Dreaming Up New Downtowns

As officials in Scotch Plains and Fanwood work on making improvements to their downtowns, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch decided to get local residents' thoughts on what they'd like to see changed.

“I wish all the stores looked better. We love the bagel place, but we even wish it could look better, and we’ve told them that. I really wish there were a restaurant, even if it didn’t serve alcohol, we could bring our own.” Colleen Greco, Fanwood

“What I don’t like about Westfield is that it feels like an inside out shopping mall. I like the quaintness here of having little differences in the building facades. I would be disappointed if we ended up with a homogenous look, fake gas lamps and that type of thing. They’ve done new street signs, improved the crosswalks, that’s nice. I’d like to see more plantings, trees, shrubs. Awnings are nice, and give a little shade. More tables and benches around the Scotch Plains library would be nice, too." Lee Anne Lutz, Scotch Plains

“Take your imagination and run with it.” Deborah Ford, Scotch Plains

“Something a little more colonial. A brick sidewalk instead of concrete, colonial lights.” Bill Muirhead, Scotch Plains

“It’s a waste of time and money. You can’t change anything, what can you do? It’s only one street full of cars. It’s a different map than Westfield, Summit, Clark.” Ben Di Iorio, Scotch Plains