Matt Glass (at the mic) and Bob Zuckerman of SOVCA present to the South Orange Village Trustees on January 12.
Updated: The South Orange Village Center Alliance has canceled tonight’s annual meeting due to the weather. Stay tuned for more information.
South Orange has been undergoing a revitalization in the last several years with new developments, new businesses, new events and new energy coming to the commercial center.
Soon, locals can get all the details on what South Orange’s special improvement district has accomplished, and what’s ahead, at the annual meeting of the South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA). Previously scheduled for Monday, Feb. 2, the meeting has now been canceled due to weather; The Village Green will update this story when a new meeting date is scheduled and/or the annual report is posted on the SOVCA website.
On January 12, Zuckerman and SOVCA Chair Matt Glass previewed the annual meeting with a presentation to the Board of Trustees. Among the major accomplishments of 2014 were Play Day South Orange — which SOVCA leadership expects to become South Orange’s “signature event” much like Maplewoodstock in Maplewood — as well as the NJ350 Pop Up Store, which became the most successful of all the NJ350 Pop Up Stores in the state, and the Hometown Holiday event.
Glass and Zuckerman talked about doing more marketing in 2015, continued work with a consultant on business recruitment, continuing with an improved cleaning contract, and supporting the newly minted Seton Village niche on Irvington Avenue. They also reported that SOVCA continues to reduce its contribution from the Village year over year.
All in all, SOVCA seems to have much to crow about after two years of operation as a special improvement district. Said Packer, “We are the go-to organization in town if you want something done.”
Village President Alex Torpey was complimentary, saying that when SOVCA started a couple of years ago, “I don’t think we envisioned how successful you could be.”
Questions? Email info@sovillagecenter.org or call 973-763-6899.
