Redevelopment of Riverside: Fact or Fiction?

The Watchcase Tower, a symbol of Riverside's former greatness.

A walk down Scott Street, Riverside’s “Main Street”, reveals boarded up and closed down businesses.  Where historic industrial buildings once stood, barren land now dominates the landscape.  Other notable sites, such as the old Zurbrugg Hospital and Golden Triangle, continue to age without any signs of a revitalization.

At one point an industrial machine and a tourist attraction, Riverside has struggled to reinvent itself in recent years.  There has been talk of redevelopment, but nothing has been done.  The old Taubel Mill, located on Scott and Fairview Streets, was demolished in 2006 to give development a site to flourish.  The lot has been clear for over three years now.

Since the closing of Zurbrugg Memorial Hospital in the late 1990’s, the hospital was converted into a senior living facility.  However, this venture was short-lived, and since then the site has been abandoned.  The idea appeared poorly planned, showing that not just any idea could be successful in Riverside.  Right across the road, the Golden Triangle, showcased by the famed “Watchcase Tower”, has long been a spot developers have sought to change, but there have been questions about the sustainability of such an idea.

On Scott Street, a sign says “new stores coming soon”.  The sign has been up for over three years, without the slightest hint of a change.  Many storefronts on the street remain vacant.  Many towns have struggled with empty buildings due to the economic downturn, so Riverside is not alone with this issue.  That does not mean residents are not concerned with the direction of the community for various reasons.

Steve Waldman, 23 and a graduate of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, has been a Riverside resident his entire life, and is in favor of redevelopment.  He feels the town needs a change, and despite its small size, has the area necessary to develop and create opportunity for the town.

“You look at something like the Watchcase Tower, where the mill used to be, these are places that made Riverside great and they need to be given a chance to work for us now,” said Waldman.

Waldman says that building a shopping center in the old Golden Triangle area would significantly improve the town because it would bring revenue and jobs to the town and bring business.  Plus, he feels it would increase the value of the River Line because the Riverside station is located right by the area.

“People could take trips to Riverside if we had something to bring them in,” said Waldman.  “Our River Line connection could benefit us immensely as well as neighboring communities.  Right now, the River Line brings people to Riverside for the wrong reasons in many cases.”

The River Line itself is a lightning rod of controversy.  Opened in March 2004, the Camden-Trenton line cost over a billion dollars to construct, and has not nearly achieved what it had hoped, although it has not been as much of a disaster as the worst cynics had predicted.  Still, it has not generated the type of revenue for the communities located along it as was predicted.

Nathan King, 25 and a radiologist at the Children‘s Hospital of Philadelphia, says that as a lifelong resident of the town, there has always been talk of redevelopment and change.  He is happy that the town has waited to develop because there have not been proposals or possibilities that could lead to positive long-term growth and community enrichment.

“With regards to redeveloping Riverside, we need ideas that are going to work out over the course of many years, not just something that will be good for a few years but not last,” said King. “If the ideas are not well thought out, they will fail, and could have potentially devastating consequences for our community“.

King says that while he would like for things to be redeveloped, he likes the fact that the town is possibly thinking it over rather than rushing into a project.

“With the economy, that has certainly slowed it down as well,” said King.  “When it becomes feasible and they have a good concrete plan on how to rebuild, I am all for it.  But developing just for the sake of developing is very irresponsible”

Mark Clauss, 21 and President of the Delran Fire Company, has particularly taken notice of the empty buildings that are common in the town.  As a lifelong resident of Riverside, Clauss has been disappointed to see so many businesses fold and leave the community.

“Before any new structures are built, Riverside should focus on filling the buildings that already exist,” said Clauss.  “I can’t help but take notice as I walk downtown as to how many places are gone.”

Clauss said that by filling pre-existing buildings, it gives the town the best chance for a quicker turnaround. He also feels that building new structures with so many empty ones around could even make it more difficult for the new establishments to have staying power.

“It would take so much time to build new structures, and there is no guarantee that they will prove to be economically viable,” said Clauss.  “A lot of money would be required initially that the town does not have as well.  We have plenty of empty buildings in the heart of our town that could be improved and could have significant benefits for the town. ”

There have been some new businesses in town, but more have folded.  Holiday House Furniture sold half of its space to make way for a dollar store, and several stores down; Franco’s is a newer establishment serving Mexican-style cuisine.  However, the Riverside Arts Guild, supplying musical instruments, has gone under, the old Wachovia building has been vacant for years, and Scott Street lacks that bona fide anchor store to bring prestige and other businesses to the town.

Terri Harper, 53, has lived in Riverside for over 25 years.  She has felt the pinch of raising taxes and dropping revenues.  She says that redevelopment is the best thing for the town because it desperately needs tax money.

“Any enterprise that could be financially beneficial to Riverside should be considered because we need tax money so that they don’t keep raising ours,” she said.

Harper fears development not happening because she says Riverside has run very stagnant in recent years.  If this trend continues, she says the town may be in danger, and the redevelopment will be too late to save it.

“People are strapped and they may start to move away,” Harper said. “It is sad because Riverside is a nice little town; it just needs a boost to get back on track.

Harper is further concerned about the vacancies of the town because of the message it sends to the community and to people looking to start a family.

“People are less likely to start a family in Riverside because there are not the resources there used to be,” Harper said. “There are very few places for children to go, and to fulfill many of your needs, you have to go to other places.  The schools are really good, but it may not be enough anymore.”

Different people need different things, as we all are unique.  Will Riverside redevelop its barren land and vacant buildings?  Will it not redevelop, which seems to be the trend right now?  Will it find a happy medium of some redevelopment that can possibly please both sides of the debate?

Only time will tell if the specter of redevelopment in Riverside is fact or fiction.

Person of the Week: Troy Farley

Who wouldn't want to protect this?

To many people, small waste on a day-to-day level may not seem like a big deal.  Leaving the lights on after leaving the room does not faze us.  Keeping the car running while going into that convenience store to buy a gallon of milk does not hurt anything, some say.  The more materials used to package items purchased is better, right?

Eleven years ago, Troy Farley purchased his first home. Soon then after, he began to take notice of how much waste was created on a daily basis.  There had to be a better way, he thought.  From that point on, he would live a life based on sustainability and responsible living.

“When you live on your own, it is easier to realize how much waste we create individually,” Farley said.

Farley, 32  of Riverside, is avidly devoted to the protection of the environment.  He was beginning to think about the environment at a time in which it had not fully integrated into the mainstream thinking of America.

Early on, Farley made some basic changes to his lifestyle.  He switched to more efficient light bulbs.  He recycled more cans and paper.  While this would represent the majority of what many would do for the environment, Farley began to seek to make changes that would not be so obvious to the casual environmentalist.

One of the first major changes Farley made was discontinuing use of potentially hazardous household cleaners and products.  Many household cleaners and products contain strong chemicals and when some are used for their designated purpose, such as pouring Draino down the drain to clear clogged pipes, create a hazard for the water supply because they contain toxic ingredients.  He began to research the ingredients of these common products and discovered a brand called “Seventh Generation”, which manufactures safe cleaners that do not create a health hazard.  Most standard household cleaners are available in a non-toxic equivalent.

Of everything Farley did to lighten his impact on the environment, “I’m proudest of going with the natural cleansers and household products,” Farley said.

Farley has made tons of other changes to his lifestyle to create a more sustainable way to live.  He groups his trips to minimize the amount of driving he has to do.  Farley has taken to buying fruits and vegetables locally because of the large amounts of resources needed to ship them to chain-style supermarkets.  In addition to cutting back on carbon emissions, they are fresher when purchased locally and help support the local economy, he added.

While making a change in lifestyle can seem difficult in our modern world, Farley has been able to take it in stride.

“It was not a huge impact on your day-to-day life because you are just making little changes here and there, and you can still do much of what you did before,” said Farley.

Farley’s brand of environmentalism has reformed the way he eats and treats his body.  Farley’s family, consisting of his wife Sandy and son Max,  eat out much less not only because of the large amount of waste it creates and the expense, but because often it is simply not healthy for you.  He checks the ingredients in shampoos, lotions, and sunscreens because many of them contain chemicals that can enter your body through your skin.

Farley’s concern for water quality has eliminated the use of bleach in his laundry. To further save resources, he only washes clothes using cold water, which eliminates the use of more resources to heat the water.  Furthermore, he does not buy products that use significant amounts of hard plastic, which many municipalities do not accept in their recycling programs.  Farley works as an electronic salesman at Staples in Mount Holly, and has said that although there is still plenty of waste associated with consumer electronics, some companies are taking notice to the environmental movement by using less.

“You see some of the manufacturers are going to packaging which uses less plastic, and we have seen a shift towards using less packaging materials in some of the products we sell and I hope this continues,” said Farley.

In his home, Farley is concerned about the indoor air quality.  As a result, he says all of his future home painting will be done in zero-VOC paint, meaning it does not release toxic fumes into the air.  While today’s standard latex paint is much less harmful than the lead and oil-based paints of previous eras, Farley says his family will soon be expanding, and wants to establish these good habits now.

While he does not miss his old lifestyle, Farley says there are a few things that have been tougher to adjust to.  As a result of his family’s improved eating habits, he says he eats much less red meat, which is healthier but not as tasty.  He says that with a healthier diet and more whole grains, your food selections are not as great.  The green cleaning products he uses cost a little more than their non-green counterparts, but Farley has no objections paying a little more for their benefits.

Eventually, Farley would like to replace all of his home appliances with more energy efficient models.  He is researching the possibility of acquiring non-gasoline powered lawn equipment, as lawn tools represent a sizable portion of pollution produced despite their small size.  For his next vehicle, he would like to purchase a hybrid car if electric automobiles are not yet feasible.

John Noon, a longtime friend and Medford resident, said that Farley’s enthusiasm for the environment is contagious.

“He definitely has made me think about my own lifestyle, and I can attribute some positive changes to his influences,” Noon said.  In recent years, Noon has increased the amount he recycles and used caution when using products for his lawn because he uses water from a well.

For anyone interested in living a more green and healthier life, Farley recommends reading “Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability” by Greg Horn.  Farley said that the book changed his perspective.

Farley insists that environmental responsibility must be more than a fad.  To make this possible, people must always be committed to doing the right thing. He used the price of gas to demonstrate the attitude of some towards the environment.

For a while, people were only concerned about gasoline usage when the price reached high levels, Farley said.

“Cost is important, but waste reduction is more important,” Farley said.

While others are gradually giving more attention to environmental protection, Troy Farley has shown he is years ahead of mainstream society on the issue. One day, he hopes, we will all live a truly sustainable lifestyle.

Talk about leading by example.

Election Day 2009

The ballots have been counted and the results are in.  New Jersey’s Gubernatorial race garnered national attention, and was one of two governors races (Virginia being the other) in an otherwise quiet election year.  Republican Chris Christie, running on his reputation for prosecuting corrupt public officials and promising to reduce New Jersey‘s large tax burden, won the election with 49% of the popular vote compared to 44% for the incumbent Governor John Corzine.  Independent candidate Chris Daggett took 6% of the vote.

I posed the following question: “What issues mattered most to you in the gubernatorial election?“  This election season, taxes were the main thing on New Jersey voters minds.  Nathan King, 25, of Riverside, New Jersey, said that the candidates stand on taxes weighed heavily on his decision.

“The residents of this state are being taxed to death,” said King.  “Jon Corzine has shown he cannot lower taxes, so hopefully now Chris Christie will deliver on his promises and give us some relief.  I would like to believe Christie will rid New Jersey of corruption, and make some of the difficult decisions that need to be made to make our state a better place to live.  I am happy with the results of the election.”

Nicole Siddell, 29, originally of Riverside,  was not optimistic about the prospects of taxes being lowered.

“My Homestead Rebate was reduced by the Corzine administration,” said Siddell. “It really does not matter that Christie won this election because the tax issue is not going to go away.”

Because of the perceived  inability of both major parties to solve these problems, Siddell said she was unable to vote for Corzine or Christie.

Terri Harper, 53, of Riverside, agreed that taxes were too high, but would go a step further.  She says overall government waste is the most pressing issue facing the state.

“Government spending is out of control,” said Harper.  “There are too many state workers, and the fact is many of those jobs could be eliminated because they are not truly necessary.  I think it is nearly impossible for the state to maintain the pension system as we know it, and something has to be done about it.”

Christie’s pledge to reduce the size of the state workforce and cut overall spending was a key factor in winning her vote, Harper said.

A little more close to home, there was an election in Riverside for two spots on the township committee.    The Democratic incumbents, Thomas Polino (1,055) and Lorraine Hatcher (1,046), defeated Republican challengers Charles Hilton (578) and Dana Entwistle (553).  Once again, I posed a question: “what issues mattered most to you when voting for Riverside township committee?”

This question generated a far wider variety of responses.  King was mainly concerned about public works and redevelopment.

“Many of the roads are in poor condition, therefore they are a safety hazard and can damage your car,” said King. “The Golden Triangle area and the old Taubel mill site still have not been developed, but that can be attributed to the struggling economy.”

The Taubel mill was once a prominent manufacturer of hosiery in the early 20th century.  In 2006, it was demolished to make way for several new condominium developments, but this project  has yet to take form.  The Golden Triangle refers to an area bordering the Rancocas Creek and River Line tracks that has long been a potential redevelopment area for the town.

Harper likes the potential of the redevelopment plans for the revenue possibilities.

“If the old Taubel mill land was developed, along with the Golden Triangle and even where the old Zurbrugg hospital used to be, we could have businesses and establishments that would generate tax money that the township could collect.” said Harper.

Harper would have liked to have seen Hilton and Entwistle win, because “It is time to give someone else a chance,” said Harper.  “The Democrats have had their opportunity and nothing significant has changed the last three years.”

For Siddell, the candidates stance on immigration was very important to her.  As a lifelong resident of the town, she has seen how the impact of illegal immigrants has strained the resources of the town.

“Riverside has quite a few residencies with a large number of people living there,” said Siddell.  “They are registering their cars in Pennsylvania, and are getting off  very easy compared to residents who are paying into the system.”

During the last township committee election, Riverside was engulfed in scandal because of their newly created law aimed at curbing illegal immigration by punishing landlords who rented to them and businesses who hired them.  The law was ultra controversial, and thrust Riverside into the national spotlight.

In 2006, Polino and Hatcher ran on a platform that they would attempt to have the law repealed as the cost to defend it in court would have been greater than what the law would have provided.  The law suffered from being difficult to enforce.  Hatcher and Polino won the election, and the law was quietly written off the books.

King agreed illegal immigration is still a problem for the town.

“If they (immigrants) are going to come here, they should make an attempt to come legally,” said King. “I felt the Republican candidates for township committee would have been able to fix the problem unlike the Democrats who were reelected.”

Last year, Election Day made history.  This year, there were still plenty of passions stirred up, just going to show you that no matter how big or small the race, every vote does in fact count.

Hello Everyone!

My name is Robert Harper. I am 23 and from Riverside, New Jersey.  I have lived in Riverside for all of my 23 years on this beautiful earth.  There are alot of issues going on in Riverside, ranging from immigration to development, and I truly look forward to taking a deeper look into my hometown.  Until next time, thank you and so long!

 

-Rob