JCMan8 wrote:
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dtjcview wrote:
The honking great big parking lots downtown around the Mall, Shoprite and Target might have made sense 20 years ago, but really doesn't make sense for the next 20, given the value of that land. Shifting most of those stores over to 440 would make sense long term. What I don't get is why the large supermarket chains haven't tried to create mini-supermarkets to service urban areas, like Tesco and Sainsburys have done in the UK. Downtown doesn't really need the Shoprite, A&P, Pathmark and Target with their huge parking lots - just a high-quality, low cost Whole-Foods style grocery store every few blocks.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25762466

Whole Foods is the polar opposite of low cost. Trader Joes is more high quality and low cost.

But we agree it would be great to have such options in walking distance. Unfortunately I think that is a pipe dream due to the amount of real estate grocery stores take up.

dtjcview wrote:
The honking great big parking lots downtown around the Mall, Shoprite and Target might have made sense 20 years ago, but really doesn't make sense for the next 20, given the value of that land. Shifting most of those stores over to 440 would make sense long term. What I don't get is why the large supermarket chains haven't tried to create mini-supermarkets to service urban areas, like Tesco and Sainsburys have done in the UK. Downtown doesn't really need the Shoprite, A&P, Pathmark and Target with their huge parking lots - just a high-quality, low cost Whole-Foods style grocery store every few blocks.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25762466

CatDog wrote:
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xtine wrote:
But Pep Boys is actually useful!!!!! Argh!

I'm glad to see more surface parking lots disappear in favor of walkable, livable space, but I am kind of bummed about Pep Boys. It's nice being able to drop off my car for a repair and walk home while they work on it.

tommyc_37 wrote:
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fat-ass-bike wrote:
This city desperately needs an industrial, services and commercial hub or hubs downtown to cater to this residential highrise monopoly, before we'll all have to travel miles away to get a tire, service our car or buy a loaf of bread from an independant operator - we desperately need small business operators to challenge / compete with the mega marts or franchises and they need an area to compete and operate.

You are correct, Downtown Jersey City will continue to move away from a car-centric lifestyle. For auto repairs, you can just head over to 1&9, which is exactly where auto repair shops should be, not on Marin Blvd in the heart of an increasingly dense downtown. 1&9 is at least a century away from losing its auto body shops and industrial character :)

xtine wrote:
But Pep Boys is actually useful!!!!! Argh!

hero69 wrote:
I could actually see pep boys moving to that area of downtown near the 14th street garden store. i wonder how long that will remain a no man's land

Azul_the_Cat wrote:
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blanquiita wrote:
Something something tax abatements.

Something something poor infrastructure and poor sewage.

Something something flood zone.

All sarcasm aside, the last thing our piss poor infrastructure needs is more high density towers. Our combined sewer system can' barely handle the population we have now. You think the PATH is crowded now? Wait till all the towers under construction are finished. Sometimes the trains are so packed by the time they leave Grove St. People at Newport can't get on.

I'm all for developing DTJC , but developing has to mean more than building more high rise towers.

moobycow wrote:
Is that 12 towers in the rendering? Holy shite.

fat-ass-bike wrote:
This city desperately needs an industrial, services and commercial hub or hubs downtown to cater to this residential highrise monopoly, before we'll all have to travel miles away to get a tire, service our car or buy a loaf of bread from an independant operator - we desperately need small business operators to challenge / compete with the mega marts or franchises and they need an area to compete and operate.

blanquiita wrote:
Something something tax abatements.

Something something poor infrastructure and poor sewage.

Something something flood zone.

Seagull wrote:
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tommyc_37 wrote:
Exciting stuff.

This HUGE swath of land, when properly developed, actually has the potential to be a true hub in downtown JC with retail and communal open space.

They just really need to focus on keeping any vehicle parking structures out of plain sight so that they don't destroy the streetscape. This really needs to be done right; looks like the early renderings are pretty good.

Do you have a link to the renderings?

JPhurst wrote:
Pathmark and A&P, which are just as convenient.

tommyc_37 wrote:
Exciting stuff.

This HUGE swath of land, when properly developed, actually has the potential to be a true hub in downtown JC with retail and communal open space.

They just really need to focus on keeping any vehicle parking structures out of plain sight so that they don't destroy the streetscape. This really needs to be done right; looks like the early renderings are pretty good.

07310 wrote:
Are the other stores, BJ's and Shoprite going away too or just Pep Boys?

Monroe wrote:
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devilsadvocate wrote:
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hero69 wrote:
can't dogs run at lsp. i hope they keep the shoprite and bed, bath,beyond!

Yes, but it would be nice to have a larger off leash dog area that isn't fenced off besides Colgate within DTJC. VVP and Hamilton just don't give them the running space they would really like (and I feel REALLY sorry for the poor dogs that actually use the dog runs, lol!).

What does the rest of the board think?

But on the subject of shoprite, BB&B, etc. - their days are numbered. You won't find them in the same way as you don't find them in Manhattan or nicer parts of Brooklyn or even Hoboken.

The new Shop Rites in Cedar Knolls and Union are incredible, some of the owners are investing heavily.

devilsadvocate wrote:
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hero69 wrote:
can't dogs run at lsp. i hope they keep the shoprite and bed, bath,beyond!

Yes, but it would be nice to have a larger off leash dog area that isn't fenced off besides Colgate within DTJC. VVP and Hamilton just don't give them the running space they would really like (and I feel REALLY sorry for the poor dogs that actually use the dog runs, lol!).

What does the rest of the board think?

But on the subject of shoprite, BB&B, etc. - their days are numbered. You won't find them in the same way as you don't find them in Manhattan or nicer parts of Brooklyn or even Hoboken.