Project Profile

Neptune Township is one of the primary gateways to the New Jersey shore. Traversed by Routes 18, 35 and 33, and easily accessible from the Garden State Parkway, Neptune is both a destination spot (the township's seaside hamlet of Ocean Grove, for example) and a busy thoroughfare for shore-bound travelers.

The Neptune Township Council has drafted a strategic revitalization plan that encompasses all of the township's "Gateway" areas. An early focus of the plan is the West Lake Avenue section of town. West Lake Avenue was, at one time, one of the premier commercial corridors of Neptune Township, but the area has declined substantially since the late 1960's. Some of the commercial establishments located there show signs of disinvestment, and many buildings in the corridor are substandard.

The Council's goal is to restore the commercial vitality of West Lake Avenue and create a neighborhood center for the surrounding Midtown neighborhood. The center would consist of commercial and residential buildings as well as mixed-use structures. The new development would have a "village" feel with minimal setback on the street side, parking in the rear and a pedestrian orientation.



CityWorks will participate in this redevelopment plan as developer/partner with the Neptune Economic Development Corporation and the Midtown Urban Renaissance Corporation (MURC). MURC is a non-profit corporation composed of residents, business owners and religious and civic leaders whose mission is "to secure the necessary resources that will develop and maintain the vitality of the Midtown neighborhood." At this time, agreements between the township and CityWorks are being finalized, and CityWorks has commissioned a market study to identify the economic advantages of the Midtown area.

View a Close-Up of the Storefronts (11 MB) >>>

Non-profit empowerment and community development are at the core of CityWorks' mission. The West Lake Avenue project fulfills all aspects of that mission. The surrounding neighborhood will retain its solid residential component, and its vitality will be enhanced as the commercial center is developed and the residential base is expanded. Local businesses will continue to serve the area, and MURC will become a partner in the project as that organization continues to pursue the rebirth of the Midtown neighborhood.