About the
Central Avenue
S.I.D. Management Corp.
Message from the District Manager
Welcome to the website for the Central Avenue Special Improvement District Management Corporation (CASID) and surrounding Jersey City community. It was our intention to create a website which could communicate ideas, events, and important announcements quickly and efficiently with local residents, shoppers, and of course, members of the CASID.
Most importantly, this website is a tool for the business community to connect with the neighboring community we do business with. It is full of useful information pertaining to Jersey City and one of its premier shopping areas, the Central Avenue Business District.
Visit our news area for business and community updates. See our Business Spotlight articles to learn about some of our legendary businesses and their owners. Check out our business directory and restaurant guide to see what's new on the Avenue. Are you a new resident or new business owner and you don’t know much about the Jersey City? Explore our site and you will be an expert in no time.
Be sure to frequently check back in with us as this web site will continue to evolve as feedback is received from users like you. Enjoy the site!
- David Diaz
- District Manager
Our Mission
The mission of the CASID is to guide and promote the positive social growth and economic revitalization occurring in the City of Jersey City by providing supplemental management, maintenance, and improvements to the Central Avenue business district also known as the “Central Avenue Special Improvement District” (Central Avenue between Manhattan Avenue and North Street). Read More.Funding
The CASID is a private not-for-profit 501(c)4 corporation representing business and commercial property owners within the Central Avenue Special Improvement District servicing the greater Hudson County area. Having established an ongoing public-private partnership with local government, CASID members levy an annual self-imposed (tax) assessment on the 200 commercial properties within the district to finance the organization (residential properties are exempt). Each individual SID Assessment is determined using the following formula: Retail linear footage on Central Avenue multiplied by the current rate ($15). The average Central Avenue commercial property storefront is 25 linear feet making the average SID Assessment equal to $375 a year. The entire operating budget for CASID consists of the SID Assessment, UEZ funds, and other private funding. Each year, the Board of Trustees present a budget to its general membership, then the City Council of Jersey City, for approval.
Program Accountability thru Sunset Clause
Measuring success of any Special Improvement District program is subject to debate. No two business districts (or surrounding community for that matter) are exactly alike therefore expectations, needs, and the solutions SIDs provide will always vary. Additionally, program expectations among stakeholders range widely from fairly reasonable (i.e. if the SID helps maintain litter in the district, it is a successful program) to unreasonable (i.e. if a Macy’s does not open in the district by year’s end, the program is a failure).
As there is no universally excepted measurement of success, the stakeholders on Central Avenue resolved to address this issue by including a sunset clause when creating the CASID. Every two years, CASID members take a vote to continue or dissolve the program. Having the general membership vote on this referendum is the simplest method of measuring the success of the SID program and the services provided while ensuring it will always be held accountable to its main stakeholders. The CASID was established in 1992 and the majority of membership votes have continued the SID program every two years since.
Board of Trustees & Staff
Every two years at an Annual Meeting of the Corporation, general members of the CASID elect seven (7) of their own to serve on the Board of Trustees for a two year term. It is the responsibility of the Trustees to govern the CASID organization and its mission to further the economic and social revitalization occurring in Jersey City. Read More.Meeting Schedule
Regular Meetings of the CASID are usually scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month. The regular meeting location is the CASID office (366 Central Avenue Suite 201, Jersey City NJ). Click here for meeting dates.Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for more information about CASID? Our FAQ page may have the answers to your questions or email us.