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Messages - Editor

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4141
Hackensack Discussion / Re: Main St.
« on: January 03, 2005, 11:50:05 AM »
Who is Sayhey?


4142
Hackensack Discussion / Re: Main St. downfall
« on: January 02, 2005, 09:52:53 PM »
There's plenty of hope and promise for Main Street.   The following information is an excerpt from: http://www.crcog.org/Publications/TCSP/Ch07_Fact%20Sheet_Main%20Street.pdf

The green, bolded text under "Revitalization" explains why I think the last post is off the mark.

Why Have So Many Main Street Areas Become Run Down?


Traditional Main Street areas ... have had a difficult time competing with auto-oriented commercial development in suburban areas. Strip-style commercial corridors, regional shopping malls, and big-box "power centers" are successful for many reasons. They have recognizable chain stores, large-scale shopping formats that provide a wide selection of goods, drive-through services, large movie theaters, large family restaurants, and most importantly, abundant parking and easy access for vehicles. By way of comparison, Main Street areas tend to offer unique and small-format spaces, which are generally unappealing to modern-day chain retailers, and they tend to be constrained in terms of parking and vehicular access. Most people living in the Hartford region nowadays are auto-dependent, and they tend to do their shopping in locations with the best automobile access and parking.

Why Re-invest in Main Street?

If suburban commercial sites are so successful, why should local municipality spend time and money attempting to revitalize the old town center? Many Main Street areas still have numerous businesses, residents, and employees, all of whom would directly benefit from improvements to the area. The town as a whole would benefit from the increased tax revenues from a revitalized commercial area. Most importantly, a Main Street area is usually the historical, cultural, civic and geographic center of the community, and improvements to the town center can bolster the town's pride, image, and residential property values.

From a "smart growth" perspective, town centers are "sustainable" growth centers. With higher-density development and a mix of commercial and residential uses, town centers provide a greater variety of housing types and more opportunities for walking, biking, and transit use.

Revitalization

This smart growth tool can be used in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

They are an alternative to the forces that fuel low-density suburban sprawl. A revitalized town center can attract new investment that adheres to a compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented format. There has never been a better time to engage in economic revitalization efforts in historic town centers. Old Main Streets are being revitalized nationwide, and some modern retailers see old Main Street areas as the "new frontier" of retailing. Oriented to pedestrians and specialty shopping, these businesses capitalize on the character value and foot traffic of Main Street. They tap into the market that seeks an alternative to mall shopping.

What Are the Chances of Success?

Many communities have been able to turn around their traditional Main Street areas. Downtown West Hartford, which initially could not compete with the West Farms Mall, managed to renew itself through a multi-faceted revitalization program. West Hartford has been successful because it has managed to build off of the unique attributes that distinguish it from suburban commercial sites: historic architecture, a traditional "Main Street" ambiance, a safe and pleasant walking environment, and unique non-chain stores. Importantly, West Hartford Center has a unique parking scheme that makes access convenient. Similar initiatives are currently being undertaken in Windsor Center and Downtown Rockville (Town of Vernon).



4143
Hackensack Discussion / Re: Main St. downfall
« on: January 02, 2005, 09:57:22 AM »
Sayhey:

If you are "sayheywillie"  from the other message boards, you invented online "Zisa bashing"!   

http://www.nj.com/forums/hackensack/index.ssf (Post No. 4 torwards bottom of page).

As for your theory of a "conflict on interest", the fact that I allow you to say what you do about this administration, without simply deleting your post, clearly shows that I am not conflicted.  If you go back and look at my posts, you will see that I almost never take a political stand one way or the other. 

My problem with your posts is not that you dislike the administration, but that you insinuate with no basis in fact.  You speculate and make conjecture with reckless disregard for whether or not what you say is true.  But even this I can tolerate if you would at least identify yourself.  Annonymously, you have nothing to lose if you are wrong.  When you identify yourself, you become accountable.  You are not accountable.

Your statement that "Main Street has been been left for dead" is nonsense in light of the SID.  (See articles above).  What are you talking about??? 

For the record (again), the City hired me to oversee the redesign of the official website and to maintain it regularly:  http://www.hackensacknow.com/forums/index.php/topic,292.0.html .  I made this fact known when I was hired.  People know who I am, where I come from, what I do. 

WHO ARE YOU?




4144
Hackensack Discussion / Re: Main St.
« on: January 01, 2005, 04:08:43 AM »
The current City administration spearheaded the Special Improvement District (SID) on Main Street (from Mercer to Sears).  This City Council is responsible for its formation and works with the SID to support Main Street's growth.

The southern portion of Main Street has yet to form a SID. I'm not sure, but I  think businesses in the southern portion of Main Street were not interested in a SID program.  If someone knows anything different, I'd like to know.

The current SID is just getting started.  Once it is in full swing, many are confident that it will be successful like SID's in other towns.  Bergenfield is one example.

Hackensack doesn't "add stores", - businesses do.  The City supports local merchants and fosters the development of a SID to make Main Street more attractive for businesses.

Comparisons to "Ridgewood and Englewood" are not appropriate.  They are completely different communities with completely different economic bases.  Hackensack can have a thriving, successful Main Street, but it probably won't be like Englewood any time soon.  In the future,  new housing stock in the surrounding Main Street neighborhoods will bring more spending dollars to Main Street (as many have speculated).

I and many others are very hopeful about Main Street's continued success. City residents should be cheering it on and supporting it.   
 
The last poster routinely attacks the current administration, always hiding behind anonymity.  I chose to allow anonymous posting because I want frank discussion in these boards.  Some posters abuse this privilege by personally attacking others (by name) without having the courage and common decency to identify themselves.  This makes me crazy. I can only hope that readers will give less credibility to anonymous posters and make some effort to familiarize themselves with the facts.

Towards that end, I provide links to these related articles:

A cleaner day dawns

Main Street Revitalization

The Main Street Business Alliance

Hackensack MSBA Embarks on District Improvements

Stores hope festive notes will entice shoppers

Bergen County briefs

Al Dib
Editor, Hackensack Now

4145
Hackensack Discussion / Amazing Pictures of Hackensack
« on: December 30, 2004, 01:33:05 PM »
The County Seat recently did an article about Bob Leafe, a local photographer.  His pictures are truly amazing.

To see his work, click here.

4146
Hackensack Discussion / Re: Merry Christmas
« on: December 30, 2004, 01:28:51 PM »
One of these days.  I want to play drums.  Send me an email.

4147
Hackensack Discussion / Merry Christmas
« on: December 24, 2004, 11:48:45 PM »
Merry Christmas
Happy Hanukkah
Kwanza Greetings

Wishing all the best for you and yours this Holiday Season.
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Al Dib
Editor, Hackensack Now

Spread the Joy with some follow-up posts!


4148
Free Classifieds and Announcements / Re: George Scudder Remembered
« on: December 10, 2004, 10:02:03 PM »
Yes.  How did you know him? (send me an email).

editor@hackensacknow.com

4149
Hackensack Discussion / Re: Hackensack Cultural Arts Center Part 2
« on: December 10, 2004, 09:54:00 PM »

          Many people have criticized that our Arts Center is too small.  Slow Down!!!!  First lets sell out all of our events consistently, and then we’ll talk about it being too small! 


Didn't Seussical sell out every seat for all performances???  Everytime I go there, it's a packed house. 

Seussical, by the way, was fantastic.  It caught me off guard.   This show was  truly something special. 

'Seussical': A flight of whimsy finds a home not flimsy

4150
Hackensack Discussion / City launches "Operation Clean Sweep"
« on: December 08, 2004, 04:28:41 PM »
The following is a press release issued by the City of Hackensack:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hackensack, NJ – December 8, 2004

Over the years, the City’s Property Maintenance Division has received numerous complaints from residents regarding the poor condition of several residential and commercial properties in the City.  In response to these complaints, a team of code officials will canvas the City over the next several months to enforce all applicable property maintenance codes.  Newly hired inspectors will participate in the canvas to ensure present and future code enforcement.  While the problem is limited in scope, even one sub-par property can affect a neighborhood. 

Inspectors will look for overall poor condition of structures, overhangs, gutters, driveways, fences, roofs, sidewalks and other deficiencies.  After the issuance of a citation, property owners will be allowed 14 days to remedy the violation. 

In addition, the City Council has introduced an ordinance that will require owners of single and two family homes to secure a Certificate of Continued Occupancy prior to selling or renting a home.  This procedure necessitates an inspection of the property.  Should an inspection reveal the existence of illegal housing units, including basement dwellings in violation of the Property Maintenance Code, homeowners will be required to remove these units.  Inspectors will also note any home improvement work that was performed without the issuance of a permit.  Homeowners will be required to obtain permits for all work covered under applicable City ordinance. 

“While we have had generally effective codes on the books, the key to improve the overall quality of life in the City is enforcement,” said Mayor John “Jack” Zisa.  “The update to our codes and supplementation of a staff of inspectors are vital components of the solution.” 

The City’s Property Maintenance Division welcomes this opportunity to work with City residents to make Hackensack a safer city and to improve the overall appearance of its neighborhoods.   

4151
Events & Calendar / City Council Meeting
« on: December 06, 2004, 05:00:08 PM »
City Council Meeting

8:00 City Hall

4152
Free Classifieds and Announcements / City Council Meeting Results
« on: December 06, 2004, 04:55:04 PM »
From now on, visitors looking for the results of the City Council Meetings can find them on the City's official site:

http://www.hackensack.org/content/43/94/default.aspx

I won't post them on Hackensack Now, but visitors are always free to comment on meetings in the message boards.


4154
Hackensack Discussion / Re: Does Hackensack do anything for the KIDS
« on: December 03, 2004, 02:18:18 PM »
Recreation programs for Hackensack children: http://www.hackensack.org/content/58/211/default.aspx

4155
Hackensack Discussion / Re: Staib Park Ice Skating
« on: November 30, 2004, 04:43:23 PM »
Update:  DPW put in a new fence to keep cars out of the rink.  They also re-sealed the 8" berm around the rink to hold in water and they cleared the rink of all debris. 

The City will see what it can do about temporary lighting.  Older, permanent lighting was vandalized and removed.  Still waiting on some benches. 

Does anyone what to volunteer to monitor the rink once complete?

 

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