Business developments and opportunities
Boutique Hotel at Kucher Promenade
Ground will soon be broken on a six-story boutique hotel with a ground-level restaurant and rooftop bar.
RH Smith Mercantile
Once work is done, the building will house studios, a showroom and a marketplace. Custom motorcycles, jewelry and metalwork will be sold, as well as other local art and goods.
Kucher Building
This building on Front Street is currently being rehabbed. It will house businesses and apartments, including a wine store on the ground level.
29-31 Front Street
There are plans to restore and enlarge the old JJ Newbury Building in Port Jervis. The prelimanary plans include restoring the facade, opening shops and restaurants on the ground floor, adding three floors for apartments and a banquet hall.
Other opportunities
Despite all the new businesses that have opened in Port Jervis' historic Uptown and Downtown neighborhoods, there are still opportunities for new business owners in the city. This old bank on Front Street has been converted to a restaurant and is currently on the market. This and other historic buildings are currently available for investors.
Restaurant Week
With the number of restaurants in the city, a restaurant week would be a good way to pull new people in to restaurants. During the summer, when there are the most visitors to the area would be an ideal for Port to show off its culinary scene.
Local Currency
Although Port Jervis would be a small community for local currency, the Minisink Valley would be a more viable region by including communities like Narrowsburg and Milford, as well as businesses in and around the Water Gap and the Upper Delaware. Berkshares and Ithaca Hours are examples of successful currencies that could serve as guide. A complement or an alternative would be app that would give a discount to partipating businesses, so that currency would not have to be exchanged. Either system would help to stimulate spending in the local economy. Pictured is an artistic example of Minisink currency with important people from the area, scenes from the region and painting of the Water Gap and Minisink Valley.
Train Extension/Excursion
A plan to extend passenger service to Honesdale and Hawley is being considered, which would connect NE Pennsylvania and the Poconos to New York City. Seasonal excursions or service to Narrowsburg could boost tourism and visitors to Port Jervis and Narrowsburg and provide passengers a very scenic ride along the Upper Delaware.
Trolley
Although fixed bus routes and train station shuttles would be helpful to citizens and visitors, a seasonal road trolley that did a loop around the city would be a good way to provide Port Jervisians and visitors a way to get to trailheads, attractions and business districts around the city.
Kayak Rentals
As Riverside Park is developed and Port Jervis' downtown is connected to its waterfront via a planned pedestrian bridge at Fowler/4th Street, kayak rentals can be offered within the city.
