HOBOKEN—Hoboken has been selected as a finalist for the 2014 People’s Choice Award for best downtown given by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, the city announced Friday. The winner will be selected through a poll on the American Planning Association, in which the city encourages members of the public to vote.
The mile square city is competing to be named the best downtown in Northern New Jersey. The other three finalists in that category are historic downtown Jersey City, Montclair Center, and Downtown Morristown.
“Hoboken has become the fastest-growing city in New Jersey because people want to live in vibrant, walkable, transit-rich communities,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “We’re honored to be a finalist in this competition to recognize the great downtowns in New Jersey.”
If Hoboken wins, it would not be the first time the city has received plaudits from the American Planning Association. In 2010, Washington Street was named a Great Street, and last year, Hoboken’s South Waterfront was named a Great Place in New Jersey.
According to the Planning Association website, Hoboken was nominated by someone with the initials A.P. and selected as a finalist by a panel of planning professionals.
The nomination summed up the appeal of Hoboken thusly: “Incredibly walkable -very large number of shops, outdoor cafes, bars -great waterfront parks and walkways with the best views of New York . . .”
The online poll is open until Sept. 26 and can be located HERE. Participants can only vote once.
If the city’s downtown wins, it will receive a plaque and be placed on a list of Great Places in New Jersey on the Planning Association website.