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Trenton, N.J. (December 16, 2008) – State and local government officials joined CityWorks on Tuesday to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking of a large-scale redevelopment project in one of the gateway sections of Neptune Township. Midtown Commons, supported by a broad public-private partnership, helps to foster Governor Jon S. Corzine’s strategy to stimulate investment in New Jersey’s cities and reinforces the state’s commitment to growing jobs and business during this challenging economy.

“Enhancing our urban communities helps to re-energize our cities and provides additional resources to encourage community economic development and growth,” said EDA Chief Executive Officer Caren S. Franzini. “The redevelopment of West Lake Avenue, particularly during these tough economic times, will serve to strengthen the Neptune community by providing residents with a neighborhood center and by stimulating economic growth in the city.”

CityWorks, a nonprofit corporation created in 2004 to facilitate real estate projects in economically distressed neighborhoods throughout New Jersey, was tapped by Neptune in 2006 to redevelop the commercial corridor of West Lake Avenue, an area that has been in decline since the 1960s. With the support of various state and local governmental entities and organizations, the project aims to restore the commercial vitality of the corridor and create a town center for the community.

“It is truly an historic day for Neptune to see the beginning of a project which has involved and touched so many lives within the Midtown community and all of Neptune,” said Neptune Mayor Randy Bishop. “I am proud of CityWorks, NJEDA, TD Bank and our own Midtown Urban Renaissance Committee for the countless hours and efforts that have made what many thought impossible, now possible.”

“Nonprofit empowerment and community development are at the core of CityWorks’ mission, and the West Lake Avenue project fulfills all aspects of that calling,” said CityWorks Executive Director Tom Clark. “CityWorks is proud to oversee a project focused on recreating Neptune’s urban center to meet the needs of its residents and to serve as a catalyst for economic growth throughout the community.”

The $18.75 million redevelopment project consists of commercial and residential buildings, including a family health center, retail stores, office space, senior housing, off-street parking and a park. State assistance included a New Markets Tax Credits allocation, $2 million loan through the Local Development Financing Fund, a $1 million EDA guarantee of a $10.7 million senior leveraged loan from TD Bank, and a $250,000 direct loan to bridge environmental funding resources. The project is expected to create over 370 construction jobs and nearly 100 new, full-time jobs upon completion.
“TD Bank is proud to play a role in the revitalization efforts of Neptune and the surrounding communities,” said Jim Kiernan, market president, TD Bank. “TD Bank’s involvement is at the heart of our community culture and we believe it is both a privilege and responsibility to support our community.”

The EDA is a state financing and development agency that works to strengthen New Jersey’s economy by retaining and growing businesses through financial assistance, by renewing communities, and by promoting the States strategic advantages to attract domestic and international business.

To learn more about opportunities for business growth throughout New Jersey, visit the state’s business portal at www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov.

NEPTUNE — For Gail Oliver, the end of the beginning came on Nov. 5 when she watched heavy equipment as it tore through and tore down the house she grew up in, the one her parents purchased in 1942.

Oliver’s efforts to save her community, which she ultimately knew would end in the demolition of her family home, began after she lived through “the scariest time I have ever experienced,” the July nights in 1970 when neighboring Asbury Park burned.

When the July 4 riots took down Springwood Avenue next door, it also impacted the neighborhood where Oliver had spent a happy childhood. Before 1970, Springwood Avenue was the economic anchor in the heart of Midtown, surrounded by moderate homes, houses of worship, schools and small parks.

After 1970, it was a mess, the kind of street people used but didn’t really see. Oliver remembered Springwood Avenue as a “once-famous street, up in smoke, all hope gone.”

In 1996, Oliver called newly installed Neptune Mayor Patricia Monroe, and stayed vocal over the decades. In 1998, Neptune was inducted into the state’s Neighborhood Empowerment Program. Soon, Concerned Midtown residents formed the Midtown Neighborhood Empowerment Council.

At the first meeting, which Oliver missed, she was elected president. The group morphed into the Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation, a nonprofit agency that helped Neptune officials attract partners to redevelop the community.

Tuesday, the diverse group held a symbolic groundbreaking to celebrate the beginning of construction of Midtown Commons. The $18.75 million project is being undertaken by CityWorks, a nonprofit corporation created in 2004 to build projects in the state’s economically distressed neighborhoods.

CityWorks will build a series of commercial and residential buildings, including a family health center, retail stores, office space, senior housing, off-street parking and a park. State aid included a New Markets Tax Credits allocation, $2 million loan through the Local Development Financing Fund, a $1 million Economic Development Authority guarantee of a $10.7 million senior leveraged loan from TD Bank, and a $250,000 direct loan to bridge environmental funding resources.

The project is expected to create more than 370 construction jobs and nearly 100 new, full-time jobs upon completion.

For Oliver, watching her house demolished so the community could begin to prosper filled her with mixed emotions. “It’s about change for improvement,” she said. She also noted she cried when the house came down.

She credited Monroe, former Mayor Tom Catley and other officials who continued to push through the project, even when administrations changed. Mayor Randy Bishop is the latest cheerleader.

“It is hard to describe the feeling when I drove down West Lake Avenue and saw all the trucks and activity, a thrill ran down my spine,” said Catley. “In a much larger sense, the joy I feel was for a community that once again has opportunity and hope after decades of self destruction and neglect.”

Bishop expressed gratitude for the project partners, which include Jersey Shore University Medical Center, which will relocate its family health center to the commons. He praised TD Bank and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority as well as CityWorks, whose officials said they came to Monmouth County looking to do a project in Asbury Park and instead found Neptune.

“No journey that is worthwhile is undertaken alone,” said Bishop. “We have been together through tough times and we will all be together for the elation. . . . This township is about tomorrow. This township is about Midtown Commons.”

Christina Foglio, who is the head of CityWorks, presented city officials with an old paper cup, which had been fashioned into a work of art. She said it was for CityWorks Executive Director Tom Clark as he brings the project to completion.

“A cup of coffee gives some satisfaction and warmth,” she said of the remade symbol. “What redevelopment does is warm the heart . . . The cup” is for Clark “so he keeps getting up and looking at the cup differently and keeps the caffeine going and never throws the cup away.”

The project, completed without the use of eminent domain, is noteworthy, particularly during a challenging economy, said EDA Chief Executive Officer Caren S. Franzini.

“Neptune is such a jewel of a city,” she said at the ceremony at the Midtown Community Elementary School. “. . . The redevelopment of West Lake Avenue, particularly during these tough economic times, will serve to strengthen the Neptune community by providing residents with a neighborhood center and by stimulating economic growth in the city.”‘

A landmark groundbreaking for redevelopment along West Lake Avenue in Neptune’s Midtown area was celebrated as an important milestone for the community at a special ceremony on Tuesday.

Mayor Randy Bishop referred to the groundbreaking as “an incredible occasion.”

“This is one of the most momentous and happy days in Neptune Township. We are on our way to making the dream a reality,” he said.

Construction of a two-story office building on the southern side of the street to house various medical services for the Jersey Shore University Medical Center and other independent operations is now underway.

Township, county and state dignitaries attended the groundbreaking with a larger ceremony taking place at the new Midtown Community Elementary School on Route 33 later in the morning.

The project, through efforts of the Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation and CityWorks Inc., received $20 million in state funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for the project.

Bishop praised MURC as “the backbone of community support.”

More commercial buildings, a park, and a senior citizens residence is planned for the area.

“This is about change and it’s about history. Today does mark a milestone,” said MURC’s vice president, Gail Oliver.

Oliver was one of the original founders of MURC and her family’s home was razed last month to make way for the current redevelopment project. She recalled her happy days living in her family house on what was then Springwood Avenue but she also spoke about her despair and fear when riots occurred in the area in 1970.

“My community and my street were ripped apart,” she said.

Oliver also recalled how she and then Mayor Patricia Monroe sat down for the first time about a decade ago to discuss redevelopment of the area and having the 3.5-block area declared an area in need of redevelopment by the state.

Monroe said the enthusiasm of residents and township officials were important factors in making the redevelopment happen.

“This is a glorious day for Neptune,” she said.

Committeeman Thomas J. Catley said the community now has hope and opportunity in the wake of 40 years of neglect.

“This is the story of a community that embraced change. We did not let redevelopment become a political football,” he said.

Nat Cave, who lives on Myrtle Avenue in the middle of the redevelopment area, said he sees the improvements as very good but a longtime coming,

“It’s time to rebuild the community and establish it once again. It’s a great improvement to revitalize the area,” he said.

Dennis Davis, who lives on the other side of Route 35 at West Lake and Taylor avenues, said he wants to know when redevelopment will cross over the highway to his neighborhood.

He said his neighborhood needs curbs, sidewalks, parking, housing and other improvements,

“It goes from a neighborhood to the hood. The community just ran down and there are a lot of transients. They keep telling me we will be the next project,” he said.

Both men said they favor renaming West Lake Ave. back to Springwood Avenue, noting the street’s rich business and cultural history.

BY BILL BOWMAN
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
Story Chat Post Comment

NEPTUNE — Gail Oliver peeked out from under her umbrella with a look somewhere between expectation and trepidation Monday as she watched a backhoe rip through the first of two empty West Lake Avenue homes.

“This does represent hope,” Oliver said as she watched the demolition.

As the founder of the Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation, the group spearheading the revitalization of the Midtown section, Oliver has been waiting for this day for years.

But she also knows that part of that progress means that one day her West Lake Avenue home — the house in which she grew up — will also fall victim to the wrecker’s ball.

The buildings taken down Monday — two shotgun homes next to each other that neighbors dated as either 60 or 70 years old — were razed to make way for a playground that is being relocated from across the street. An office building is planned for the area now used by the playground.

The demolition was the first physical step in more than a year in the West Lake Avenue redevelopment project, which will result in the part of the street between Route 35 and the Asbury Park boundary converted into more than 120,000 square feet or residential, retail and office space.

MURC and the township’s Economic Development Council are working together with Trenton-based CityWorks, the project’s redeveloper.

Monday’s demolition “represents another step toward the future of the new West Lake Avenue,” Oliver said. “It also resurrects some very bad memories dating back to the 1970s, which caused all this, not just here, but in other urban towns as well.”

Deputy Mayor Randy Bishop was also on hand to witness the demolition.

Bishop said that “after many delays, it’s good to see something taking place for the rehabilitation of West Lake Avenue.”

“Everybody’s anticipating this,” Bishop said. “It will be nice to have something to show that it is moving forward.”

Bishop said the two homes had been rental units for years. He said the township bought the homes and the residents were relocated.

Area businesses also are looking forward to the revitalization, said Bob Jameson, owner of Jameson’s Restaurant on Route 35. “It’s definitely positive,” he said, adding that it symbolizes “a new beginning for West Lake Avenue.”