•••~ Greater Newark's Hometown Newspaper Since 191 0 •••~ 1 02nd Year, 20th Issue © 2011 May 27, 2011 -.newarkpostonllne.com Newark, Del. Newark wins top Main St. honor The partnership that was Main Street programs to win and building strategic partner­ business owners and resi­ instrumental in turning around the honor. ships. dents, the Downtown Newark Newark's downtown was A group of representatives "Newark, Delaware, Partnership has capitalized on named one of the top winners from the partnership and the evolved from a sleepy col­ Newark's business and tourism in the 2011 Great American state were on hand to attend lege town with a struggling opportunities without losing II!! Main Street Awards program. the ceremony. downtown to a small-business its historic identity or small­ The National Trust According to the Main hotbed and regional shopping, city roots," the announcement for Historic Preservation Street program , Newark was dining, and entertainment des­ from the organization noted. announced at its annual con­ recognized as a leader follow­ tination. By bringing together "The Downtown Newark ference in Des Moines, Iowa ing the Main Street Four-Point a diverse group of stakehold­ Partnership has worked skill- that the Downtown Newark Approach, embracing sound ers, including the University Newark Partnership was one of five historic preservation ethics of Delaware, elected officials, See MAIN STREET, 9 ...,_ A New Di:!Y Everyday! Paying the ultimate price Council reviews finances By MARK CORRIGAN and Morehead) constitUted a estate. The plan is admin­ quorum and could vote on the istered by Russell Investment [email protected] night's agenda. Group, who maintains the plan Athey, along with other and reallocates assets based With just enough members council members, showed upon a prescribed manner. to establish a quorum, the City disappointment at the cancel­ Portfolio reviews showed Council presented two ordi­ lation of Newark's Memorial that domestic equity com­ nances for first reading, accept­ Day Ceremony and Parade, but ponents had met or exceed­ ed the city's pension plan per­ acknowledged that the decision ed expectations, illustrating formance, and reviewed the was not an easy one to make. improvements in the econo­ financial report for April. A presentation of the city's my. International components Councilman David Athey pension plan performance showed losses, reflecting vola­ presided over the meeting, for the first quarter of 2011 tility in that market. due to the absences of Mayor showed a return on investment In other financial news, Vance Funk and Councilmen of 4.27 percent, or an antici­ Director McFarland presented Ezra Temko and Jerry Clifton. pated return of 17.08 percent a financial report for April Athey was given the honor due for the entire year. 2011, announcing a $487,000 to being second in seniority on In a report from Newark additional surplus for the city. the council, behind Clifton. Finance Director Dennis Government Funds showed One citizen showed con­ McFarland, the plan has risen an operating deficit of$165,000, cern over the proceedings and from $39.1 million to $40.8 with revenues being $228,000 stated that the council did not million, since the beginning of below budget and expenses have enough members to "do the year, and is attributed to $63,000 below estimates, due business," before storming asset appreciation. to timing differences in grants out of the council chambers. The report also shows that and franchise taxes. Building The War Monument marker at Academy Streets in Newark receives extra attention Councilman Stu Markham the plan is allocated to 60 per­ permits of $140,000 from the around Memorial Day. The monument contains the names of the men from Newark who assured the remaining audience cent equities, 30 percent fixed died in World Wars I, II, Korea and Vietnam. that the four members pres­ income and 10 percent real See COUNCIL, 13 ...,_ ent (Athey, Markham, Tuttle, • Competitively Newark Nite coming Priced on June 4th . • . 5 St. Mark's coach retires after stellar caree ... 7 News, Advertising • 737-0724 Classifieds • 1-800-220-3311 - IN THE NEWS Broad-based effort kept turnaround going As a university town, the situation worsened in the often went to Wilmington Roselle, according to James which once took heat for plac­ Newark's downtown has a lot 1970s. and suburban locations for Streit, former Publisher of the ing the Trabant Center (student of advantages. But winning While the University of entertainment and the sum­ Newark Post, who was active union) building near Main St. FOUR STEPS · the top Great American Main Delaware was growing, busi­ mer slump was deep. Housing in the partnership at that time. is now constructing a new Street award wasn't easy. nesses catering to students options were also limited for Prior to that time, UD had bookstore that is expected to TO SUCCESS As the partnership's appli­ alone couldn't fill the gap. those who were not undergrads been in "its own orbit," Streit draw more traffic to downtown. From the National Main Street program catioh for the honor noted, And unlike some college and remains that way. remembered. That produced some grumbling Newark, like most communi­ towns, Newark kept a lid on Parking, a problem in any That support, as well as among university critics, but ties, began to grow beyond night life, with liquor licenses college town, also kept many buy-in by all involved, led to was well received in many Organization its center and downtown went in short supply. That led to away even as the reasons for the partnership living up to the quarters. The university, now Organization establishes into decline. With the opening more of a family environment. coming downtown became four principles and putting a headed by Patrick Harker, con­ consensus and coopera­ of a regional mall (Christiana) But young, non-college adults fewer. The city's Parking large number of enthusiastic siders Main Street an important tion by building partner­ Authority also was the target of volunteers to work. amenity as it works to bring top ships among the various criticism from those who saw it Also, Maureen Roser, students its Newark campus groups that have a stake as less than sympathetic to the working in the city's planning In recent years, restaurants in the commercial district. problems facing Main Street. department, took on the chores and retailers have taken a lik­ A governing board of In 1986, the city commis­ of managing the partner­ ing to the area, with more than directors and standing com­ sioned a study, "Commerce ship. By 2000, the Downtown 30 new businesses corning to mittees make up the fun­ Congratulation~ damental organizational 2.011 Gr<>at American in Newark - A Plan for the Newark Partnership was rec­ downtown. National recogni­ Future" that recommended, ognized as a Certified National tion followed. structure of volunteer-driv­ Main Street Award Winners: en revitalization programs. among other things, a partner­ Main Street Program. Downtown won a SBA Volunteers are coordinated ship that would include the city, Progress was being made, Small Business Community of and supported by a paid University of Delaware and the but the results were not always the Year honor; and Newark program director. business community. It would visible on Main Street with ranked as the best city for use the National Main Street vacancies popping up and busi­ business start-ups by Business Center's four-step approach to nesses struggling with eco­ Weekly. The retail vacancy Promotion revitalization. nomic pressures and the peaks rate has since declined to about Promotion takes many Downtown businesses, and valleys that come when three percent. forms, but the goal is to property owners, and universi­ students arrive and leave for Downtown continues to have create a positive image that ty representatives talked about the summer. The departure of negative parking perceptions, will rekindle community downtown revitalization, and a Gap store, in a corporate despite the presence of munici­ pride and improve consum­ due to those efforts, the Newark decision not directly tied to the pallots that almost always have er and investor confidence Business Association (NBA) store's performance, was yet parking. in the commercial district. was created. The NBA orga­ another setback. In response, the partnership nized loosely along the Main The landscape began to has responded with a brand­ Design Street four-point approach, but change as private investment ing effort with the tagline, Design means getting enjoyed limited success. continued, despite a tough "Downtown Newark. A New Main Street into top physi­ In 1998, the Downtown economy. One landmark proj­ Day. Everyday." While parking cal shape and creating a Newark Partnership (DNP) was ect, The Washington House and the associated enforcement safe, inviting environment formed, with the city, univer­ condominiums, struggled. with efforts draw fire, city parking for shoppers, workers, and Newark Mayor Vance Funk, left; Maureen Feeney-Roser, sity and business community a difficult housing market, but revenues are up, a reflection visitors. It takes advantage director of the Downtown Newark Partnership and Marilyn working in partnership. The is now nearing full occupancy, of the fact that more people of the visual opportunities Minster, president of the partnership, in Des Moines, Iowa. partnership got the backing bringing more permanent resi­ are coming to the area for din­ inherent in a commercial The city was one of five in the nation to receive the Great of a key player, University dents to the area. ing, entertainment and spe­ district by directing atten­ American Main Street Award. of Delaware President David The University of Delaware, cial events. A few have to be tion to all of its physical reminded that parking is free elements: public and pri­ on Sunday until 1 p.m.