SYMPOSIUM SHOWCASES FORT LEE'S VIBRANT FUTURE

If you build it … they will come. Experts say that sums up what’s happening in Fort Lee. Developers are building new residential and retail complexes and a non-profit group called the Business District Alliance (BDA) of Fort Lee is working with borough officials to build branding strategies and marketing plans to capitalize on the new investment and image of Fort Lee. These and experts, elected officials, and other stakeholders presented their vision and goals to an audience of local property owners, retailers, and real estate professionals at a Symposium called Initiatives on Main Street. It was held at a nearly completed luxury residence called The Modern, one example of the changing landscape and cosmopolitan image planned for Fort Lee’s Main Street Shopping Corridor.
Romina Luppino Starace, Board President of the BDA of Fort Lee, started the program by introducing the board members, committees, and their missions. She recalled how far this group has come in a relatively short amount of time. “ … Just one year later, you are all standing in the future, and we hope that you are all as energized about Fort Lee and its future as we are,” said Starace.
An energized Main Street with thriving businesses is the goal of this group. Achieving this will require an image makeover. Leading this effort is BDA of Fort Lee Board Member Denis Glennon. He presented a branding strategy that conjures up images of excitement, vitality, and a cosmopolitan lifestyle that is sure to attract new residents, businesses and developers.
There’s also data that supports this idea that Fort Lee’s Main Street Shopping Corridor is poised for an economic rebirth. Revitalization expert Stuart Koperweis, the Executive Director of the BDA of Fort Lee, referenced a recently completed ERA or Economic Revitalization Audit, to show there are underserved sectors in the SID or Special Improvement District. And a projected growth in population in the city and region will expand the potential customer base for new and existing businesses on Main Street. “There is untapped potential here in Fort Lee, “said Koperweis. “With a 3.5% projected growth in population in Fort Lee over the next five years and incomes in the area on the rise, the Main Street Shopping Corridor could benefit from this growth. And that’s the mission of the BDA of Fort Lee, to create an environment where people want to live and shop, and for retailers to thrive.”
A valued partner in this effort to revitalize Main Street is the Fort Lee Film Commission. Executive Director Tom Meyers talked about how his organization has played a vital role in promoting the city’s rich history as the birthplace of the motion picture industry. And he’s confident Fort Lee will once again bask in the spotlight when a new state of the art theatre opens here in a year or two.
Other projects in the pipeline include a new parking deck, streetscape improvements, better signage and lighting … all designed to create an environment that is appealing to both residents and business owners. “We’re on the brink of a real renaissance in Fort Lee, “said Mayor Mark Sokolich. “With new residential and commercial development underway, a planned parking deck to accommodate residents and visitors, wider sidewalks to create a pedestrian friendly area in the Main Street Shopping Corridor, and creative marketing and branding initiatives, Fort Lee is destined to become the premier destination in Bergen County.”