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So, what is Gloucester City’s development plan missing that all of these other places have in common? The answer is: direct route access supplies these communities with potential customers.

The Freedom Pier and South Port ideas are excellent but unless we build direct access roads, those plans may as well stay on paper. In speaking with numerous out-of-town visitors who came to enjoy some of Gloucester City’s best known spots, their common complaint was the lack of easy access.

In directing traffic to the Riverfront area, UEZ Director of Community Development Howard Clark, wrote in his Riverfront Restaurant Initiative “…the City intends to work with the appropriate agencies to provide way-finding signage that will help direct motorists to the venue.” Though Mr. Clark’s statement was encouraging, it does not address the ability of consumers to travel to these areas easily and quickly.

Beezer Homes’ private development, Meadowbrook, was very successful because they offered nice, new, competitively priced homes located near direct access to major highways. The Chatham Square Apartments property can also be a success story for the same exact reasons. Our City’s leadership needs to stop spending taxpayers funds on this “money-pit” project. They should stay with their original plan of relocating the remaining residents, clear the property and present a fresh start for an unsolicited developer to build upon. This would allow our City to redirect crucial funding towards updating existing roads and build new ones which will bring business opportunities to our Riverfront developments.

I call on our City’s Government to work with County and State officials to acquire funding that will give Gloucester the real development chance it deserves. If we want the same progress that our neighbors are creating for themselves, then we need to build access routes directly from the highway to the Riverfront. Open up our City and bring progress right down our road.

Respectfully submitted,

Wil Levins

Independent Candidate for Gloucester City Council, Second Ward

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Comments

1

You must be in wonderland!! said...

Wil get a grip on yourself. You make it sound so easy to just go out an get money from the state or county officials. I don't understand what are you looking to do, build a bridge from route 42 to kings street? Its Gloucester, we have one of the lowest tax bases plus were an abbott district. We have people that don't care about quality of life. What makes you think that people from the state or county are gone to dump millions into this town? Let start raising taxes so some people cant afford to live here, and get rid of the abbott title. Another thing where were you for the past ten years when city officials did nothing to this city? This present administration is the key of leading Gloucester in the right direction! I said it once and i'll say it again, it doesn't happen overnight, it takes time. And once they get all there ducks in a row, things are gone to happen and people are gone to be amazed. Will you must be a Gorman or Kain?

Reply

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 08:03 AM

2

Wil Levins said...

Dear concerned resident,

As I stated, the Riverfront and South Port ideas are excellent. The City should proceed with these projects but we need to also incorporate new roads in our planning. If we do not, then increased traffic of out-of-town visitors will have to come down existing streets that are currently congested. Market street, Hudson Street and Essex Street would not do well with even more motorist volume. Directing traffic to the Riverfront would then have to consist of Jersey Avenue alone (which is currently in need of serious repair.)

I believ we need to build roads that run from Rt.130, on the south side of the Third Ward, to connect with a refurbished Jersey Avenue. We should also build a road that connects the north side of King Street with Rt. 42-676 at the base area of the Walt Whitman Bridge. That would create a traffic loop pattern that would go around the City, keeping new traffic volume moving to our Riverfront Development without traveling through our interior neighborhoods.

The whole point of these developments is for the enjoyment of Gloucester City residents, supported by new revenue dollars from out-of-town visitor commerce. Increased business revenues bolster the tax base and lower the liability of the community. New business development increases property values in the surrounding neighborhoods. A win-win.

As for Camden County and State funding, I believe those officials would welcome the opportunity to help grow a community that would actually put their funding to good use, unlike some other communities that seem to have lost that battle yet keep pumping in new funds.

Ten years ago I made my best friend my wife and have since bought a nice house on Baynes Avenue, became a proud father of two wonderful girls and worked very hard in my profession so I could improve the quality of my family’s life. I believe improving the quality of our lives is the dream for the majority of Gloucester City’s residents.

I am a Levins. To the best of my knowledge about our family tree, I do not believe I am related to the Gorman or Kain families. Like many in Gloucester City, ours is a family that has proudly lived here for well over 100 years. My limited interaction with both families has been positive, just as it has been with Mr. James, Mr. Marchese, Mr. Brophy, Mrs. Ferry and the rest of our City‘s officials. I look forward to working with all the families of Gloucester City as our community seeks progress and prosperity.

Respectfully,

Wil Levins

www.willevins.com

Comments

1

You must be in wonderland!! said...

Wil get a grip on yourself. You make it sound so easy to just go out an get money from the state or county officials. I don't understand what are you looking to do, build a bridge from route 42 to kings street? Its Gloucester, we have one of the lowest tax bases plus were an abbott district. We have people that don't care about quality of life. What makes you think that people from the state or county are gone to dump millions into this town? Let start raising taxes so some people cant afford to live here, and get rid of the abbott title. Another thing where were you for the past ten years when city officials did nothing to this city? This present administration is the key of leading Gloucester in the right direction! I said it once and i'll say it again, it doesn't happen overnight, it takes time. And once they get all there ducks in a row, things are gone to happen and people are gone to be amazed. Will you must be a Gorman or Kain?

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 08:03 AM

2 Wil Levins said...

Dear concerned resident,

As I stated, the Riverfront and South Port ideas are excellent. The City should proceed with these projects but we need to also incorporate new roads in our planning. If we do not, then increased traffic of out-of-town visitors will have to come down existing streets that are currently congested. Market street, Hudson Street and Essex Street would not do well with even more motorist volume. Directing traffic to the Riverfront would then have to consist of Jersey Avenue alone (which is currently in need of serious repair.)

I believ we need to build roads that run from Rt.130, on the south side of the Third Ward, to connect with a refurbished Jersey Avenue. We should also build a road that connects the north side of King Street with Rt. 42-676 at the base area of the Walt Whitman Bridge. That would create a traffic loop pattern that would go around the City, keeping new traffic volume moving to our Riverfront Development without traveling through our interior neighborhoods.

The whole point of these developments is for the enjoyment of Gloucester City residents, supported by new revenue dollars from out-of-town visitor commerce. Increased business revenues bolster the tax base and lower the liability of the community. New business development increases property values in the surrounding neighborhoods. A win-win.

As for Camden County and State funding, I believe those officials would welcome the opportunity to help grow a community that would actually put their funding to good use, unlike some other communities that seem to have lost that battle yet keep pumping in new funds.

Ten years ago I made my best friend my wife and have since bought a nice house on Baynes Avenue, became a proud father of two wonderful girls and worked very hard in my profession so I could improve the quality of my family’s life. I believe improving the quality of our lives is the dream for the majority of Gloucester City’s residents.

I am a Levins. To the best of my knowledge about our family tree, I do not believe I am related to the Gorman or Kain families. Like many in Gloucester City, ours is a family that has proudly lived here for well over 100 years. My limited interaction with both families has been positive, just as it has been with Mr. James, Mr. Marchese, Mr. Brophy, Mrs. Ferry and the rest of our City‘s officials. I look forward to working with all the families of Gloucester City as our community seeks progress and prosperity.

Respectfully,

Wil Levins

www.willevins.com

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 11:25 AM

3 Agreeable said...

Wil

You have picked the right key to success. It has long been known that location, location, location are the three most important factors to business success. You are correct in saying demolish the money pit that Chatham Square represents.

The city should avoid building homes to increase its ratables. It should put the property up for commercial development and let the developer provide a turnkey project. The City should work to acquire the necessary State and local approvals instead of trying to be construction managers or landlords.

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 11:52 AM

4 Indy said...

You must be in wonderland (AKA Democrat Club)

What are you smoking? Your group has been raising taxes for 30 years with no positive results. Get a grip. You can't tax your way to prosperity. What does Nick say about Wil's idea?

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 01:10 PM

5 Columbus said...

Mr. Levins,

I'm having trouble visualizing your proposal for the new highway loop. Could you mark up a map and post it on the web?

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 04:00 PM

6 STRICKLAND said...

Well said Wil, I wish more people in town thought like you. I too have heard of all the great things proposed for Gloucester's waterfront, but am dissappointed by the lack of progress made. I support you 100%,but I hope whoever wins in November can push through this stalemate and bring improvements to our town sooner then later.

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 05:10 PM

7 Thankful said...

Will:

Thank you for stepping up to the plate. You have fresh idea's AND you're not in anyones club...you're officially my favorite person at the moment. Keep moving forward Will for the caring people of Gloucester City are in desperaste need.

Again, thank you.

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 09:16 PM

8 Another choice said...

STRICKLAND

How can you have a stalemate when you have only one group in control?

Pick another word like stupidity, ineptitude, shortsightedness, unfocused, uncaring or any of the dozens of others that fit.

Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 11:40 PM

9 Not my vote said...

Isn't Wil the same guy that was going around trying to get signatures from people about the change of government with Maggie? Yes, a lot of those people were lied to about what they were signing. This guy isn't even in office yet and is already costing us money. Thank god the James admin stopped this stupid process that would have cost us about 50 grand. Not a good way to start out Wil!

Friday, June 26, 2009 at 09:56 AM

10 and Nicki you don't have my vote said...

God is with a G not a g Nicki-

GO WIL

Friday, June 26, 2009 at 01:25 PM

11 STRICKLAND said...

Another choice

You are right, thank you for pointing that out.