Sidewalks along the commercial strip of West Side Avenue in Jersey City will be receiving a much-needed powerwash Wednesday and Thursday.

Local business owners and community residents couldn't be more pleased.

"The garbage on West Side Avenue is absurd and horrible," said local activist Esther Wintner said. "Everyone in the community was complaining about the litter ... My friends and I wanted to do this and the shopkeepers seemed pretty excited too."

On Wednesday morning, a crew with the Jersey City Incinerator Authority will be powerwashing sidewalks on West Side Avenue between Duncan and Jewett avenues. On Thursday morning, the crew will tackle the sidewalks between Communipaw and Lexington avenues.

Oren K. Dabney, executive director of the Jersey City Incinerator Authority, said his agency is giving the commercial strip a facelift, but it will be up to local shopkeepers to keep the blocks looking good--or else.

"We're beautifying neighborhoods as a part of spring cleaning throughout the city," Dabney said. "As a government facility there's only so much we can do, but the shopkeepers need to take the initiative to keep their sidewalks clean or they'll start receiving summons."

"We'll help clean the sidewalks, but it's up to business owners to keep them that way," he added.

Oscar Patena, owner of the Kabayan Grill at 720 West Side Avenue, believes sidewalks free of gum and litter will encourage more people to try the Filipino food he sells "and keep coming back."

Jimmy Tung, owner of Jimmy Bravo's Gourmet Hot Dogs, believes the power cleaning could portend a rebirth for the commercial strip.

"The power wash can give this area a New York City kind of vibe," Tung said. "You can get your laundry done next door, nails done across the street and delicious food is all over the place, including our hot dogs."