About two dozen members of the city’s Chamber of Commerce gathered at a luncheon at the Brass Rail Restaurant Wednesday to listen to Mayor David Roberts discuss economic development in the city. At the event, the mayor talked about his goals for expanding, encouraging and stimulating business growth in the city.
The Hoboken Chamber of Commerce is a six-year-old organization that currently has around 150 members. The group meets for several luncheons a year and monthly business card exchanges where its members are able to network and work out common issues that business owners and interests in Hoboken are facing.
The Chamber invites local community leaders to its meetings to discuss how different segments of the community can come together to operate in an integrated fashion.
“I’ve always believe that a community works best when the government, business community, and residents are able to effectively work together,” said Chamber President John Parchinsky Wednesday.
Supports the coming hotel
Roberts began his speech by thanking the Chamber for its support for the new W Hotel that is scheduled to begin construction as early as this year on the Southern Waterfront. During a particularly tense period last December, the Chamber came out in support of the 260-room hotel. The W Hotel chain is owned by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, based in White Plains, N.Y. Starwood Hotels and Resorts operates other hotels including the Sheraton, St. Regis and Westin chains. “This W Hotel is going to be an economic engine for every business in Hoboken,” said Roberts. “The Chamber really stepped up to the plate in supporting this project.”
The mayor also talked about the impact that the Southern Waterfront Redevelopment, which runs from First to Fourth streets along the waterfront, has already had on the city. “These companies have already brought 800 employees to Hoboken,” said Roberts. “These are workers that are walking down our main street, eating in our restaurants and shopping in our stores.”
Future goals
But most of Roberts’ talk centered on his goals for future economic development in Hoboken. The first idea that he presented was to possibly turn Observer Highway from a drab and industrial-looking southern entrance to the city into an attractive boulevard lined with trees and retail, office, and residential development. Roberts added that making the gateways to the city more welcoming will make coming to Hoboken a more appealing proposition.
The mayor also suggested that in the future, the city will investigate creating an Economic Development Zone in the former industrial area north of the 14th Street Viaduct. Roberts said that he and several other members of the administration recently traveled to Manchester, Vermont. Manchester is known for being a successful business district full of popular outlet. The proposal of creating an Economic Development Zone would be to increase private investment, encourage job creation and enhance economic growth through zoning and economic benefits. “It would be to the benefit of all Hoboken residents to have quality shopping outlets in the northwest portion of town,” said Roberts.
The third concept that Roberts suggested was to pursue having Washington Street as a Special Improvement District (SID). In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the city attempted to create a SID along the city’s central business district, but that movement never got off the ground. The city would have to apply to the state of become an SID. The advantage of being a SID is that the merchants are able to collect a self imposed tax from businesses in the designated SID area. With those funds the merchants would be able to make façade improvements, erect street signage and participate in a group marketing campaign.
“We would like to have Washington Street made an SID because it will create the funding that a main street like Hoboken’s needs,” said Roberts. He added that there might be news on the SID by this summer.
“We would like to have Washington Street made an SID because it will create the funding that a main street like Hoboken’s needs,” said Roberts. He added that there might be news on the SID by this summer.
Finally, Roberts talked about the Hoboken Terminal. NJ Transit will soon renovate the Hoboken ferry terminal to the same quality of the train terminal’s recently renovated waiting room. The massive project will cost about $100 million. NJ Transit wants to begin construction by 2005. In the new space there will be substantial room for retail space.
Roberts said he is in negotiations with NJ Transit to make sure that local merchants get the first crack at what will be highly coveted space.
“Every day there are going to be 30,000 people passing thought this terminal,” said Roberts. “This will be an excellent opportunity to attract these commuters into these new shops, restaurants and other venues.”
Any local business owner, resident or visitor to Hoboken who has a question about joining or services that the Chamber provides should call (201) 222-1100.