STRATEGIC FRAME WORK FOR COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION

Part II of an Exploratory Study to Establish a Special Improvement
District on Springfield and South Orange Avenues, Newark, NJ

Report to the Corinthian Housing Development Corporation and New Community Corporation

May 11, 1998

Report prepared by

Project Community Center for Urban Policy Research Department of Urban Planning and Policy Development Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Civic Square 33 Livingston Avenue New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1982

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Methodology
  
  
• A Strategic Framework for Revitalizing Commercial Corridors in Distressed Communities
  
  
• Phase One: Recognizing The Need For Neighborhood-Oriented Commercial Revitalization Strategies and Organization
• Identifying Community Concerns
• Identifying a Lead Organization
• Identifying Community Leaders
• Selling and organizing the Business Community
• Phase Two: Formalizing Merchant Organization and Developing a Plan
• Establishing Identity
• Establishing Group Goals and Priorities
• Planning Initial Projects and Activities
• Moving to a New Level of Organization
• Phase Three: Forming a Special Improvement District
• History of Special Improvement Districts in New Jersey
• What is a Special Improvement District?
• The Approval Process
• Establishing Non-Profit Status
• Funding
• Management/Administration
• Additional Staffing
• Board of Directors
• Services & Improvements
• Will a SID work in West Side Park?
  
  
• Current Revitalization Efforts in Newark
  
  
• Newark Enterprise Community
• Newark Urban Enterprise Zone
• Office of Neighborhood Empowerment
• Newark Economic Development Corporation
• Newarks's Overall Economic Development Plan
• Newark City Council
• Public Utility Resources
  
  
• Potential Revitalization Resources For West Side Park
  
  
• Government Programs and Resources
• Neighborhood Preservation Program
• Main Street Program
• Government Sponsored Funding Sources
• Intermodel Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
• Private Investment
• Loan Pools and Loan Programs
• Business Incubators
• Summary of Alternative Funding and Program Resources
  
  
• Conclusion
  
  
• Bibliography
  
  
• Appendices
  
  
• APPENDIX A - Case Study Profiles
• Elizabeth Avenue
• Fort Lee
• Grand Street Business Improvement District
• Downtown Trenton Special Improvement District
• APPENDIX B - List of Field Contacts
• APPENDIX C - SID Survey
• APPENDIX D - SID Survey Results

Executive Summary

Implementation of a commercial revitalization plan in a neighborhood-oriented shopping district is one strategy for responding to the problems that have been identified on the commercial thoroughfares in West Side Park. Neighborhood-based revitalization efforts are better positioned to respond to the specific issues affecting the performance of a particular commercial district, and they are more likely to sustain the effort beyond the term of a particular funding stream. City and state agencies can play a significant role in commercial revitalization as sources of funding and technical assistance, but they are poorly positioned to guide the effort in such a way that an entire commercial district, as opposed to individual merchants, can be successful. At the neighborhood level, a structure must exist to not only develop comprehensive plans and sustain a revitalization effort, but also interact with government-sponsored programs, private foundations and commercial lending institutions.

This volume provides a framework, which can be applied in conjunction with both the study of conditions in West Side Park detailed in Part I and the specific recommendations described in Part III, for developing a neighborhood based revitalization effort. Examining the experiences of other communities that have successfully implemented commercial revitalization programs was our means of developing this framework. This volume is structured to provide both general goals and a strategy for developing a revitalization plan. The long-term goals include:

• Establishing a neighborhood business district that is safe and attractive
  
  
• Eradicating the negative image of West Side Park
  
  
• Attracting a more diverse mix of businesses that can better serve local residents
  
  
• Attracting investment to eliminate the large number of vacant lots and buildings in West Side Park
  
  
• Establishing greater political clout so that West Side Park becomes a priority for government agencies in Newark
  
  

The strategy for achieving these goals includes establishing trust between neighborhood-based actors, attracting investments from outside the community, building a coalition of merchants, and implementing short-term strategies that can lead to the achievement of long-term goals.

Our survey of New Jersey Special Improvement Districts¹ indicated that the most successful efforts utilized funding and assistance from a variety of sources. Part II includes a description of current resources within Newark, alternative funding sources, technical assistance providers, and governmental programs that the West Side Park neighborhood can access in order to facilitate the implementation of a revitalization plan. Also included are a description of activities and programs that can be implemented at the neighborhood level by neighborhood-based actors.

¹ The terms Special Improvement District (SID) and Business Improvement District (BID) are synonymous.