WOW in NJ!!!

I received the following email on some incredible things going on in Millville, NJ (population 26,847) from Don Ayres. I was very impressed with how they started to turn things around with their decision five years ago to create an arts district in their decaying downtown. Look at how one positive project can lead to other great things for a town. Here is his email.

Jack: I wanted to follow up briefly regarding the City of Millville, New Jersey’s continued progress on a number of fronts:

1. Final site plan approval of the New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), a $100 million, 1,500 job, complex that will include auto racing, tourism and hospitality, education, research, and industrial components. A spring or summer of 2006 groundbreaking is anticipated.

2. Construction start for Union Lake Crossing, a $70 million regional shopping center that will be anchored by Target and create 1,000 new jobs.

3. The commencement of a process to create a 2.5 mile Strategic Riverfront Redevelopment Plan along the center city portion of the Maurice River waterfront. It is expected that this plan will facilitate the redevelopment of vacant glass factories and cotton mills into mixed-use projects, transforming Millville’s downtown and central neighborhoods.

These efforts began with a decision in 2000 by Millville’s Commissioners to create an arts district in the City’s declining downtown. At the time, there were no artists or galleries in the area. This initiative, backed by a $2.3 million City bond, has been a huge success. 65 new businesses, including galleries, studios, specialty retailers, restaurants, and pubs have opened in the last 5 years. The vacancy rate has gone from 60% to 5%. Property values have doubled and the first new downtown construction in 30 years is underway.

Everyone agrees that the Commissioners’ commitment to create the Glasstown Arts District was the critical action needed to begin Millville’s rebound.