For the officials at Jersey City’s Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (SID), their job is all about choice. The growing business district already offers plenty for residents as well as visitors, but it’s the SID’s duty to create even more options that will attract newcomers and keep locals local.
A SID is a collection of businessmen and merchants in a particular area who pool resources to make upgrades in that location. A city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) oversees all SIDs and distributes money that the state provides as matching funds to the local SID budgets.
Megan O’Sullivan, the new president of the Historic Downtown SID and owner of Tia’s Place, a home goods and clothing store on Grove Street, says residents and local business owners already love Jersey City, but that she and her colleagues at the SID intend to give them even more reasons to keep their business local.
“If they could do everything they wanted to do in their neighborhood, they would choose that,” she says.
Accordingly, SID officials say they are looking to strengthen relationships with other local outfits – municipal organizations as well as cultural groups such as ProArts – to put together a full schedule of events to highlight Historic Downtown.
Though they haven’t finalized anything yet, SID officials are discussing a “shopping day” this fall, in which the district’s many merchants will offer discounts and giveaways.
Other events under consideration include a winter holiday event at City Hall, concerts, and street fairs. Such programs, O’Sullivan says, will position Historic Downtown Jersey City as a desirable location for residents and business owners as well as visitors.
“The goal is really for us to make it a destination where people want to spend the day and attend events,” O’Sullivan says.
Other members of the SID agree, noting that emphasizing Historic Downtown’s many pluses – like great restaurants, dozens of independently run shops, and a supportive community – is one of the group’s primary goals.
“The Downtown district is great – it’s so diverse, there are a lot of things to do,” says Elizabeth L. Young, the new secretary for the Historic Downtown SID and a property owner in the district. “It’s growing exponentially.”
Combine the SID’s plans for an active Downtown with renewed efforts for security and upkeep, and Historic Downtown is poised to continue its growth.
The full scope of the SID’s plans will be revealed in the coming months, but for more information about the Historic Downtown district, visit www.jcdowntown.com.