Riverbend District Block Party & Artisan Market A Vibrant Celebration

On Friday, September 27, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Riverbend District in Harrison’s SOHA (Southern Harrison) area will come alive with the Block Party & Artisan Market, offering live jazz, local crafts, food trucks, and a lively community gathering.

The event will take place off of South Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard, just steps from the Harrison PATH Station, at the Pocket Park between the Steelworks apartment building and The Cobalt Lofts apartment building.  In case you are not familiar with Harrison, the address for the SOHA Pocket Park is 1200 South 5^th Street.  The surrounding area is now a vibrant residential community.

Hosted by Advance Realty Investors, the visionary developer behind the Riverbend District, and managed by Main Street Pops, the Block Party & Artisan Market promises an engaging evening filled with music, dance, and a diverse range of artisanal goods. Attendees will enjoy performances from the Riverview Jazz All-Stars and the Latin ensemble Itai Kriss & La Guaracharanga, along with a salsa lesson provided by Salsa Fever On2 for those wanting to learn some new moves. Dog parents will also have the opportunity to participate in a free training class offered by Waggn' Clubhouse at 6 p.m.

The Artisan Market will feature a wide array of products, including art, photography, jewelry, fashion, home and lifestyle accessories, beauty products, artisanal foods, and pet items. According to the organizers, the event is part of an ongoing effort to transform the Riverbend District into a dynamic lifestyle destination.

Main Street Pops, the event management company, has become known for producing creative community experiences throughout the Hudson County region. From outdoor artisan markets to immersive cultural events, Main Street Pops continues to foster a sense of community and support for local creators through these neighborhood gatherings.

The Riverbend District, a 35-acre development located along the Passaic River, offers a unique blend of modern residential living and open green spaces. The area has seen rapid growth, with several new apartment buildings, including the Steelworks, The Cobalt Lofts, Vermella Harrison and The Wyldes. Advance Realty has four additional apartment buildings in the works, further solidifying the district's reputation as an affordable alternative to Hoboken and Jersey City, offering convenient access to Manhattan via the PATH line.  There is also other neighboring buildings on the other side of the Harrison PATH Station all still in the Harrison Redevelopment Zone.  To name a few, Urby, Harrison Commons and Dey & Bergen.

A Cloud Over Redevelopment Progress

However, this celebration of Harrison's revitalization is being clouded by a controversial plan supported by Harrison Mayor James Fife and Councilman James Doran. The proposal to construct a Toxic dioxide-laden sludge plant and staging area on the PSE&G property, located directly across from the Riverbend District, has drawn significant opposition from the community at a Harrison EPA Community meeting. Residents are concerned that the plant, which is expected to operate for 10 years, threatens to undo 26 years of progress made by the Harrison Redevelopment Agency in transforming contaminated industrial properties into a thriving residential community. Developers have invested substantial resources in building luxury apartment buildings. The site, originally intended for green space and community use, would now serve as a processing area for hazardous sludge and staging including fill material and debris from the Passaic River.

The Block Party & Artisan Market is the same location where the Harrison Police Department held their popular "Pizza with a Cop" event in the district’s Pocket Park earlier this year. Despite the growing controversy, this vibrant community event offers a momentary escape, as the Riverbend District continues evolving into a sought-after residential destination. There is still time to convince the EPA that it should be building a Toxic Sludge Plant further down the Passaic River in South Kearny, an industrial area.  Come for a visit and see how an industrial area is now a vibrant residential area.  You might want to move in and join the fight to stop EPA’s ill-conceived plan that was developed when the area around the Pocket Park was Industrial.  It’s no longer industrial.

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