By Al SullivanReporter staff writer

C onsidering all that hasgone wrong with thenational and internationaleconomy over the last five

years, Bayonne’s overall economicoutlook is better than might beexpected.

While serious questions remainover the future of Bayonne’s mainshopping district along Broadwayand whether the state will restorethe Urban Enterprise Zone moneydedicated to helping the aging dis-trict revive, the opening of BayonneCrossing Mall is a very bright spotfor the local economy, providingsorely needed jobs to the communi-ty as well as increased tax revenuesfor the future.

Although once thought to be adead deal, the Off Track Wageringfacility to be located near East 5thStreet on Route 440 seems to havefound life again, promising evenmore economic benefits.

Real estate, which took the heavi-est hit in the economic downturn,may be showing signs of recovery,and indeed, for the savvy investor,the market has some promisingdeals.

While the sale of portions of theformer Military Ocean Terminal tothe Port Authority of New York andNew Jersey has left some disap-pointment in the real estate commu-nity, Bayonne is still seen as a goodplace to invest – especially for fami-lies.

A long-planned medical zone forthe city saw some movement withthe approval of plans for severalprojects, and could be the basis of anew professional services industryin the city. Some feared the recentsale of the Bayonne MedicalCenter’s building and property woulddash these hopes, but hospital offi-cials said the move was designed toprovide BMC with cash to reinvest inthe hospital, a very positive sign.

Other developments are on thehorizon, including projects such asthe one at the former Maidenformsite on Avenue E. These promise tobecome part of a very positive rede-velopment future.

Local schools appear to be in goodshape with several positive changestaking place in both the public andCatholic schools in the city.

Overall, Bayonne seems to beholding its own, anticipating a timewhen the national economy will startexpanding again.

WAITING FOR THE FUTURE

Bayonne’s economic situation is better than people might expect, partly due to the opening of a new mall and long-laid plans for a medical zone.

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Getting betterall the time

In 2011, Bayonne seessigns of progress

By Al SullivanReporter staff writer

B ayonne real estate – along withmost of the nation’s – took a realhit over the last four years, ashome values dropped by 34 per-

cent from their all time high in 2006.But real estate agents believe the trend

is changing and that the local market willsee an improvement in the next year.

After steady increases in the averagesale price of homes, from $135,313 in1996 to an all time high of $390,652 in2006, sales took a nosedive over the fol-lowing four years.

In 2010, Bayonne saw closings on only237 residential units, down from 459 in2005.

Despite the negative numbers, there aresigns of hope.

“The general consensus is that thingswill turn around when we hit 2003 prices,”said Michael Bernescu, branch officemanager of Weichert Realtors in Bayonne.That happened in 2010, suggesting thatthe market has bottomed out and ispoised to begin a slow, but steady rise.

If the first two months of 2011 are anyindication, these forecasts may be right.

“Everything has a cycle,” Bernescu said,noting that some people did not buy for thelong term – which is a basic premise forreal estate – and jumped out of the marketwhen the housing prices started todecline.

One of the unusual problems with thisdownturn is that it hurt the whole market,rental and purchase, Bernescu said. In thepast, if housing sales went down, thedemand increased for rental properties.

Over the last four years both sales andrentals seemed to decline, partly becausepeople who are leaving the housing mar-ket are not renting, but doubling up withfamily members or friends.

While the number of rentals improvedearly in 2011 with 180 units leased, asopposed to 124 in December, the averageprice for rentals has dropped from $1,291to $1,255.

Bernescu said Bayonne remains a desir-able place to live, within easy reach ofNew York City. It is a safe and affordablecommunity that allows people to accessjobs in Manhattan.

He said people who are coming into themarket seemed to be more conservative,looking for a longer-term benefit.

“We’ve moving back to basics,” he said.

Commercial salespicking up

James Sucato, broker of record for TheProperty Shop, Inc., said commercialproperty sales seemed to be picking upover the last few months.

“This is because of a decrease in prices,”he said. “We’re seeing commercial proper-ty becoming affordable to investors.”

These are properties that can be adapt-ed easily to new use, not large scale rede-velopment.

“We’re not talking about large parcelswhere things have to be torn down,” hesaid. “That kind of development is prettymuch on hold. But there seems to be aneed for available commercial spacewhich can be used right away.”

He said this has the potential for improv-ing the local economy and causing a pos-itive ripple effect into sectors like jobgrowth and residential realty.

There are also a number of bargains for

one and two family homes, he said, withinterest rates below 5 percent and priceslower than in the past.

If a buyer can get a bank mortgage – aproblem in the recent past, but whichsome experts believe may be getting eas-ier – then a buyer can pick up real deals.

Properties that once sold between$550,000 and $600,000 are on the marketfor $350,000 to $400,000.

Location,transportation, and

low prices are a plusSucato said Bayonne remains

attractive because of its proximity toNew York City, and with the risingcosts of fuel, it remains one of the fewaffordable urban areas in the NewYork market.

While the Hudson Bergen Light Railline and its new local extension toEighth Street provide an alternativemeans of transportation to jobs out-side Bayonne, it is prices lower thanHoboken and Jersey City that makeBayonne attractive.

“Bayonne is the third choice formany people looking to live on thisside of the Hudson River, [and] the

Light Rail is a plus,” said Sucato.Rentals are an alternative to buying, and

there are a significant number on the mar-ket, although many potential renters arebeing very selective.

But he said price makes Bayonne moreattractive because someone can get more

It’s all up from hereBayonne real estate may be

on the mend

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A GRAND VISION

Although the Alexan CityView is one of the projects that were successfully built under the visionfor an extended Gold Coast at the MOTBY, the change in plans may make it the last residentialdevelopment to be built there.

BAYONNE IS STILL A BARGAIN

Whether your buying or renting, Bayonne still provides the most bang for thebuck, local realtors say, saying one and two family houses can be had at muchreduced prices.

see REAL ESTATE page 6

“We’re seeingcommercial propertybecoming affordableto investors.”– James Sucato

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By Al SullivanReporter staff writer

T he Bayonne schools are doing sur-prisingly well, considering all theobstacles they’ve had to overcomein the last year, from cuts in state

aid to changes in principals in the twoCatholic high schools.

The goal this year appears to be makingsignificant changes behind the sceneswhile still providing the same quality levelof education to students.

Bayonne’s public schools started off thenew year with a new business administra-tor, several new acting principals, and atighter budget than in the past. Holy FamilyAcademy and Marist High School also cel-ebrated new principals coming into the

new school year. At the beginning of 2011,Marist’s principal had to leave due to ill-ness, forcing an assistant principal to takeover.

Doing more with less inthe public schools

“It’s all about doing more with lessmoney,” said Dr. Ellen O’Connor, assistantsuperintendent for curriculum for theBayonne School District.

With the loss of $5.1 million that the stateof New Jersey eliminated from the district’sbudget, it has been a challenge this year todeliver the same level of quality educationwith fewer resources.

As a result, Dr. O’Connor said, the districtimplemented and/or continued several ini-tiatives that address high priority educa-

tional strategies and also are fiscally pru-dent in light of the budget constraints.

These include establishing literacy andmath coaches, technology teams, datateams, tracking individual student progressfrom K to 12 and the installation of SmartBoard technology into classrooms.

Smart Boards, which are replacing thetraditional blackboards as teaching aids,are interactive whiteboards driven by acomputer that project teaching lessons.Many Smart Boards throughout the districtwere purchased through grant funding dur-ing the past few years, she said.

“Literacy and math coaches were intro-duced three years ago, but have expandedin numbers this year,” Dr. O’Connor said.“Currently, there are eight literacy and twomath coaches. The coaches’ salaries areremoved from the local budget and theirsalaries are funded by the Federal Grant,Title II A.”

The coaches are master teachers whohave attended conferences and work-shops in and out of the district, then passalong what they’ve learned to other teach-ers in each elementary school in staffdevelopment day presentations. They alsoprovide support for classroom teachers,offer model lessons, and work with at-riskstudents.

Technology teams arose out of the factthat there is only one technology teacherin each elementary school. The teamswere developed to support classroomteachers with technology integration, trou-bleshooting hardware, and software con-cerns.

Due to the time constraints on the ele-mentary principals, data teams wereformed to assess and analyze test dataand pass it along through workshops toothers.

“Once the data had been analyzed on adistrict, school and grade level, it becameapparent that individual student perform-ance analysis was necessary,” Dr.O’Connor said. “Therefore, student profileswere developed which follow students from

kindergarten to grade 12. During the threestaff training and development days, themajority of the time is focused on dataanalysis.”

Change of leadershipat Marist won’t affect

programs Moving over to the parochial schools, the

most important news out of Marist HighSchool this year may be the fact that stu-dents will feel little impact concerning thechanges of leadership there.

Alice Miesnik, who has served as assis-tant principal of Marist High School since1997, took over as acting principal afterMarist Brother Donnell Neary – principalsince last July – became ill and neededtime to recuperate.

Over the last few years, Marist has beenexpanding its technology in order to allowthe school to access programs usually outof reach of smaller high schools. This wasmade possible by the opening of its librarymedia center about five years ago.

In some ways, Marist, a Catholic collegepreparatory co-ed high school that drawsstudents from many locations, ties togeth-er the Catholic communities in bothBayonne and Jersey City. It generally hasan enrollment of around 500 studentseach year in grades nine through 12.

Miesnik said programs such as “ProjectAccelerate” – a course for gifted and tal-ented students who team up with Our Ladyof Mercy Elementary School in Jersey Cityand All Saints Academy in Bayonne – willcontinue, as will other innovative programssuch as science classes designed to pre-pare students for careers in the medicalfield. Along with other programs that focuson technology, the school has also institut-ed email accounts for students and otheronline resources that will allow studentsaccess to more information.

Adjusting to a newreality

Bayonne’s public and private schoolssee changes

BAYONNE HIGH SCHOOL

TOUGH TIMES – With cut backs in state aid over the last few years, Bayonnepublic schools have been finding ways to do more things with less.

MARIST HIGH SCHOOL

STAYING THE COURSE – With a change of principal mid-year, Marist HighSchool is focused on making sure the students get the same quality educationas they have in the past.

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HOLY FAMILYACADEMY

A NEW FACE FOR AN OLD SCHOOL – Mary Tremitiedi brings a lot of experienceto her new post as principal of Holy Family Academy.

see EDUCATION page 6

By Al SullivanReporter staff writer

T he sale of a large portion of the former Military Ocean Terminal to the PortAuthority of New York and New Jersey was the most dramatic developmentnews of last year in Bayonne. It was seen by some as a step backward for thefuture of the city, and by others as a change that made economic sense, given

the economic realities of today’s real estate market.What was intended to be prime real estate for residential development has been

taken over for possible use as a container port, with two major consequences. Unlikeresidential development, the port will yield no ongoing property tax revenue for the city.And development of residential housing on the 432 acre location would have allowedthe city to modernize its housing stock, 76 percent of which was built prior to World WarII. People would have moved into new homes on thepeninsula from other parts of Bayonne, allowingolder homes to be replaced.

The agreement forged last summer betweenthe Port Authority and the Bayonne LocalRedevelopment Authority transferred the title ofabout 130 acres of MOTBY in exchange for $235million to be paid over the next two decades.

This put an end to previous plans that would haveconstructed 6,700 housing units as well as commer-cial, entertainment and other development. Part ofthe agreement with the Port Authority requires thecity to modify existing zoning for several of theremaining parcels for the possible development ofwarehouse space to accommodate the containeroperations.

But the actual proposed use of the property by thePort Authority remains vague, even though most ofthe businesses that had rented space on that prop-erty prior to the sale have moved out with two signif-icant exceptions: Royal Caribbean cruise ship line,which operates out of Port Liberty, and the BayonneDry Dock. Both have long term leases, and will like-ly continue operations there at least for the foresee-able future.

While rumors abound about a possible move byRoyal Caribbean to new port facilities in Brooklyn,the company has set its sailing schedule through theend of 2012. Internal company chatter has been dis-cussing the possibility of housing its Freedom classcruise ships in Bayonne, suggesting they are notplanning to move soon.

One critical piece in the Port Authority plansinvolves Harbor View Park, which the city has yet todeed over to the Port Authority pending some seri-ous legal complications. Because the park wasdeveloped using some state Green Acres grantmoney, another larger park must be developedbefore this one can be closed.

More significantly, the park contains a 100-foot9/11 monument and other tributes that would haveto also be relocated – a costly task the city may notbe able to afford, despite its sale agreement with thePort Authority.

While Gov. Christopher Christie’s office said thePort Authority currently has no plans to move themonument, the actual responsibility for moving itwould be on the city of Bayonne, which reportedly isstill looking for alternative sites – including one exist-ing park site near the tip of nearby Global Terminals.

Bayonne Crossing mall opensBy far, the biggest development story of 2011 will

be the gradual opening of stores in BayonneCrossing Mall.

Longhorn Steak House, Five Guys Hamburgersand Fries, Sonic, and Lowe’s Home Improvementhave opened. Bayonne is looking forward to theopening of Walmart and an assortment of othersmaller stores in the mall to complete the dramatictransformation of the Route 440 corridor. This hope-

Major developmentnot in the forecast

Bayonne Crossing mall islargest project in Bayonne

A BRIGHT LIGHT

Projects like Maidenform – which convert existing buildings of the past into newuses – hold great promise for the city’s future development.

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fully will keep people in Bayonne fromshopping in other towns and draw shop-pers from Jersey City and possibly StatenIsland.

Bayonne Crossing Mall is intended tohave a beneficial relationship to theBroadway shopping district, but that planis threatened if the Christie administrationdoes away with the state’s UrbanEnterprise Zone (UEZ) program.

A $2.5 million loan from the BayonneUEZ was used to help finance construc-tion of Bayonne Crossing, which is withinthe Bayonne UEZ, and continued revenuefrom the sales taxes generated by the mallwas to offset some of the negative impactof the mall’s opening on older businessesalong Broadway by helping to fund mod-ernization of Broadway.

But if Christie cancels the UEZ program,that plan dies, leaving the mall as a majorcompetitor to the downtown shopping dis-trict.

“We’re hoping for the best and that wecan get the UEZ funding restored,” saidUEZ Executive Director and the city’sChief Financial Officer, Terrence Malloy.

The impact of the new mall on Broadwaywill likely be felt most with the expectedopening of the new Walmart later thisyear. Although the 91,000 square footstore will be about half the usual size of aWalmart store, it will be full service, pos-ing a serious challenge to many of theexisting Broadway stores.

On the positive side, Bayonne Crossingis expected to generate more than 800full-time jobs when fully built.

Other projects on thehorizon

One of the most promising new projectsexpected to generate a significant boost tothe local tax base is the Bayonne EnergyCenter, located on New Hook Road near

the Kill Van Kull. The center is expected toprovide millions in taxes and fees for waterpurchase, but with almost no negativeimpact or demand for local services.

Plans for the New Jersey Sports andExposition Authority’s Off-Track WageringFacility have been recently revived. Thetwo story, 35,000 square foot building with

a party room and restaurant couldbecome one more economic attractionalong the Route 440 corridor.

If built, the facility will include a restau-rant and could generate a combination of100 full and part-time jobs, including OTWstaff, security, maintenance, and foodservice. A slightly smaller facility operating

in Woodbridge currently sees $2 millionwagered weekly.

To comment on this story on-line, go toour website, www.hudsonreporter.com. AlSullivan can be reached atasullivan@hudsonreporter.com.

A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT

The opening of the 8th Street station for the Hudson Bergen Light Rail will likely help revive the Bergen Point section ofthe city.

for their money here than they can in Hoboken orJersey City.

“Downtown in Jersey City is tight,” Sucato said.“You can hardly find a decent one bedroom for$1,000 a month, but in Bayonne you can find goodtwo-bedroom apartments for $1,100.”

Both realtors agree that Bayonne is an easy sellfor people looking for a safe community with agreat school system in which to raise a family.

Sucato said Bayonne is not yet poised to takethe next step in attracting young professionals thatplaces like downtown Jersey City has. This is part-ly due to the fact Broadway hasn’t yet begun todevelop the kind of nightlife needed to draw thatcrowd.

Bernescu said the sale of the former MilitaryOcean Terminal to the Port Authority of New Yorkand New Jersey earlier this year may have unfore-seen negative consequences for the long termgrowth of the local real estate market.

The development of residential housing on the432-acre location would have allowed the city tomodernize its housing stock, he said, noting that76 percent of Bayonne’s residential housing wasbuilt prior to World War II.

“Our housing is obsolete,” Bernescu said. “Bybuilding new homes on the base, people wouldhave moved into them from other parts ofBayonne, and then older homes could bereplaced. Developing a container port here makesno sense. This is very valuable land, and with thelifting of the Bayonne Bridge, ships can go to portsbetter suited for them.”

To comment on this story on-line, go to our web-site, www.hudsonreporter.com. Al Sullivan can bereached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.

REAL ESTATE from page 3

HFA steers straightcourse under new

principalHoly Family Academy, an all-girls’

Catholic High School in Bayonne, start-ed off the year with a new principal.

Mary Tremitiedi, a retired administra-tive assistant to the superintendent ofHoboken schools and a former princi-pal, took over the reigns of the schooljust before the start of the school year,helping to continue the miraculous sal-vation of a school saved from closingtwo years ago by a group that includedalumni and parents.

Principal Tremitiedi comes with animpressive 38 years of experience ineducation. She spent her first 13 yearsas a teacher, followed by 10 years as avice principal and then another fiveyears as principal.

Although her education experience isin public schools, Tremitiedi said sheunderstands Catholic education verywell, since she attended Catholicschools for 12 years.

One of the goals of the school’s boardof trustees was to continue what manyconsidered an extremely successfuleducational program. When taking overoperations from the order of nuns thatran the school previously, the schooldid not make many changes in curricu-lum.

While the school saw some changes,such as block scheduling to allowlonger classes for more advanced

school work, the school has continuedto churn out young female scholars andentire classes of graduates who havebeen accepted to colleges and univer-sities throughout the country.

One of the key ingredients in theschool’s success, Tremitiedi said, is thetremendous involvement of parents andthe strong support of the trustees.

“What I would like to do is increaseprofessional development,” Tremitiedisaid, which could involve getting girls inthe school enrolled in workshops.

With many schools around the stateand nation shedding arts programming,HFA is actually pushing the arts,through a variety of programs includingits coffee house readings and its on linearts magazine.

Like Marist, HFA is partnering withother schools such as St. Peter’s Prepin Jersey City and Caldwell College togive students increased access to edu-cational opportunities.

With 137 students enrolled this year,HFA is still struggling to increase enroll-ment, and is constantly looking forgrants and fundraising opportunities.

All Saints Academy isa success story

With 450 students this year, All SaintsAcademy has become the strongCatholic elementary school most peo-ple hoped for when five local Catholicschools combined into one schoolthree years ago.

Principal Sister Eileen Jude Wust saidshe is always looking to get better, and

with the recommendations from theMiddle States Accreditation made earli-er this year, the school has a map of itsstrengths and its weaknesses and iswell on its way to becoming an evenstronger school.

“But I like to think we’re the best keptsecret in Bayonne,” she said.

One of most significant changes thisyear came as the result of a $25,000donation for a school computer lab.This includes 30 new state of the artPC’s that will give the lab a longer life.

“Technology changes quickly,” SisterWust said. “By purchasing top-of-the-line computers, we are avoiding thembecoming out of date too soon.”

They will augment other technologyfor the cyber field trips the school isplanning to take in conjunction with theLiberty Science Center.

The school has also upgraded its artsand music program, thanks to a grantthat will provide texts and a CD allowingonline connections. The program pro-vides kids with the ability to study andeven perform plays.

The school has also begun a new cre-ative writing program and is upgradingits text books. The school has alreadyupgraded its language arts and litera-ture materials, and is currently lookingto upgrade the math, science andsocial studies texts.

To comment on this story on-line,go to our website, www.hudsonreporter.com. Al Sullivan can bereached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.

EDUCATION from page 4

DEVELOPMENT from page 5

High quality health care, close to home.Our mission and visionBayonne Medical Center is a fully accredited, acute-care hospital located in Hudson County, NJ. Caring for the people of Bayonne and our neighboring communities is our most important mission. We are a growing, thriving institution with cutting edge technology, comprehensive patient resources and outstanding facilities.

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By Al SullivanReporter staff writer

T he real estate deal that allowed anAlabama company to purchaseBayonne Medical Center’s realestate last month will not interfere

with the hospital’s plans to move aheadwith the construction of a new medicalbuilding on the property, a hospitalspokesperson said.

Last June, the Bayonne Planning Boardapproved plans for a new three-story med-ical building to be constructed on BMC’sfront lawn, which would provide doctors’offices for outpatient services.

The 52,000 square-foot medical officebuilding will be constructed on a portion ofproperty that abuts Avenue E between29th and 30th Street at a cost of about $12million.

In February, BMC’s owners sold off theland and existing facility as part of a realestate deal that will generate about $58million, which hospital management saidwill get reinvested into hospital operations.

This deal raised questions about thefuture of the office building project, andalso left a huge possible hole in the city’splans to develop a medical zone through-out the city, a kind of Silicon Valley for themedical profession that would encouragedoctors and medical services to locate inBayonne.

But BMC said the plans to develop theoffice building are still intact.

“We are continuing to work with thedeveloper on the medical office buildingproject,” said Allyson Miller, public relationsdirector for BMC.

Millions in capitalimprovements

Despite the sale of the property, BMCmanagement’s annual report shows theBMC’s owners have made more than $17million in capital improvements since tak-ing over the hospital in 2008, whichincludes new programs and new initiativeswith more planned for the future, said BMCExecutive Director Daniel Kane.

This includes vascular cauterization, acompletely new Emergency Room recon-struction, and development of a newpathology system, a new surgery center,and new electronic record keeping. Thehospital currently has a scanning unit foruse in cancer screening and hopes to getaccess to a second scanner that can beused for cardiology.

BMC currently has the only scan unit inHudson County for head injury, Kane said.

“One of the things we’re very proud of isthat we totally remodeled the cauterizationand vascular labs,” Kane said.

The hospital has developed an integratedprogram, so that the programs are inter-changeable between cauterization andvascular labs.

BMC has invested $2.2 million in com-puter systems, new equipment and reno-vation of that area, and the hospital hasadded eight new cardiologists, vastlyincreasing the number of procedures thehospital has done, doubling the number in2010 over the number done in 2009, Kanesaid.

BMC has also developed a new patientmonitoring system at $1.1 million, pro-

cured a new 16-slice scanner for about$250,000, and has acquired a new state ofthe art ambulatory surgery center, a reno-vation that cost about $1 million.

“We also upgraded the equipment in ourendoscopy unit and GI unit at the cost ofabout $250,000,” Kane said.

Kane said the hospital is currently work-ing to build a new radiation oncology cen-ter, which could open later in 2011.

Kane said he is particularly proud of theemergency department. The emergencyroom has installed a new electronicrecords system, which makes it virtuallypaperless, and helps reduce waiting timesat the ER to less than 30 minutes.

“It’s our goal to have the waiting roomthere empty,” Kane said. “We want, when apatient arrives, to have that person seenby a physician within 30 minutes.”

Kane said that his goal is to continue thismove towards becoming “paperless” byexpanding its electronic records systemthrough the hospital as a whole by the endof 2011 or early 2012.

The hospital has recently built a new datacenter at the cost of about $500,000, Kanesaid.

Other new programs: Over the last year,BMC has developed a new bariatric weightloss surgery program. In addition, the hos-pital also has a 15-bed geriatric psychiatryunit, with all of the beds usually occupied.BMC has also been working with Horizon,a federally qualified health center, to oper-ate the hospital family health care centerfor people who do not have health insur-

Bayonne as medical MeccaMedical Center the key piece in large picture

AT THE CENTER

Bayonne Medical Center is the foundation of the city’s hope to host a number of medical facilities.

see MEDICAL page 11

OMNI ON HOLD

The nursing home planned for Broadway may not happen this year due to legalcomplications.

The City of Bayonne has carried out the most far-reaching government reorganization since 1962. We have reduced the number of municipal departments from nine to four. We have the lowest number of City employees since the early 1990’s. As people have retired, we have replaced as few workers as possible. We are doing more with less.

.

The Bayonne Crossing shopping mall will offer 350,000 sq. ft. of retail space, 800 retail jobs, and more than $2 million in sales tax revenue for Bayonne’s Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). Construction has created more than 1,000 building trades jobs. Several stores and restaurants have already opened. More businesses will follow in 2011.

The new 8th Street Light Rail Station is open. The new station will improve transportation for our Bergen Point residents. The extension of the rail line will encourage

economic development, revitalize neighborhoods, and increase property values.

.During 2010, the City of Bayonne retired $9.8 million in debt.In 2011, we are continuing to manage tax dollars with discipline.

The Bayonne Energy Center Project will generate electric power and $500 million in investment, along with new jobs, income, and tax ratables. Construction will create 300 building trades jobs.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced plans to raise the roadbed on the Bayonne Bridge.

This project will save maritime jobs in our area, while also preserving Bayonne neighborhoods.

Debbie Czerwienski Agnes Gillespie

BAYONNE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

AND WELCOMES NEW INVESTMENT, JOBS, AND OPPORTUNITY.

MAYOR MARK A. SMITH

THE CITY OF BAYONNE STRIVES FOR EFFICIENCY AND

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Bayonne Municipal CouncilTerry Ruane, President Joseph Hurley Raymond Greaves

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By Al SullivanReporter staff writer

T he Christie administration’s threat to abolish the 30-year-oldUrban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program has brought togeth-er various elements of Bayonne’s economic community,including the Town Center Management Corporation, the

Bayonne Chamber of Commerce, and city officials, who are lead-ing a drive to oppose the governor.

“It’s very confusing as to exactly what the state wants to do,” saidAssemblyman Jason O’Donnell, who will spearhead the move toretain the program.

Gov. Christopher Christie seized UEZ funding last year to help filla deficit in the state budget. He also left in limbo a programdesigned to aid ailing urban business districts like those in Bayonneby allowing them to charge half the rate of state sales tax (3.5 per-cent instead of 7) and use some of the revenue to make the districtsmore attractive to customers. Money from the program also pays formaintenance and paying a portion of the salaries for police andstreet cleaners.

Local officials, including members of the Town CenterManagement Corporation and other business interest groups, metwith state Sen. Sandra Cunningham late last year to try to get aread on the future of the program, since some of the activities forthe business district are funded through UEZ.

A consultant hired by the administration issued a report two daysafter the governor’s Feb. 22 budget message that was critical of thebenefits the program provided to the state, claiming for every dollar

spent over a six-year period from 2002 to 2008, the state onlyreceived 8 cents in return.

Local officials, especially UEZ Executive Director Terrence Malloy,said the benefits are more far reaching than what the state getsback. Because businesses get a tax break on upgrades to theirfacilities, the program helps modernize aging business districts,and as business improves, these districts create jobs.

Even with its funds frozen by the state, the Bayonne local UEZhas been active, performing many of the functions, including theoverseeing of the façade improvement program that has helpedtransform the exterior appearance of many Broadway stores.

O’Donnell said the program isn’t dead yet, noting that he’s heardconflicting reports, one of which suggests that the UEZ programmight be revamped into something more focused on economicdevelopment.

Whatever Christie proposes will have to be approved by the statelegislature.

“We’re gearing up to lobby Trenton to keep the program,” said MattDorans, president of the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber has been very active this yearIn recognition of the hard times some people are facing in the

community, the Chamber has been active in charity events, themost recent of which was held at Ten East in December and raisedabout $3,700 which was distributed to the city’s food pantries.

The decline in the economy, Dorans said, makes the Chambereven more important for local businesses, because it is an organi-zation dedicated to looking out for the interests of its membership.

Recruitment has been a large part of the Chambers’ activities,and a key to its continuing role as a business advocate in the future.The more members the Chamber has, the more clout it has in deal-

UEZ fightgears up

Bayonne merchantsorganize to oppose

program loss

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHOPPING DISTRICT

While new businesses are opening along Route 440, a state program to help ailing Broadway couldbe at risk.

“We’re gearing up to lobbyTrenton to keep the program.”– Matt Dorans

ing with other entities such as local, state,and federal government.

Dorans, who became president of theBayonne Chamber of Commerce early in2007, said reaching out to the communitythrough a variety of “meet and greet”events has allowed the Chamber to intro-duce itself to a new business communityand has brought in new members.

Dorans said the new Chamber reflectsthe change from manufacturing to serviceindustries, so naturally some of the newmembers are in finance and even medicalprofessions.

Town CenterManagement

Although some programs are tied to UEZfunding, the Bayonne Town Center, whichis a Special Improvement District dedicat-ed to revitalizing Bayonne’s shopping areafrom 17th to 30th streets on Broadway,including East and West 22nd Street, hasinitiatives of its own, which include usinginternet social media such as Facebook forits promotions.

Some programs likely to continue in thenext year include those that support smallbusinesses, holiday events such as a treelighting, Menorah Lights, horse and buggyrides, and breakfast with Santa.

During the warm weather, the TownCenter sponsors regular classic car showson Broadway, an annual sidewalk sale,movies under the stars, ice cream and hotdog eating contests, and other programs.

But the organization has also taken somecritical stands, such as adopting a compre-hensive strategic plan to sustain the shop-ping district, one of the key elements ofwhich is to create more parking that wouldallow customers to come into the tradition-al shopping districts more easily.

Town Center is also dealing with theissue of pigeon droppings through the useof inexpensive plastic spikes.

Two new members were elected to theboard recently, David Jiji of NetworkingCafé and Antony Ventrone of San VitoRestaurant.

Route 440 mallsThe opening of the Bayonne Crossing

Mall promises to be a boon to Bayonne,even if the traditional Broadway shoppingdistrict has to adjust.

Lowe’s Home Improvement, Sonic, FiveGuys, and Longhorn Steak House havealready opened their doors, with Walmartand other stores expected to open beforethe end of the year. This promises newtaxes to the city, new jobs to city residents,and a thriving business drawing in peoplefrom other areas of the state. Along with

the existing South Cove Mall, the Route440 corridor in Bayonne is becoming aviable economic engine for the city.

Uptown and downtownUnfortunately, the once-promising

Bergen Point Merchants Associationseems to have become dormant just astheir dream of a new train station hasbecome a reality.

This could change as the extension ofthe Hudson Bergen Light Rail line bringspassengers into the Eighth Street area,

combined with the opening of other localinstitutions such as the CommunityMuseum in that area.

More hopeful this year was the effort bybusinessman Vincent Virga, president ofPartnership Financial Services, to revivethe uptown shopping district, with the aimof building a community organizationthere.

To comment on this story on-line, go toour website, www.hudsonreporter.com. AlSullivan can be reached atasullivan@hudsonreporter.com.

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ance and would otherwise not have access tomedical care, Kane said.

Two years ago, the hospital opened a woundcare center designed to help patients with non-healing wounds caused by diabetes and otherailments.

Last October, the state designated BMC as astroke center.

“Part of what we are doing is educating thecommunity about the symptoms of stroke,” Kanesaid.

If treated within an hour of the stroke, thechances improve of a patient not suffering per-manent damage, he said.

During 2010, BMC provided 35 health fairs andother educational related programs that wereattended by more than 1,500 people, somethingthat will be continued and even expanded in thefuture.

During the last three years, BMC has alsorestored the resident transportation program.The hospital has also developed a transitioncare unit, ranked one of the top units in theUnited States, and its endoscopy unit is rankedat 156th in the country. Last year, BMC alsoestablished a new clinical pharmacy program.

Medical mecca?On hold at the moment is the proposed 120-

bed Bayonne Omni Nursing Home and

Rehabilitation Center, a 10-story mixed commer-cial building on Broadway between East 29thand East 30th streets situated behind theBayonne Medical Center. When built, that willfeature a nursing home, medical office, parkingand ground floor retail. Demolition of the site hasbeen completed, remediation is close to com-plete, and construction is expected to start laterthis year.

The $25 million project is proposed by OmniHealthcare of New Jersey, which owns and oper-ates similar facilities in Union City, West NewYork, Jersey City and Secaucus. The project isexpected to generate almost $500,000 in addi-tional property taxes as well as more than 200jobs, not including construction jobs. The projectis expected to take 18 to 20 months to complete.

RDA Realty is expected to break ground on a40,000 square foot medical office building on thesite of the former Holiday Tree and Trim onBroadway near 40th Street.

The Bayonne Planning Board also approved anew doctors’ building last year for East 27thStreet.

Other potential facilities would be scatteredthrough the city, all intended to attract othermedical groups to consider Bayonne as a possi-ble location.

“This is a bright spot for us,” said John Fussa,Bayonne’s city planner.

To comment on this story on-line, go to ourwebsite, www.hudsonreporter.com. Al Sullivancan be reached atasullivan@hudsonreporter.com.

MEDICAL from page 8

JOB CREATOR

New businesses like Sonic promise to bring employment to people in Bayonne.

A NEW USE

Once the showroom of an auto dealer, the site of Holiday Tree andTrim store may become a new medical facility.

BAYONNE TOWN CENTER

PAID FOR WITH THE USE OF UEZ FUNDS

FOR MORE INFO. CALL THE BTC at 201.339.9409 or VISIT OUR WEBSITE bayonnetowncenter.com

A number of changes have been made to our Boardof Directors and the BTC welcomed new membersin 2010. Join Us in Welcoming to the Board….

BROADWAY between 17th & 30th Streets including East & West 22nd Street

Councilman Joe HurleyDavid Jiji, Networking CaféAnthony Ventrone, SanVito's Restaurant

• • • • • • • • • • •

The BTC Board is committed to revitalizing the district and will continue with new promotionalcampaigns and facade programs. • • • • • • • • • •

D'Angels Beauty Salon, Impact Body & Fitness, Ann's ClosetThrift, Yoshitsune Jujutsu Kai, Metro PCS, 2 Boost Mobilelocations, Best Alterations, Nuovo Venezia, BYM Pawnbroker,Rezzo Food Market, Liberty Tax, Zeena Fashions,and SJ Quest.

Help us welcome these NewBusinesses to the Town Center!

The Bayonne Town CenterWorking to improveYOUR Downtown!

PamperYourself!• • • • • • • • • • • • •

The Bayonne Town Centerboasts a number of businessesthat will help you indulge yourself! From award winning salonsand spas to quality jewelry shops, you'll never run out of waysto spoil yourself or the ones you love!

Hungry?Looking for the perfect place to dine fora special occasion or a casual family meal? Look no further thanBroadway's eateries that have been serving Bayonne for years.

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