The information has been on the Montclair Township website for about a week.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Parade is Scheduled for July 4th!
After plans to cancel the parade due to budget constraints, it has finally been finalized to run.
The information has been on the Montclair Township website for about a week.
This will give everyone a chance to see the new interior of Dunkin Donuts, see some of the small urban gardens that have cropped up - which means to please tread lightly on the flowers you see! The Montclair BID, residents and business owners of Montclair Center spend time taking care of these plants and take personal pride in their growth so kindly do not damage them or use them as garbage cans!
The information has been on the Montclair Township website for about a week.
Dunkin Donuts remodels interior
Closed on Wednesday June 29th and Thursday June 30th, Dunkin Donuts is undergoing interior remodeling to update it. As someone who was able to peek inside late on Wednesday night, it looks terrific and adds a great change to a regular spot in town.
The counters closest to the street in the front and toward the back appear to have been lowered making it a more customer friendly height. There is darker brown wood, new ceramic tiles floors and some silver trim (on the ground when I peaked in) that seems like it may be an upscale railing.
The counters closest to the street in the front and toward the back appear to have been lowered making it a more customer friendly height. There is darker brown wood, new ceramic tiles floors and some silver trim (on the ground when I peaked in) that seems like it may be an upscale railing.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Get involved in Shaping the future of Montclair!
A final land use workshop will be held this evening for community feedback about the future of Montclair.
If you want your ideas to be heard, please consider attending this evening!!
From Montclair Township website:
" Final Unified Land Use and Circulation Master Plan Element visioning workshop Wednesday, June 15, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Fire Department Headquarters, 1 Pine Street, Montclair.
We'll tell you what we’ve learned and ask for your help in making sure that we understand what the future of Montclair looks like through your eyes. Join us, and leave your mark on Montclair.
If you want your ideas to be heard, please consider attending this evening!!
From Montclair Township website:
" Final Unified Land Use and Circulation Master Plan Element visioning workshop Wednesday, June 15, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Fire Department Headquarters, 1 Pine Street, Montclair.
We'll tell you what we’ve learned and ask for your help in making sure that we understand what the future of Montclair looks like through your eyes. Join us, and leave your mark on Montclair.
Montclair, in partnership with the Municipal Land Use Center and the New Jersey Department of Transportation, is working with a team of consultants to create a new Unified Land Use and Circulation Master Plan Element. The Master Plan guides policy changes to keep zoning and development consistent with the Township’s vision.
For more information, please contact Janice Talley, Planning Director at 973-509-4953, or email the Project Team: masterplan@montclairnjusa.org .
Click on these links to see what has already been done:
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Montclair Sidewalk sale today: Saturday June 11, 2011
Using sidewalks as an untapped resource for businesses is an important part of community engagement. Sidewalks offer additional "space" that synthesizes the interior space with the exterior environment and is an important part of improving relationships and getting to know people in the area.
Although the weather may be hazy, many businesses are putting up tents over their merchandise to keep you (and their merchandise) dry today.
It would be really great if there are some artists who can nudge their way into the sidewalk sale and put some of their work out for display just like in New York. The community really needs to see how many talented artists we have and it would be a great way to start using art as a catalyst for change and help slowly improve the Bloomfield Avenue corridor.
Although the weather may be hazy, many businesses are putting up tents over their merchandise to keep you (and their merchandise) dry today.
It would be really great if there are some artists who can nudge their way into the sidewalk sale and put some of their work out for display just like in New York. The community really needs to see how many talented artists we have and it would be a great way to start using art as a catalyst for change and help slowly improve the Bloomfield Avenue corridor.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Big Ideas, Small Spaces - Tree pits!
As someone who has lived in several apartments during my lifetime, maximizing interior space has always been like a game show. After about 15 apartments under my belt, I found what I enjoyed was maximizing small outdoor space usually overlooked by other tenants. In my current apartment, the previous tenant used the outdoor space as a messy storage space her broken pots and graveyard for the dead plants that appeared to have withered long before I arrived.
Several ideas will be explored in this blog that have been extracted from personal experience, working and studying in some of New York City's toughest neighborhoods like Bushwick and Red Hook in Brooklyn and from ongoing interest in making Bloomfield Avenue more enjoyable through small changes.
Because of my location on Bloomfield Avenue I can attest to the horrible traffic conditions at the intersection of Midland and Bloomfield Avenues. Although several traffic studies have been conducted by the township, with no changes or improvements implemented, a resolution to an important problem needs to be initiated by residents. Thats the point of this blog!
Adding things to LOOK AT calms traffic immediately. Its a simple fix to s serious problem, especially with the number of children and families crossing at the intersection. Using "Cities Back from the Edge: New Life for Downtown" by Roberta Gratz and Norman Mintz is one of the driving forced behind these suggestions. Norman Mintz was one of my professors at grad school and is currently involved with Program for Public Spaces.
I've also extracted several ideas from academic projects I worked in during grad school at Pratt Institute's School of Architecture in the Sustainable Planning & Development Program. Using NYC as an important case study of urban anthropology, adding foliage to any area will make it more enjoyable.
TREE PITS!
This is public space with an interesting dynamic. The dirt is already there and the space is unused and valuable. Other than using it as a personal bathroom for dogs, tree guards and flowers can be added to immediately improve your area.
I've already checked with the town arborist and residents are allowed to add flowers to tree pits. New York City has done an amazing job of utilizing tree pits. So if Montclair truly is the "Place where the suburbs meet the city" then lets get moving! The total cost of adding flowers would top out around $30.00. Tree guards will run more, but if you are handy, making one yourself is an option. Additionally, if you need planting ideas for the tree pits, check out this LINK for plants that would be ideal for several reasons.
Several ideas will be explored in this blog that have been extracted from personal experience, working and studying in some of New York City's toughest neighborhoods like Bushwick and Red Hook in Brooklyn and from ongoing interest in making Bloomfield Avenue more enjoyable through small changes.
Because of my location on Bloomfield Avenue I can attest to the horrible traffic conditions at the intersection of Midland and Bloomfield Avenues. Although several traffic studies have been conducted by the township, with no changes or improvements implemented, a resolution to an important problem needs to be initiated by residents. Thats the point of this blog!
Adding things to LOOK AT calms traffic immediately. Its a simple fix to s serious problem, especially with the number of children and families crossing at the intersection. Using "Cities Back from the Edge: New Life for Downtown" by Roberta Gratz and Norman Mintz is one of the driving forced behind these suggestions. Norman Mintz was one of my professors at grad school and is currently involved with Program for Public Spaces.
 |
| Tree pit in NYC surrounded by Boxwood |
I've also extracted several ideas from academic projects I worked in during grad school at Pratt Institute's School of Architecture in the Sustainable Planning & Development Program. Using NYC as an important case study of urban anthropology, adding foliage to any area will make it more enjoyable.
TREE PITS!
This is public space with an interesting dynamic. The dirt is already there and the space is unused and valuable. Other than using it as a personal bathroom for dogs, tree guards and flowers can be added to immediately improve your area.
 |
| Tree pit with flowers and pit guard in Flatbush, Brooklyn |
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Out with the old, In with the relocated!
The vacant space left behind by Zaentz will be occupied by a current business operating in Montclair. After the editor of Montclair Vibe spoke with the business owner and offered several solid ideas about adding public seating and planters along the side of the building, they welcomed the ideas with open arms!
Before and after images of the progress will be posted periodically on this blog as a case study that small spaces can be transformed into important public space.
Although based on personal interest in improving the Bloomfield Avenue Corridor west of Park Street without any help from the township, this personal project correlates with "Placemaking: Making it Happen" which is a professional training workshop being offered by the Project for Public Spaces in New York.
Big ideas can fit in small spaces.
Before and after images of the progress will be posted periodically on this blog as a case study that small spaces can be transformed into important public space.Although based on personal interest in improving the Bloomfield Avenue Corridor west of Park Street without any help from the township, this personal project correlates with "Placemaking: Making it Happen" which is a professional training workshop being offered by the Project for Public Spaces in New York.
Big ideas can fit in small spaces.
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