Photo by Adrienne J. Romero / SOC Images.
Jersey City’s Marion community is urging for help in what they describe an effort to “Save Salumeria Ercolano.”
The Marion Neighborhood Association is requesting help to place flyers of a community meeting notice that’s currently scheduled for this Thursday, Oct. 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the former Puccini Banquet, located at 1064 West Side Avenue. The meeting has been requested by Landtree Developments to provide an “update” to the second phase of their development on the corner of Broadway and West Side Avenue, also known as the “Fayette Broadway Redevelopment Plan” as part of the “West Side Square” project.
According to the flyer, the new project, as currently proposed, would result in the closure of Salumeria Ercolano, the neighborhood’s staple deli and restaurant.
“Your input is critical in helping save the last place our community has to not just share a meal, but a place we all come together to celebrate life’s happy occasions, and also gather to support each other during difficult times of sadness and loss,” the flyer reads.
“Please join us this Thursday evening for this critical meeting and feel free to pass this message along to all your neighbors and friends.”
According to an email sent to Slice of Culture, the Marion Neighborhood Association said they were informed about the meeting a week ago. Following the notice, they asked the developers, Landtree Developments, to reschedule the community meeting so they can have more time to inform people of the meeting, but it was denied.
The “Fayette Broadway Redevelopment Plan” was on the agenda for Jersey City’s city council meeting on Sept. 10, asking the council to decide on an amendment to the project. Marion residents, along with other locals, urged the council that more needs to be done—including a traffic study to see the effects of the already congested area—and that the developers are not keeping their promises, which included preserving Ercolano’s, which is right next door to the new development.
Council members unanimously voted 9-0 to table the decision until they got more information, insight on locals’ concerns and the amendment itself. Natalie Limon, a longtime Marion resident, told Slice of Culture after the meeting that it’s not “just” about Ercolano’s the restaurant, but it’s about the “community space” that cannot be replicated if moved or torn down.
The association is “urgently” requesting help to put up flyers tomorrow, Oct. 15, around the Marion neighborhood as well as attendance for the Oct. 16 meeting. If you can assist, you can email [email protected].
