Tour uncovers Stanhope's treasures

Stanhope - The only way to upgrade a downtown business district is to know what’s there now. To that end, Stanhope officials toured the business district with representatives of the State Department of Community Affairs and Main Street programs. Walking around the district and through neighboring Netcong proved educational for Jef R. Buehler, state coordinator for Main Street, New Jersey, and the Business Improvement District programs for the Department of Community Affairs and for Ann R. Waters, an area planner for the Department of Community Affairs. “Stanhope is scaled to the pedestrian,” Buehler noted, referring to a business district only a few blocks long. Another asset, he said, was its anchor store, the Stanhope House. Known by blues, jazz and folk enthusiasts throughout the New York Metropolitan Area, and frequently mentioned on regional radio promotions, the Stanhope House possesses a folksy charm that is something the entire district can draw on, he explained. The presence of the Whistling Swan Bed and Breakfast on Main Street, although in a primarily residential section, is another asset, In addition, Buehler continued, the upscale dining offered by the restored historic Bell’s Mansion helps make Stanhope’s downtown a place for everyone. It didn’t take long for the state officials to recognize Stanhope’s niche: services for children. Between the dance academy, Art Magic and Keyboard World coupled with The Growing Stage just over the town line in Netcong, the area is a mecca for kids. “You can’t go to Wal-Mart for piano lessons,” Buehler said. According to the visitors, history is the other asset the area has to offer. All of the downtown buildings still show some, if not all, of its old-time charm. The dance academy in the once-rundown former Masonic Temple has been spruced up with a new coat of paint, and the building that houses Faithful Movers and Deli Delicious still features very rare old ceramic pipe that Buehler said he had never seen before. The consultants had plenty of advice for Stanhope officials Clerk Robin Klein and Councilman Brian Murphy who were accompanied on the walk by George Graham, a local public relations professional who is running for council, and Ronald Sacchiero, a Main Street businessman. The officials said keeping the storefront windows clean and uncluttered should be first priority. They noted that larger cities generally have ordinances relating to window visibility, mainly for safety reasons. However, they said, even towns with very little crime can see a benefit from it because it makes downtown more aesthetically pleasing and makes merchandise more visible. Buehler said perpendicular store signs such as the one used by the Making Waves Hair Salon added to the historic ambiance of Stanhope. He suggested that signs should not protrude from above the first floor and should be at a uniform height. The tour extended to Main Street, Netcong, just next door, to give the state officials a better perspective on the relationship between the two downtowns and on the existing sections of the Morris Canal between them. Murphy showed off the redevelopment district with its empty Compac factory and the still busy Isolatek. Murphy assured the state officials that redevelopment of the former industrial area would not mean any harm to the historic district. Turning back toward the heart of town, the officials walked past what was originally worker housing. Murphy noted the homeowners are slowly but surely renovating these homes. In addition to housing and businesses, the visitors got to assess some of the area’s attractions. The Green Acres property on the Stanhope side of Furnace Pond, they said, is considered an asset by the state. The ruins of the plaster mill and the confluence of the pond with the Musconetcong River are scenic zones that should be highlighted, Waters noted. Murphy said Council would like to see the fire department relocated to Route 183 and its lot used for more retail with parking in the rear of the building. That, he explained, would create an unobstructed view of the pond and the Musconetcong.