The Metuchen Central Business District (CBD) has been going through changes — some old, some new. We propose the Metuchen Downtown Alliance (MDA) operate a CBD management organization. With the Whole Foods and the Pearl Street Development already under construction, now is the time to for MDA to integrate the new with the existing, recruit new complementary businesses and strengthen/retain existing businesses.
Though the CBD would be delineated by ordinance, MDA would be a business organization, not a government entity. It explicitly cannot take property via eminent domain or impose regulations on business. Rather, the MDA would be an advocate for business. An executive director and a part-time assistant would be the only staff. Following the National Main Street model, volunteers would power the organization through four strategically focused committees.
The cost for a typical CBD business would be less than $20 per month, and MDA would not cause any increase whatsoever in Metuchen residents’ real estate taxes.
MDA would market the CBD, supplementing and amplifying individual business marketing efforts. MDA would improve the streetscape and program the new plaza on New Street. MDA would be an investment in the CBD, providing far more value than the very modest cost, and far more than a typical business could buy on its own at that cost.
Somerville, Highland Park, Montclair and many other towns have preserved and enhanced their small towns, and made them thrive. Metuchen can and should do the same. Please visit our website at downtownmetuchen.org for more information, including a FAQ, and like us on Facebook.
We urge all interested business owners, property owners and residents to express their views, positive or negative, at the May 2 Council Meeting. We then urge the Council to accept our recommendation to designate a CBD improvement district.
Eric Berger
on behalf of the Metuchen Downtown Alliance Stakeholder Committee