| Author | Message | ||
     ligeti Citizen Username: Ligeti Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2002 |
Call me a dreamer, but instead of seedy hair salons and auto repair shops, why can't we see a Staples or a Borders on Springfield Ave.? It's a shame that for most of the basics of everyday life with kids, a lot of us end up going to Rt. 10 or 22 and forking over our tax dollars to the residents of other townships. I really do try to patronize local merchants as much as possible, but in the real world, it is hard to thumb your nose at the selection and convenience of a Barnes & Noble, Target, Olive Garden, Staples, Sports Authority, etc. I love Maplewood and will grin and bear it for as long as I can afford the taxes, but it really is a shame we can't get a few major merchants in here to provide the basics and generate meaningful tax revenue. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1823 Registered: 5-2001 |
Where would you put these stores? Would you be willing to condemn people's homes to create lot sizes large enough to accomodate stores like the ones you mentioned? Would you be willing to endure the heavier vehicular traffic and the greater pressure on our police, fire, and public works facilities needed to accomodate them? The alternative is to encourage Mom and Pop alternatives: much smaller, poorer selection, higher prices but perhaps greater personal attention and more of a shopper-friendly atmosphere. If you would support this approach, then you will be happy to know that Maplewood already has alternatives to many of the big chain stores you mentioned. | ||
| Nlanzieri Citizen Username: Nlanzieri Post Number: 136 Registered: 1-2003 |
Heres a thought, What about express versions of these stores for small towns or areas like ours? Mcdonalds already has express stores that they cant fit on larger properties. Lowes express Staples Express Barnes and Noble Express etc. etc. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1669 Registered: 9-2001 |
"...it really is a shame we can't get a few major merchants in here to provide the basics and generate meaningful tax revenue." Good ideas Joan, you too Nlanzieri. Hey, we need input and every little bit helps. However, I believe bringing new and meaningful merchants to the Avenue is a lot more about stabilizing the business community, than generating tax revenue. As already stated, there is no room for a full size Barnes & Noble, Target, Olive Garden, Staples, Sports Authority, etc. on the Avenue, and even if there were we wouldn't want them. There is no reason to continue to be disheartened by all the past years of deterioration and decline. The Avenue is now getting a much needed make over. The loss of some of the ma pop stores that once occupied the community is just part of the process. As the age, racial, and ethnic makeup of the residents change, so will the stores and shopping habits of the community. The good news is that we continue to see the fruits of all the planning and leadership that has worked so hard to meet the changing needs of thsee new residents. The circumstances that caused the problems didn’t happen over night, and we shouldn’t expect the improvements to happen over night either. As long as our community is willing to support and stand behind the efforts being made, the progress will continue, and hopefully new businesses will open that will fill the new needs of the community. Almost everyday I can see more improvements being made to the streetscape. The Avenue is kept clean, and it looks better every day. Listen folks, we need to continue to have heart. The table is being set in preparation for the celebration. Trust me, there are lots of enterprising young entrepreneurs who are eying these changes and hopefully will soon acknowledge the positive possibilities of doing business on the Avenue. There is a certain amount of irony in what I’m about to say, but if we want to be honest about the work being done on the Avenue, it’s true… LET THE PROGRESS CONTINUE! | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10150 Registered: 10-2001  |
I still like Marie's campaign idea of building skyscrapers on Springfield Avenue. I believe that she was advocating a 42 story high Staples on a lot that was 60x 50. Hit 28 for me, I need to get some ink cartidges for my Canon. Oh that's right, HP is on 28, Canon is on 31 ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <---- | ||
| virgilian Citizen Username: Virgilian Post Number: 75 Registered: 7-2001 |
Ligeti-We could raze the whole town and replicate Livingston or Union County. Eliminate the train line, replace the tracks with a rte. 22-style highway setup with lots of jughandles. Start over with a lot more parking and more up-to-date big box convenience stores. Why are nail salons seedy? Don't customers go there for hygienic reasons? | ||
| virgilian Citizen Username: Virgilian Post Number: 76 Registered: 7-2001 |
And Ligeti- haven't you noticed that the whole country, like New Jersey, has paved itself with highways, parking and big-box retailing? Whole small town commercial districts are abandoned for a national chain store, just outside a town's city limits. Why on earth would you think it good to destroy our island of different-ness here? I'd gladly pay more taxes to not live in the degradation you crave. Small buildings like some on Springfield make smaller retailers possible which backward romantics like myself value. We have the Costco easily within driving distance. Why have you let Staples or WalMart or whomever take over the "basics" of your life? Tell me the Olive Garden is better than Verjus. Yeah it's more expensive, get a salad then. Besides The greasy bread sticks at the other place drives up your weight. If that's what you think, you have the rest of the more-desolate-by-the-day American landscape to escape to. | ||
| Arnomation Citizen Username: Arnomation Post Number: 13 Registered: 7-2003  |
The one thing that comes to mind for me when I imagine Springfield with a Barnes & Noble and a Starbucks and Gap and TGI Fridays is where are customers going to park??? It looks pretty crowded and there's a good deal of traffic already so unless they eliminate some buildings for parking I'd imagine it would be a nightmare to try and shop over there. M ________________ Michael Arnold arnomation@verizon.net | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1671 Registered: 9-2001 |
Parking, one of by favorite subjects.... No problem Michael, no problem at all! Check back on the "Ring of Fire" thread for more information on how to help eliminate the over reliance on parking around a 10 mile loop of the Maplewood/South Orange shopping districts. And, at the same time, this jitney route will go a long way in helping to enhance both communities economic development programs. We’ve have the jitneys, we have the driver’s, we have the authorization, and we have the population to substantiate any risk for trying it! The chances are good that we can get some help with the financial support from merchants as well. I also have yet to hear a good reason why we shouldn’t go forward with the idea. | ||
| ErinS Citizen Username: Erins Post Number: 27 Registered: 2-2003 |
I'm new to Maplewood...coming from a town with 3 Dunkin Donuts, 3 CVS, 2 Starbucks, a Gap, a Talbott, and a Williams Sonoma. Sure I miss the convenience of having all these stores within walking distance/5 minute drive. But I also remember the pain trying to park on a Saturday just to patronize those stores. I'll gladly schlep out to 22 or 10 for a Target...let those lofolks deal with the headaches! | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 3258 Registered: 5-2001 |
Because of economic forces, both here in town and in surround areas it is unlikely that any national retailer is going to take a fling on SA. The only possiblities are to somehow, and I don't have a clue how, make the area a "cool" place and a destination location or to get the state to declare it an economic development zone (probably not the right terminology) where sales tax is waived. This, btw, isn't as far fetched as it might sound given our high unemployment rate and relatively low income levels in negiborhoods adjacent to the avenue. I brought this up a few months ago and got trashed pretty well since most of the posters here want to view Maplewood as something it isn't. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1675 Registered: 9-2001 |
IKEA in Elizabeth, and Springfield Avenue in Irvington are both in the 3% zone and they both stay pretty busy. Since you think most posters want to view Maplewood as something it isn't, maybe they better start viewing Springfield Avenue as it is... Bob, lots of different things are cool. I think saving 3% on my sales tax is cool. I also think getting around town in a jitney and not having to park my car is very cool. BTW, I think all the attention and continuing improvements being made on the Avenue is cool too... LET THE PROGRESS CONTINUE!  | ||
| mtierney Citizen Username: Mtierney Post Number: 381 Registered: 3-2001 |
I'm still thinking about a compact Trader Joe's...or, IMHO, a much needed walk-in medical facility. | ||
| hello Citizen Username: Hello Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2003 |
trader joe's isn't large- one would fit there. they have small ones all over the l.a. area. i think the problem with SA for national retailers is it is not freeway-convenient as a destination. i think SA could be made cool, and this would really help property values over there. but they are going to have to eliminate on-street parlking to make it happen- the traffic is ridiculous as is and it is absurd for those folks down near millburn and vauxhall to park on the street. it needs to be two lanes each way and a perpetual center lane for left turns. otherwise, i have little intention to drive up there, and i'm guessing many others feel the same way. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1680 Registered: 9-2001 |
"I have little intention to drive up there..." I suspect you won't be going up there anytime soon. The on-street parking and neck downs to tame traffic is what the town has wanted for Springfield Avenue for many years. Now that they have it, they're not changing it back to a four-lane highway again. As Joan suggested in another thread, “Take a little time to learn about the financial circumstances affecting Maplewood and South Orange. Then perhaps you will understand the problems under discussion here a little bit better.” I'm also beginning to think that if anything was cool, it would be cool if you took some time to understand what's happening in our community before you keep making some of these suggestions... Please don't take what I said personally, certainly you're able to do what ever, and welcome to ask all the questions you like, it’s just that you appear to be new in town…Good luck... | ||
| hello Citizen Username: Hello Post Number: 10 Registered: 7-2003 |
ajc- i assumed if people were seriously talking about trying to increase business along springfield avenue then they would believe that a state of permanenet gridlock there will keep everyone away who doesn't live within walking distance. we shop downtown when possible, and we would love to shop on springfield. but my time is a bit too scarce for the less than 3 mile trip to take 40 minutes round trip. anyway, i think i understand a couple of things better. the lay of the land, so to speak. thank you. you're a nice person. good luck. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1682 Registered: 9-2001 |
You're right... traffic, parking, and traffic looking for parking is a problem both on the Avenue and in our village's. These problems are all the more reason to provide an all-day jitney for our combined communities. No, not everyone would use it. No, it wouldn't raise our taxes. No, it wouldn't be the end all to our problems.... but it would sure help hundreds, if not thousands of residents each month to better get around towns. Build it and they'll come! Remembering back fifty years ago as a kid myself, in middle or senior high school, either walking home in all kinds of weather, visiting friends on the other side of town, going to Grunnings in South Orange, or what ever, a buck for a ride even back then would have been well worth it. I'm willing to bet (all the pancakes you can eat) that hundreds of our kids today would also love to ride the on and off again jitney for a dollar a loop as well... Thanks again for your input Hello, it gives me a perfect forum to promote my "Ring of Fire" solution for parking, traffic, and economic development for our town. | ||
| 1-2many Citizen Username: Wbg69 Post Number: 177 Registered: 6-2002 |
check it out - I wrote to Trader Joe's and asked them to consider us - here is the reply, which I am THRILLED to have received, especially since most people today just don't reply at all: Dear Ms. [Many]: Thank you for your recent letter re: a Trader Joe's for Maplewood, NJ. As you know, we have a couple of stores somewhat near by in Westfield and Florham Park, although probably not readily convenient to your town. I've asked my local real estate rep to run an analysis of the area, showing me Maplewood's population density among other things. We'll take a look at it and see if there would be a good fit. Thank you again for your interest. Brandt Sharrock Vice President Real Estate Trader Joe's East, Inc. 117 Kendrick St., Suite 700 Needham, MA 02494 tel.: 781.455.7322 fax: 781.455.7372 e-mail: bsharrock@traderjoes.com (standard TJ's footer disclosure omitted) send e-mails to Brandt! tell him we want and need a TJ's!! get your friends to write! | ||
| 1-2many Citizen Username: Wbg69 Post Number: 178 Registered: 6-2002 |
hey - also, I moved here from Madison, where the main street is SUPER crowded and trafficky, and yet that does NOT keep people away. I am hoping SA can be like Madison's Main Street. Don't laugh - why couldn't it be comparable in some ways? Traffic alone is not a death knell. And what about parking on the side streets? that's a close walk. | ||
| hello Citizen Username: Hello Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2003 |
thanks for providing the easy-to-use hyperlink for TJ. i can taste that carrot juice now, and those corn chips .... |
