The Bayfront District of Somers Point was selected to receive a Neighborhood Preservation Program designation, according to a city news release Tuesday.
Along with the designation and a robust array of value-added technical assistance, a $125,000 grant will be provided in the first year with the potential of additional grants in future years, according to the release.
“We thank the state and our local legislators for this grant,” Somers Point Mayor Jack Glasser said in the release. “We are continuing to look for unique ways to enhance our city and this program as ideally suited for the Bayfront of Somers Point.”
The Somers Point bayfront is a lively waterfront neighborhood that is known for its eateries, boating access, live concerts on the beach, the Gateway Playhouse and historic homes.
The Bayfront Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is significant because it is a cohesive group of buildings in the styles and types that were popular in the resort areas between 1890 and 1935, the release reads.
From the time that the first settlers arrived, residents of the town have fished, built boats, and engaged in maritime trades.
The Neighborhood Preservation Program award will provide a valuable tool to help Somers Point enhance the bayfront and achieve many goals that have been out of reach until now.
“Since the very beginning of the Murphy Administration, DCA has committed considerable resources to programs that foster economic growth, community development, and housing rehabilitation in neighborhoods at risk of decline,” said Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who serves as state Department of Community Affairs commissioner.
