Dear Editor:
The fire that gutted several businesses on Park Avenue was a terrible misfortune, and we offer our sympathies to the owner(s), merchants and employees who lost so much. As reported in your coverage of the fire, Mayor Richard Turner of Weehawken and Mayor Brian Stack of Union City called for rebuilding on the site. We urge both mayors to help these owners to rebuild their businesses, which provided such valuable services, and to use the rebuilding of this portion of Park Avenue as a catalyst to plan for the long term and the larger picture. The revitalization of Park Avenue has been long delayed and the time has come to move forward aggressively. We would recommend the formation of a Park Avenue Revitalization Commission, with representatives from both towns. The Commission’s first action would be to hire an architect/urban planner to prepare a planning study of the entire avenue. Such a study would include an existing conditions survey, analyze existing land uses and identify potential development sites, establish “highest and best” uses, analyze existing zoning, analyze transportation patterns and review environmental issues. Based on such a study, the architect/urban planner could prepare a comprehensive redevelopment plan (a “master plan”) for the street, including detailed recommendations on appropriate and inappropriate uses, bulk of buildings, setbacks, fenestration, materials, colors, signage, lighting, plantings, and all the other factors that contribute to a vital commercial artery.
Since the owner(s) of the lost buildings may want to rebuild soon, and other redevelopment activity is ongoing, the quick creation of a Commission is vitally important. The goal is to revitalize Park Avenue into a vibrant commercial corridor that provides the amenities long desired by local residents and attracts shoppers while continuing to provide affordable housing for the current residents. A dynamic Commission representing both Weehawken and Union City is the only way to insure a well-planned and well-used Park Avenue.
The Executive Committee
Weehawken Environment Committee