Fourth Ward Councilor Renée Baskerville hosted the second meeting of the South End Business Improvement District (SEBID) at the Montclair Fire Department headquarters on May 9. The focus was on improving the commercial district along Orange Road near Cedar Avenue, but Baskerville also reiterated her opposition to making Orange Road a two-way street.
Dr. Baskerville reported that Chef Lance Knowling, who recently closed his Indigo Kitchen barbecue restaurant in Montclair, may be interested in opening a café in South End Montclair, and resident Steve Sprung suggested that a café facing the triangular plaza across from Cedar Avenue would provide a good opportunity to turn the plaza into a performance space for musicians to draw people to the area.
“We’re hoping we could create some kind of sense of positive energy,” Sprung said, saying that a small amphitheatre there would provide a parallel performance space to the Church Street plaza.
Sprung proposed that the SEBID group could approach the township with the suggestion of redoing the triangle, with benches placed along the perimeter and a stage facing the proposed café. The benches could be removed and stored to prevent the space from becoming a hangout when there are no concerts held.
The consensus among the participants was that as many storefronts as possible needed to be occupied in the South End, and Dr. Baskerville said she was hoping to have letters sent out to the owners of the vacant storefronts discussing the possibility of reducing their rents to make them more attractive for businesses and for artists. She said that this could make the buildings useful and stimulate interest among the landlords in getting their buildings occupied more quickly. In cases where storefronts remain vacant, Dr. Baskerville suggested the possibility of displaying artists’ work in the window to make Orange Road more visually appealing.
“That’s why it’s important that we have the owners…so we can contact them and say, ‘Look, we’ve noticed your building is empty, you know could we display some artwork,’ or whatever it is that this group is going to recommend,” she said.
The appearance of the buildings themselves was also an issue, with Dr. Baskerville noting that the Montclair Township Council is about to consider a sweeping ordinance reforming signage rules and regulations for commercial districts. She said that similar ordinances governing neighborhood/commercial districts like the South End should also be considered.
The participants at the meeting also looked at the possibility of starting a community garden in some open space on the block comprised of Rosedale Avenue and Pleasant Way, most likely on a piece of property along a brook behind the block. Resident Margaret Whitsett said that such a garden would have to be fenced in to keep animals out. She stressed that it would not necessarily have to be an eyesore, as many fenced gardens are in built-up areas. She also suggested a mixed use of the property.
“Part of it could be dedicated to gardening,” she said, “and part of it could be an art garden..I see it as multi-use.”
The meeting adjourned with Dr. Baskerville calling attention to the Montclair Planning Board’s second hearing on the master plan scheduled for Monday, May 13. She stressed her opposition to the proposal to make Orange Road a two-way street through the South End business district, citing the dangers to pedestrians – mostly children – who would have a tougher time crossing the street. Dr. Baskerville urged the attendees of the meeting to get as many opponents to the plan as possible to register their objections at the hearing.
“All of our children that are now able to cross one-lane traffic,” she said, “that are trying to go to Nishuane Park…some on their bikes, some people with strollers, now they’d have to navigate the two- way traffic, and cars are still going to be parked where they shouldn’t be . . .. To me, that would be an awful decision to make.” Sprung agreed, saying that the move would give more ground to motorists.
“We want this area to be more pedestrian-friendly,” he said.
That little triangle doesn’t strike me as a safe place for crowds to gather to listen to music, unless the roads were closed. It’s just too small and surrounded by busy streets.
More lighting and bigger police presence. Otherwise its still the ghetto!
I wouldn’t call the South End a ghetto…unless I was a trnsplant like the above poster..
transplant..exuse the typo..
Mountie3, the transplants think of any area that is predominantly Black as “ghetto” but they’d never take the time to even look around that area and find out for themselves. Racial harmony in Montclair.
Ah Kyle, what a little coward you are. Why don’t you be a big boy and say what you really mean. Come on Kyle, you know you want to. Come on now, on the count of three: I am afraid of (fill in the blank) because I am a disgusting (fill in the blank). You will feel so much better about yourself once you come out of the closet.
There’s a lot to like in the South End business district. Good sidewalks, decent amount of parking, easy access to the area etc.
What I don’t like about it is some of the buildings look shabby. Need a coat of paint, need grime removed or aluminum trim restored, etc. Not all, but enough that it draws attention.
It is a highly concentrated area for crime.
The aesthetics of the commercial buildings is terrible.
Homeowners/Propertyowners neglect their properties appearance and upkeep.
Consistent amount of loitering day and night.
Gang turf like crazy, ask the MPD Chief as he pointed it out two months ago.
Keep reading between the lines, because your baseless accusations are silly and make you look like the fool when the truth is right in front of your eyes.
If Kyle thinks that’s the ghetto, he’s clearly never seen certain areas of Paterson or Newark.
Kyle! Too easy! Thank you for taking the bait.
Now: slowly, carefully, think about what you want to say. This is going to be a big moment for you. You’re going to finally get this off of your chest. Ready? I am afraid of (fill in the blank) because I am a disgusting (fill in the blank.
Come on big boy! You can do it!
Hey Kyle,as a product of this “Ghetto” I’ll make sure that I maintain my three proprties and not loiter outside of them while collecting rent. I’ll also refrain from throwing gang signs as I’m heading into my barbers business, my dentist office or my chiropractor or optimologists.You truly have shown your “colors”.
Now that’s a true Mountie! Respect to you Mountie3
Likewise mtc4life…see u in Youngs sometime..
Actually, the Southend has some of the most beautiful and stately homes in all of Montclair, but if you insulate yourself to one part of town…you won’t know that. Ever been down Madison ave or rode your bike up Linden ave? I find many of the recent transplants in town don’t know anything about Porter Park or Eagle Rock Way or Warren Place either. South of Bloomfield Avenue is like an unexplored frontier for them.
For those of you who disparage areas with high minority populations and low income levels, I suggest you try being a 40 year old black woman, a 24/7 aide, taking care of an 85 year old white woman with Alzheimers and other infirmities, helping her eat, dress and go to the bathroom, realizing, all the while, that in much of the USA, that kind of painful yet important job requires patience plus a big heart, and only pays enough to cover rent in Irvington or Detroit, cheap unhealthy food, second hand clothing, occasional visits to the doctor or dentist, and not much else.
The Hound of the 4th Ward is on it! I expect a turnaround any day now.
@kyle Its amazing that tax paying residents of montclair would be met with such hatred for simply wanting to improve their community, for wanting to bring more business, more art. What sort of soulless person are you? (no pun intended). Where were you when walnut street was being redeveloped, the bay street station and the firehouse? I know I cant truly communicate with you, this post is primarily for those just reading along, but I do remember a time when people like you had left town and montclair was somewhat removed from this outward hostility. You must be very sad to see progress…….