Town seeks takers for parking upgrades

by Julie Fink, Gazette Staff Writer

HAMMONTON—One key element in the revitalization of downtown Hammonton is available parking.
During the last two years, mayor and town council have been working on partnering with downtown property owners to create reverse parking lots behind known trouble spots.
To date, the town has not received its desired response from property owners.
The town is asking for the property owners’ commitment for easements and the town will provide the rest, according to Mayor John DiDonato.
“We are asking them to provide the land and we would provide all of the improvements including the curbing, paving, lighting and landscaping,” he said.
It is needed to not only create a safer parking situation downtown but for the continued growth of the downtown, the mayor continued.
“The downtown growth and revitalization will stop if these areas do not improve their parking. Reverse parking in a downtown area is a necessity to thrive and survive in today’s world,” DiDonato said.
The first target area for increased parking downtown includes a parcel of land on Egg Harbor Road near Columbus Park and the Chamber of Commerce office, according to town engineer Robert Vettese, of ARH.
“With the doctor’s office located there, it seems to be a lot of demand in that area for parking,” MainStreet Hammonton Executive Director John Woods said.
In this location the current owner has expressed an interest in cooperating with the town’s planned project, according to Woods.
The other area includes the west side of the railroad tracks bordered by 12th Street, Railroad Avenue, Washington Street and Orchard Street that would serve the businesses of Impressions Salon and Elsa’s Hair Studio II, according to Vettese.
There have been many establishments through the years that have not been able to survive because of the lack of parking that services that area, Woods said.
Appraisals are being prepared in order to obtain a fair market value of these two properties in order to begin the negotiation process with the property owners, according to town solicitor Brian Howell.
The third area is vacant land behind Hammonton True Value Hardware and Domino’s Pizza bordered by Second Street, Bellevue Avenue and Orchard Street, according to Vettese.
“This one is not quite as bad as the other two, but it is difficult to find parking at this area,” Woods continued.
For the other two sites, property owners have yet to express interest in participation, according to Woods.
“I am not sure if the property owners realize what this would bring,” DiDonato said.
DiDonato used the private business example of the block of establishments around Trina’s Bellevue Café and Casciano Coffee Bar and Sweetery and contributed their success to the ample reverse parking available.
“You can see what happens when you have parking. Those businesses are thriving. That is what we are trying to bring here,” he continued.
The town is committed to not utilizing the power of eminent domain in order to accomplish the expansion of parking, rather relying on the cooperation of the community, according to DiDonato.
“We are hopeful to work together with everyone in the community to have a better future. We will continue the effort to establish joint ventures between the private and public sector,” he said.
There is a willingness by the town to proceed with one parking area at a time if need be, DiDonato continued.
According to Woods, another aspect of the parking situation downtown is the need for both long-term and short-term parking areas.
“We want to make sure we set aside some areas for long-term parking for employees and short-term restricted parking for customers,” he said.
Currently, both sides of Bellevue Avenue and some public parking lots downtown are restricted to two hour parking, he continued.