These new businesses and downtown redevelopment are coming to Highland Park in 2024
HIGHLAND PARK – This year the borough will remain focused on seeing renovations completed so the new Super Fresh supermarket will open this spring, completing the library renovations, continuing plans to redevelop the downtown and welcoming some new businesses.
Mayor Elsie Foster thanked borough residents for entrusting her with all these responsibilities during her State of the Borough Address at Tuesday's reorganization meeting where she was sworn in by Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman. Foster was joined for the oath of office by her mother, son and other family members and friends.
Foster called serving as the borough's mayor "a great honor, an exceptional opportunity and a true privilege."
Foster had served on the Borough Council since 2000. She served as acting mayor following the Dec. 31, 2022, resignation of former Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler before being elected mayor by the council in late January 2023.
Watson Coleman also administered the oath of office to Council President Matthew Hersh and Councilman Jason Postelnik, who both won elections in November.
In her address, Foster said borough officials kept their promise to bring a new supermarket to town following the March 2023 closure of the Stop & Shop on Raritan Avenue. Late last year the borough announced Super Fresh would take over that location.
"They are renovating the old Stop & Shop building now, which frankly needs a lot of work," Foster said. "The leaders of Super Fresh have told us they expect to open their new Highland Park location to the public by Memorial Day 2024."
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As part of the borough's efforts to support, guide and offer feedback as the Super Fresh settles, a Supermarket Advisory Committee is being formed and community members interested in serving on the committee are being sought, the mayor said.
While last year the borough welcomed new businesses such as Global Grace Market Place, Anja, Barbie Fit Studio and Salonica Greek while Ellinikon Greek Deli and Restaurant and The Park Med Spa moved to new locations, this year Giddies Restaurant is planning to come to North 4th Avenue and MeToo Tea Cafe is looking to open on Raritan Avenue near South 1st Avenue, Foster said.
Slated for completion this spring are the renovations to the Highland Park Public Library, made possible through construction bond grants as well as the Kushner Legacy Project and donations from supporters. The work includes a complete interior redesign, new lighting, furniture and technology infrastructure upgrades, as well as meeting room upgrades and installation of a exterior porch on North 6th Avenue. Foster said some of the work is expected to be completed this spring.
The mayor said this year the borough also will be devoting time to advancing the downtown redevelopment, including changes to properties on and around lower Raritan Avenue, creating more jobs and greater variety of housing stock and a broader diversity of businesses. The borough plans to work with the county's economic development team and state and federal representatives to accomplish those goals.
The borough also is looking to create a Town Square by closing a portion of South 3rd Avenue near Raritan Avenue.
Also planned is developing a unified river trail and working to improve open spaces and pocket parks and also looking to address the high rate of accidents in the area of Upper Raritan Avenue, with the assistance of the state Department of Transportation.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Highland Park NJ welcoming new businesses, redevelopment in 2024
