NEWS from the
TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON

"It is the goal of this administration to investigate and implement any initiative that will improve life in Irvington, and to do so with all due care, commitment and concern."
MAYOR WAYNE SMITH

The Township of Irvington is celebrating the emerging revitalization of one of its most visible corridors with the 1st Annual 18th Avenue Day, an initiative by the Neighborhood Preservation Program that is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2007 from 10 am until 6 pm, between Isabella Avenue and Western Parkway.

Featuring an enviable, robust roster of fun and educational activities, the event is designed to attract the community involvement that is fundamental to the growth of 18th Avenue. “Government can provide the money and resources,” Mayor Wayne Smith said, “but progress, in large part, depends on the sustained participation of the people.”

Targeting all of 18th Avenue from 22nd Street to the Newark line, the NPP was launched in March 2006 from a $125,000 state grant from the Department of Community Affairs, with a renewable annual installment of $100,000 until 2010.

Municipal officials are planning to leverage the $525,000 grant with private monies to increase the aesthetic appeal of commercial and residential properties that front 18th Avenue, through such enhancements as façade improvements and streetscaping projects. The neighborhoods will also benefit, as the program will fund upgrades to aging housing stock. Home improvement grants are available for income-eligible owners who reside in their 18th Avenue properties. The repair &/or installation of chimneys, roofs, gutters, leaders, siding, doors, windows, steps, stairs, rails, porches, fire escapes, driveways, fencing and storm doors are among the qualifying projects. In addition, $1000 grants for painting are available for eligible homeowners.

The Avenue will be home to three major commercial structures, one of which is nearing completion. An existing liquor store located at the triangular intersection of 18th Avenue and 21st Street will be converted to a franchise of the regional grocery store chain Krauszer's in a $500,000 privately-funded project. The 3,900 square-foot textured brick establishment is expected to generate about 10 full- and part-time jobs. "It was decided that the community, which is poised at the cusp of a major revival, would greatly benefit from a clean, safe and well-appointed store offering an appealing variety of products and services," according to Krushang Patel, CFO of Maharaj, Inc., the property and business owner. Construction is expected to begin this summer.

A former gas station abuts the establishment and will be targeted for rehabilitation under the NPP, as well as the reconfiguration of the intersection to allow safer passage of foot and vehicular traffic.

A $6 million mixed-use structure housing 3 retail stores and 18 condominiums is planned for the corner of Western Parkway by Burwell Capital Partners, a real estate development firm headed by Uriel Burwell, a longtime community activist. The wireless building will be "really trend-setting not only for 18th Avenue, but for the Township of Irvington and Essex County," due to solar-powered, environmentally-friendly construction, Burwell said.

An upscale, NY-style deli has been confirmed as one of the tenants, while negotiations are underway with Carver Savings Bank, the nation's largest African American-owned bank, he added. Partial funding of the project will be provided by the NJ Redevelopment Authority. Construction is expected to commence in the summer.

General practitioner Dr. Rudolph Willis of Irvington Family Practice, one of the best-known medical offices in the township, will be expanding his 20-year-old operation with a 1,200 square-foot satellite office that was formerly a bar between Columbia and Isabella avenues. The $40,000 facility will celebrate its grand opening during 18th Avenue Day. The practice will offer comprehensive services for all ages. Substance abuse treatment will also be available.

"We are committed to the rebirth of the 18th Avenue community and are proud to bring much-needed healthcare services to the residents of this area," according to Willis, a native Jamaican who heads the Caribbean Medical Mission, an organization that provides free medical assistance to financially eligible persons of Caribbean descent.

The new office is conveniently located next to Camp Drugs, a pharmacy that has served the community for almost 20 years.

These developments mark a dramatic departure from years of decline due to inaction by prior municipal administrations. The reversal began in August 2006, when the mayor led an NPP sweep of commercial enterprises in violation of various municipal codes. Four stores on 18th Avenue were shut down and ordered to take corrective measures before approval was granted to re-open. One establishment facing daily fines of $1000 for a falling ceiling fixed the problem overnight. "It was critically important for us to set the stage for the revival of 18th Avenue by identifying business owners who fail to maintain clean, sanitary and law-abiding facilities," Smith said at the time.

Persuaded by the prospects for change through the NPP, almost 50 residents in March 2007 attended a community meeting, during which the mayor and his cabinet presented an overview of the program and the real estate redevelopment plan for the 18th Avenue corridor. In addition, 23 persons who completed residential surveys from the state were each rewarded with $50 gift certificates from Newark Paint & Wallpaper in Irvington.

"The residents and business owners are standing side-by-side with us," NPP Coordinator Melody Thomas said. "Because 18th Avenue is a strategically located area, its successful transformation will resonate throughout Irvington and in the bordering community. We ask that everyone come out to 18th Avenue Day in support of this crucial mission."

Several of the businesses on 18th Avenue have donated to the event, as follows:
• Kearny Federal Savings Bank, money
• J. K. Health Food/money
• San Miguel Grocery/ money
• Malibu Barber Shop/money
• Camp Drugs/hot dog and hamburger rolls
• Wear & Wear Clothing/sodas, waters
• Westbrook Liquors/sodas, cups
• Phillip’s Florist/cups, condiments
• Touch Nail & Hair/paper plates, cups, napkins, condiments
• Meat Mini Market/juices, sodas

Other contributors are:
• Investor Savings Bank, Irvington/money
• East Ward Community Collaborative, Irvington/money
• Holy Dove Christian Fellowship, Newark (at the Irv. line) /money
• Dr. Richard Wolf, chiropractor, Maplewood/money
• Davis & Young Realty, Newark/money
• Exit VIP Realtors, Bloomfield/money
• NJ-American Water, Voorhees/350 bottles of water
• 18th Avenue Block Association, Irvington/bags for giveaways
• Rapp’s Beer & Soda, Irvington/juices
• Alpine Ice, Bloomfield/ice
• Popeye’s, Irvington/chicken

Last month (April 2007), Thomas hosted 17 NPP coordinators and throughout the state and DCA officials during a meeting and bus tour of the target area. The coordinators meet monthly at rotating host NPP cities to exchange ideas on advancing the program. Discussions at the Irvington meeting focused on opening a police mini-precinct, securing billboard advertising and ridding stores of existing metal gates.

“We will assess these options and other concepts to promote progress on 18th Avenue,” Thomas said.

In April 2006, the mayor led DCA Commissioner Susan Bass Levin and other state officials on a tour of 18th Avenue in preparation for the township’s application for designation as an NPP community.

For more information about the 18th Avenue NPP, please call (973) 416-6237

18TH AVENUE DAY ACTIVITIES
SATURDAY, MAY 19 FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM

Homebuyers’ seminar
Jordan Baris Realtors, South Orange
Davis & Young Realtors, Newark
Exit VIP Realtors, Bloomfield
Home improvement seminar
Chuck Nwodili Home Improvements, Irvington
Health fair
Horizon BC/BS, American Red Cross, Irv. health department
E. O. General Hospital, state department of health
Cleanups and plantings, Irvington Department of Public Works
Voter registration, Essex County Registration Office
Opening of satellite medical office
Dr. Rudolph Willis, Irvington Family Practice, Irvington*
Giveaways of smoke detectors, Irvington Fire Department
Giveaways of gift certificates for motion detectors
Home Depot, Vauxhall
Display of public safety vehicles, Irvington police & fire depts.
Opening custodial bank accounts, Kearny Federal Savings Bank, Irvington*
Face painting for children, Kearny Federal Savings Bank, Irvington*
Basketball tournament, Irvington Police Dept. vs. Newark Express ABA team
Open mic contest, junior and senior high school students
Gospel show w/singers and praise dancers, Holy Dove Christian Fellowship*
Giveaways of home improvement items, Newark Paint & Wallpaper, Irvington
Information tables, municipal agencies, community/ social services

Food and DJ included.

Overview of 18th Avenue revitalization
Appearance by Mayor Wayne Smith
and other public officials
11:30 am until 1 pm

* establishment located on 18th Avenue

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