More than 50 executives, developers, and politicians from the Garden State gathered in Hoboken on Jan. 17 for an awards ceremony hosted by a nonprofit group called Downtown New Jersey. The Somerville-based organization began in 1986 by advocates for better management of New Jersey’s urban and suburban downtowns.
Held at the Stevens Center on the Stevens Institute of Technology campus on Castle Point Terrace, the first annual “Best of the Best” awards honored the towns in the state who had outstanding achievements in downtown programming, planning and marketing, and innovative financing for downtown revitalization.
To kick off the evening, Hoboken Mayor David Roberts congratulated the award recipients and thanked them for their contributions to their towns’ downtown areas. During a 20-minute speech, Roberts also noted the progress the mile-square city has had through the years.
“Downtown districts are excellent for office space,” said Roberts. “I’m happy with the way the downtown sectors in the state are thriving.”
The 2001 honorees were: New Jersey Transit for stimulating public and private partnership; the Red Bank River Center for design guidelines; Midtown Elizabeth Special Improvement District (SID) for multi-faceted marketing; the Borough of Manville for downtown revitalization planning; the Highlands Business Partnership for destination marketing; the Trenton Downtown Association for leveraging cultural resources; and the Somerset County Economic Development Program for innovative financing for downtown revitalization.
During her acceptance speech, Trenton Arts Connection director Gail Cohen thanked the hundreds of artists who reside in the state’s capital and have helped beautify the city’s streets and public buildings. She encouraged other cities to utilize and incorporate artists in downtown development and revitalizing.
“Let artists be an intricate part of society. Use their talents and make the most of them in your towns,” Cohen said. “Have an artist be part of a planning board.”
Also receiving an award for her contributions to downtown revitalization was former New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jane Kenny. Presenting her with the award were state senate Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny, a Hoboken resident, and Bayonne Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr. Jane Kenny thanked the members of Downtown New Jersey and state community leaders.
“I always want other people to be recognized for their contributions,” Kenny said while at the podium. “I never thought I’d be the one receiving an award.”
Downtown New Jersey event chairwoman Beth R. Gorin, also the Bayonne town center executive director, said every aspect of downtown revitalization is unique to its own particular community, but not unique to the processes needed to make it happen.
“This award ceremony offers a chance for each community to show off their best ideas or studies,” Gorin said. “This in turn allows you the opportunity to benefit from their knowledge.”
Downtown New Jersey president Bob Goldsmith said he was excited with the turnout and the positive feedback from the crowd.
“It’s great to have all these leaders in one place talking about the future of downtowns,” Goldsmith said. “We expect to continue with the awards ceremony in years to come.”
The ceremony was sponsored in part by Downtown New Jersey, the Stevens Institute of Technology, and Campbell and Fitzgibbons Public Relations in Jersey City.
Downtown New Jersey consists of volunteer downtown leaders, professional managers, and consultants strive for successful revitalization for the state’s downtown areas, according to Goldsmith.
“We act as an advocate for downtown commercial districts in the state,” Goldsmith said.