A TOWN AT A CROSSROADS Once viewed as a quiet and outdated borough tucked within New Jersey’s bustling region, South River is now undergoing a transformation. “The fact is, we became stagnant,” admitted Mayor Peter Guindi. “We hadn’t overgrown the way other towns around us have.” After serving 12 years on the borough council, Guindi finally took the leap into the mayoral seat, wanting to do more than maintain the status quo. Drawing from his background as a business owner, father, firefighter, and lifelong resident, he managed to approach governance with both discipline and diligence. His philosophy is a simple yet powerful one: progress requires vision, and vision demands action. REDEVELOPMENT AS A CATALYST FOR GROWTH From the outset, Guindi made redevelopment his administration’s peak priority. “When I took office, we had virtually no new business on Main Street,” he recalled.“Now, we have approached three major redevelopment projects and are working on more.” What made this development truly transformative is the reassessment of the iconic, long- abandoned PNC Bank building, one of the most recognizable architects in the South River. It is slated to be replaced with a striking new structure housing 45 residential units and two commercial spaces. Just down Main Street, a specialty grocery mart called Seabra Foods has been approved.The project involves a wine room and cafe, and is part of a broader plans that bring new restaurants, lounges, and various commercial developments to life. “I want Main Street to feel alive,” said Guindi.“Imagine people walking late at night, dining outside, visiting shops, enjoying life. That’s the vision I see.” UNLOCKING THE WATERFRONT’S POTENTIAL For a town that’s associated and connected with a river, South River lacked a real waterfront presence. That’s something Guindi is determined to change, in ways that we haven’t thought of before. “Currently, I’m working with several state and federal agencies to dredge the river and bring it back to life,” he shared. The goal is to establish a ferry hub, dining that has waterfront, spaces that are ready for occupancy, trails that are ready to walk, and piers that are open to the public.“I want locals and visitors to 277 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 SOUTH RIVER, NJ
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