Students unveil ideas for borough's future
Revitalization to begin with short-term projects
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

A vision for the future of Jamesburg has taken shape.

A team of three graduate students from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University shared suggestions as well as findings they gleaned from working with the Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition during a presentation in New Brunswick May 3.

"It exceeded my expectations," coalition Chairman Elliott Stroul said. "I was really happy with the results. I think there is a lot of information in there that we'll resource for the future."

The coalition members, business owners, elected officials and members of the public gathered to view the fruits of months' worth of meetings and workshops. The student group used results of visual preference surveys and community workshops to create a portrait of how the revitalization efforts could take shape.

"I think they were into it," said Tim McManus, leader of the student group. "They really liked it. It was really a community-driven process."

A PowerPoint presentation created by the students outlined the context the town had to work with, the results of the survey and workshop, and an urban design plan to be used as a guide.

"We're not trying to dictate to them what to do," McManus said. "They're the people that live there and will use it."

The students found that, with more than 2,200 households and 19 retail establishments, Jamesburg is currently losing out on $16 million in potential retail sales. One of the ongoing goals of the coalition has been to attract more businesses to the town, thereby establishing Jamesburg as a destination point. Residents who took part in the surveys also held this as one of their objectives for the town.

Other goals of survey participants were to create both economic and cultural diversity, to improve walkability, to calm traffic, and to institute improvements around Lake Manalapan.

The presentation showed the ratings given to various photographs depicting options for different aspects of the revitalization of the downtown. Respondents showed dissatisfaction with the current appearance and structure of the area, instead opting for things like wider sidewalks and streets, as well as the introduction of retail and dining establishments surrounding Lake Manalapan.

A document drafted by the student group laid out design and architectural standards, as well as street regulation standards, streetscape elements, and landscape and open space design standards.

Stroul said the next step will be to review the information with the council and get input from the borough's combined Land Use Board for short-term projects, which are defined as goals to be completed within a year's time. The short-term projects deal with beautification of the downtown area in order to attract developers and retail establishments, Stroul said.

To achieve the beautification goals, Stroul said the coalition will seek donations and help from the community and local landscapers. Other, longer-term elements of the revitalization efforts will be planned out to take place over a five-year period.

"There was a lot of positive feedback from everybody after the presentation," Stroul said.

Since its inception, the coalition has encouraged involvement from all sectors of the community, stressing the importance of public participation in the town's future. A meeting to discuss what will come next in the revitalization efforts will be held this evening at 7 p.m. at borough hall.

"All of Jamesburg can be eternally grateful to the Rutgers students for their fantastic work," Stroul wrote on the coalition's Web site, www.ilovejamesburg.com.