TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill is on a mission. He wants to turn Downtown Toms River into a tourist destination, but it has all been tried before. Rebuilding, revitalizing, and restoring Downtown Toms River has been an ongoing project for over 60 years yet, few people visit.
Now, Mayor Hill is seeking to convert one of the last remaining Green Acres open space lots from the 1960’s revitalization project into an urban landscape. Hill and the township have petitioned the NDEP Green Acres to remove the lot from the open space Green Acres roll and turn it into a lot that can be sold to commercial developers to build on.
That land was seized via eminent domain in the late 1960s when the Township of Dover, under Manuel Hirschblonde seized 20 parcels of land using a million-dollar federal HUD grant to beautify Downtown Toms River.
That purchase allowed town planners to preserve the open space along Water Street to expand the Island of Huddy Park to the north side of the canal, to provide a clear and unobstructed view of the Toms River from water street and the buildings on the hill above up to Washington Street.
Now, Hill wants to build on one of those three lots preserved in the 60s to fulfill his vision of turning the downtown center into a buzzing hub of activity.
The site is now the parking lot to access Huddy Park. Hill’s plan appears to be to sell the lot, like other downtown properties to developers to build on.
We called Hill press communications officer Art Gallagher about this purchase who declined to publicly comment on the history of the site, removing the Green Acres designation or Hill’s plan for the plot of land.
But will Hill’s plan to convert Downtown Toms River into Red Bank of Freehold work? Many long time residents and people who worked downtown over the years said no.
As a 30-year resident of Toms River before moving just across the tracks to Jackson, I can vouch for those who remain. As a teen and young adult there was never a real reason to visit Downtown Toms River, and I lived literally just on the other side of Route 37 for most of those 30 years.
Here are some of the comments made by longtime residents on our Facebook page this morning when asked “Why do you not visit Downtown Toms River?” and “What would entice you to visit Downtown Toms River?”
Why do you NOT visit Downtown Toms River?
- Traffic is terrible. Will only get worse with the lakewood south building plan.
- When all you have are retail jobs, 1 bar restaurant with poor parking for that and bad traffic patterns and parking elsewhere, no one wants to go there. There is nothing destination about downtown outside of Water Street. Get some higher paying jobs (bring industry in) into the area, where people will spend money there (on food, beverage, etc.) and possibly draw some more establishments to visit. The 1950’s still looking buildings don’t work either.
- Can’t do much when there is nothing to do. All law offices and banks then just stupid shops. Not worth my time.
- there needs to be a reason to goto downtown toms river. For the most part the restaurants are ok, but nothing special. You would need more trendy restaurants, music establishments and bars. Other than that, there is really no reason to goto downtown after normal business hours except for the 1 or 2 restaurants.
- NOTHING TO DO – LACK OF PARKING. *Any attractions need to be within walking distance of each other. *If you bring music / food / bars it needs to have a real accessibility plan. Like have a plan to close a street or two to pedestrians after a certain hours or some such. Shuttles to an outlaying parking lot close by? The old Pathmark is still an empty space??? Has anyone been to Sixth street in Austin or River walk in San Antonio? Not to knock professionals who are rooted in the area, but that has no draw for tourism dollars. It all comes back to current property owner with no imagination and who ever is pulling the strings regarding permits and licenses — if “they” don’t want it …. it wont get built. More people always equals more problems. Maybe its better if it stays professional??? Two sides to every coin.
- no parking. shouldn’t have to pay to go to the library!!!! FREE PARKING!!!
- Parking
- A failure of the Master Plan! TR down town will never be any more than it is. No room to grow, as it is the County and Municipal seat and then TR South High School. First good try would be to get ride of those parking meters and the Parking Authority. As far as business there, rumor has it the rents are twice what they are in Point.
- With the Courthouse being right down the street hence all the law firms and banks. Toms River has always been to political….. not enough interest in the average tax payer to draw more people. Not enough PARKING is another big issue to draw people to the few things that are being offered. such as the Farm Market, Founders Day, Old Auto Shows, etc. Other surrounding towns have long bypassed Toms River such as Brick, Lacey, Stafford Township, Rt. 72 in particular, to name a few, having much more retail…… Rt.37 has too many car dealerships. Toms River is behind the times in their planning!!!
- If we wanted to live in a Red Bank or a Freehold we would. Our corrupt politicians have already destroyed and/or sold out our town.
- Not enough store fronts to make it a “destination” and with the way it’s constructed down there, I’m not sure anything can be done about it.
- We get two blocks of not much while the rest is courthouse, lawyers, banks, etc. More restaurant options and trendy boutique shopping, small businesses to support, handmade shops, unique finds, etc.
- Free parking is one thing. Better walk-ability, maybe making the roads 1 way and adding parking would be studies, Better restaurants and bars, Better quality shopping, BUT its all been tried before, a BIG WRECKING BALL is the only way you could ever fix it. DUMP all the buildings and re-plan the downtown. Having worked on Washington Street for years I can tell you this first hand.
What would entice you to visit DTR?
- A few good bars, with live music would help. Water Street is only one nearby.
- Remove the parking meters….
- It’ll be a destination soon. The orthodox Jewish community are buying everything up slowly. So, it’ll be a hustling Lakewood 2 one day.
- There needs to be businesses worth visiting. One brewery/distillery a few restaurants and that’s it. There needs to be more of a nightlife and more parking. Banks and law offices don’t promote a thriving downtown.
- Gorgeous condos with stores all down stairs walk all over and update the old stuff
- People need a reason to go. Thursday night concerts, Saturday Farmer’s Market, Once a month “Art Night”… Exhibits & Displays in multiple locations, including vacant storefronts… Get merchants involved… Attract new business’ w/tax breaks & cut red tape. Throwing a ton of money at something does nothing. Get Corporat sponsors for events!
- Take away the parking meters, give tax breaks to downtown property owners, encourage additional restaurants, and possibly close Washington Street to traffic on the weekends
- Get rid of the banks and lawyers offices and put in more restaurants and bars.
- People want to shop and eat, you need to make it a night destination with plenty of FREE parking period. It costs more to park in downtown TR than Redbank.