By Rebecca Greene (Published in Cooperation with the River Road Improvement Corporation and the Fair Lawn Focus)

They came looking for a new, wonderful place to begin a business or add to their establishments. They wanted traffic, but not congestion; decorated, clean streets, but not an area that looks cluttered; and, most important...parking.

Fair Lawn’s River Road is all of these things, and by now, considered a leader in parking with their work on the borough’s new parking ordinance, enabling businesses to address any shortages. And this is just one of the reasons why River Road is beginning to attract more new tenants.

One of those tenants is George and Sharon Fleck. Fleck was complementary towards the River Road Improvement Corporation (RRIC) Board for helping him obtain his Certificate of Occupancy (CO). He attended their August meeting to express his gratitude. “Don Smartt and Bob Landzettel have been most helpful in getting over some problems we were having getting a CO,” said Fleck during a phone interview from Waco, TX, where he was training for his new franchise, “Curves for Women”, 7-19 Fair Lawn Ave. With 2,200 locations nationwide, Fleck said this 30-minute workout is a relatively new circuit training concept for the east, but it’s quickly catching-on. There are already locations in Waldwick, Park Ridge, Paramus and Oakland. “We felt the Fair Lawn location was ideal,” said Fleck. “We’re very happy to be in the River Road SID. We’re also happy about the upscale “lounge” going in right next store to us.” Fleck said he felt there is plenty of parking. “We’re opening on Oct. 1, and we have renovations going on right now. It’s really going to be a nice place.”

But he’s not the only new tenant if you consider “new” as equal to the past two years, said Board member, Seymour Karas. “Recent move-ins are Shop Rite, Walgreens, Bargains Galore, the Community Bank of Bergen County, and now, possibly, Commerce Bank (they do not have a formal application with the borough for a CO, yet). Karas sees River Road as a place where a great deal of work has been done to improve the area--and the efforts are working. Why else would these businesses put such stock in the area? “We do have a ways to go, though,” said Karas.

“We need to continue to get property owners and developers together; we need to implement the new parking ordinance; and we need to correct or modify the B4/B5 zone.” Karas explained that revisions in the zone requirements could help redevelopment move faster. “For example, we could permit under-building parking, as long as the facade is such that the parking is not visible from the street,” said Karas. “It would also be beneficial to remove the prohibition on the second and third floor residences. “There are others, but those stand-out,” said Karas.

Sheri Adler is not a newcomer to the River Road area and certainly not to Fair Lawn. She’s not only a veteran business owner (Creative Classroom) and resident, but she’s also the Deputy Mayor of Fair Lawn. “As a River Road merchant and councilwoman, of course I am anxious to see fast results in terms of new and varied business coming to this shopping area,” said Adler. “As a realist, I am happy with the progress already made with the streetscapes and the strong continued focus of the [RRIC] Board of Directors towards their goals. “Whenever I am asked by someone looking to relocate, I tell them that our Council is working to improve its image as business friendly with, among other things, the creation of the Economic Development Committee.

Our borough agencies are trying their best to be facilitators and not obstructionist in helping people navigate the certificate of occupancy maze.” Indeed, if a potential business owner needs help, it is available. From technical assistance through store or building design, to help complying with ordinances, anyone wanting to open their business doors on River Road can get the advice and assistance they need from the RRIC at no cost. Meanwhile, the RRIC is continuing to look for more developers. With their listing on the internet with www.FairLawnNews.com and their ad program scheduled for September and October in the Bergen Record, the RRIC is keeping up their intensity to get the right businesses in the area.

Adler seems to agree that there’s progress and most of all, support. “Our organized business communities, through the Chamber of Commerce and the River Road Improvement District, have made themselves available to all interested entrepreneurs. River Road has acted as teacher, innovator and role model for the good of our six other Fair Lawn business districts.”