Every year the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District holds an annual meeting where they talk about topics and issues going on in the Downtown District as well as talk about news, events, plans and more.
The meeting will be held next Tuesday, May 17th at 10 AM in the caucus room of City Hall and it’s open to the public. They will be serving breakfast from Wonder Bagels as well as coffee! Did someone say free food?! We in there.
The HDSID has expanded their boundaries which become official in July. There is a map on their website as well as cute banners which they placed throughout the downtown showing the new areas!! How exciting!
It includes businesses such as Talde, Union Republic, 9 Bar, Third and Vine and the store fronts of the new SILVERMAN building, Charles & Co. That building is home to the new locations of Another Man’s Treasure, Kanibal & Co., Hazel Baby and Kids, Cool Vines, Maximum Motion Fitness, and Mathnasium.
This year the HDSID will be presenting awards to individuals and businesses which have shown great support to the HDSID and its mission over the years. This year this includes Wayne and Erin Burton of Downtown Community Church, Paul and Eric Silverman of SILVERMAN, Bob Yontef of KRE Group and JCPD Officer Thomas Revell.
To celebrate these wonderful businesses, I reached out to hear more about their involvement with the HDSID. I went to meet Wayne and Erin Burton of the Downtown Community Church in Jersey City. They are the SWEETEST people I’ve ever met. We ended up talking for the longest time about spirituality. They are beautiful people.
I then went to see Paul Silverman of SILVERMAN and this guy is so fun and outgoing; it never feels like an interview when I chat with him. The SILVERMAN’s do so much for the JC community and seeing them support the HDSID as much as they do is a beautiful thing.
Do you feel the love guys?
What are your names?
Wayne: My name is Wayne Burton.
Erin: And I’m Erin.
What do you guys do?
Wayne: I am a pastor at a church called Downtown Community Church in Jersey City.
Erin: I stay home with our kids.
Awesome. Can you tell me more about the church?
Wayne: So we officially started a year ago. We were started by a church called Hoboken Grace in Hoboken. We are a nominational Christian church, and we meet over in the Hamilton Park neighborhood.
Awesome.
Wayne: We just celebrated our first birthday party. So we threw a big party it was great.
How did the church get its start?
Wayne: So we were originally at the location of Grove and Grace. Once we got established, they were like, “why don’t you take this and go for it.” And that is what we did. So we launched out, completely Jersey City focused, which is what we wanted, what we would hope for. So that allows us to completely do things that to impact the city and the community. We went for that I the beginning of last year. Created the name, the logo, and became legal and all those things and then just launched out as Downtown Community Church.
What is your involvement to HDSID?
One of the big things we did we just asked him how we could help the street fair a couple of years ago. That was one first thing we started doing. We love what they do, and we like to do things to impact the city where we live. So we just said how can we help. I got a group of people and friends together and just did things to help them set up, do the raffle and stuff during the day. That was one of the first things that we did.
Was it the street fair from last year or two years ago?
Erin: Two years ago.
Wayne: Yeah, we started at two years ago and then we did it again this last September. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s exhausting.
How do you guys feel about this award that you are going to be given at the annual meeting?
Wayne: I’m blown away. I feel like we just have a small impact. We love the city, so I was blown away that we were nominated.
Erin: I think we just feel ordinary like there is a lot of people who love Jersey City and want to help and do.
But, clearly you guys have gone above and beyond right?
Wayne: We believe in loving your city. I encourage people to invest with whatever time they have. I think a lot of people when they move here, especially downtown, think I’m probably going to be here for a year or two, and they don’t invest. So what we’ve seeing is that they are here for years and don’t even expect it. Before you know it you are going to move somewhere, where you end up being for a while, and then you will suddenly have that pattern, with habit, you’ll establish a community. What we find is when people invest their lives here and be a part of solutions to cities or wherever they’re at they suddenly begin to develop that community with others and then they want to stay. I think people just move because they never find that community. Then once you do you want to be a part of it. I want to be part of a solution even if it’s small. I think the little things you do make a big impact.
That’s awesome. I’m sorry, but you don’t seem like a pastor. You seem like a cool young guy. Can you talk about that?
Wayne: One of our hopes is that we love people as we’ve been loved by God. I grew up in church, and a lot of people have positive and negative experiences. When I look at scriptures and how we see God interact with us it’s very much real and normal. To be authentic and real is really important. I am who I am and as best as I can be. That is important for us. That is kind of part of our M.O. with us, and it’s cool when you can start something you can be who you are.
Anything else you want to mention about HDSID?
Erin: We’re grateful for their investment. We know how much work they put into it.
Wayne: They are making the city better.
Erin: How much they support small businesses it’s incredible.
Wayne: The support of local businesses and creating that community I think it’s been an integral part of transforming this neighborhood.
What’s your name? Paul Silverman
Well we all know what do you do…. I am a Real Estate Developer and Microbrewery owner of New Jersey Beer and Co. The number one beer in New Jersey according to the readers of the NJ Monthly magazine.
Oh you guys won!! Yes we won. Isn’t that cool?
It’s awesome! Tell me about your involvement with the HDSID? Rachel is the Executive Director and she is doing a great job with the markets, events, the ribbon cuttings and of course the Street Fair. It’s been great.
How do you feel about this award? It feels great to be recognized by the SID for the efforts we put in to make it strong.
You are sponsors too right? We always have, but we are always involved as well.
Anything else you want to add? A strong SID is so important for the neighborhood for all the small businesses. Keeping the streets clean, hanging Christmas lights… coordinating all the ribbon cuttings. It makes Downtown what it is.
Follow the HDSID on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The current board of trustees is listed here.
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