Leigh Helfand
JAMESBURG Business owners, residents and officials gathered in Borough Hall on Monday night to discuss a plan to bring new life to the borough’s downtown.
"Thousands of people drive through here each day," said Elliott Stroul, chairman of the Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition. "The idea is to make them stop and stay."
The meeting for the JRC went on for about an hour, with residents discussing their ideas, concerns, and support for improvement in the area.
Along with Mr. Stroul, Borough Councilman John Longo and Teddy Ehman of Family Framers (who ran the meeting) were on hand, as were about 25 residents, Borough Council members Otto Kostbar and Barbara Carpenter and Mayor Tony LaMantia.
They began by discussing their plans to ratify a constitution that would establish rules of operation for the JRC at their next meeting in January.
Before doing so, they plan to send out copies to people at the meeting for suggestions, revisions and ultimately, approval. An executive board will be elected at that time, consisting of a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.
"It’s really important to us to have these things in place, because then we can apply for funding," Mr. Ehman said.
However, the meeting focused mostly on ways to improve the downtown.
Some said lighting should be improved.
"It has to do with making it bright, so that the people in the community feel comfortable," Mr. Longo said.
Mr. Kostbar agreed.
"Light is a subtle way to improve the area tremendously," he said.
Others said they are worried that fast-food chains would be attracted to an area positioning itself for growth.
Mr. Ehman agreed that it would be best to avoid that level of commercialization.
"Popular tastes have shifted away from commercial centers, such as malls," he said. "People like more traditional shops now. Even tourists don’t want to go to a tourist trap. They want to go to a real place."
Mayor LaMantia added that, a few years prior, McDonald’s had come in to view property in Jamesburg. However, he said, they would be more likely to develop a restaurant on Route 130, where there would be more traffic.
Other ideas and concerns mentioned included a visitor’s center, incorporation of the railroad tracks into the plans, redesigning store fronts for a more nostalgic feel and worries over the inevitable rise in taxes.
The most important thing, the board stressed, however, is that the process is going to require patience and dedication.
"Redevelopment isn’t about buying property, and tearing down what we have now," Mr. Stroul said. "It’s about looking at the community, seeing its assets, and improving upon what already exists."
Mr. Stroul said it’s important that everyone realize this is a group project.
"Everyone’s a stakeholder," he said. "The future is up to you."
The next meeting, to be held Jan. 18, will involve the ratification of the constitution, and the executive board elections. After that, there will be a seminar held by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University on Feb. 17, where graduate students studying the borough’s business district will present their conclusions as to how revitalization can occur. And in March, at a date to be determined, the coalition will conduct an all-day presentation, including seminars and workshops about the revitalization efforts.

