Services

The Bloomfield Avenue/Lower Broadway Alliance (BALBA)
is happy to provide a range of services to support the success of the
Bloomfield Avenue/Lower Broadway Business Improvement District.

Placemaking & beautification

Our district stays vibrant and welcoming thanks to BALBA’s ongoing landscaping and beautification efforts. Each spring and fall, we install fresh plantings and hanging flower baskets that brighten Bloomfield Avenue and enhance the pedestrian experience. We also roll out updated banner campaigns twice a year to celebrate new business openings, anniversaries, and the continued growth of our commercial corridor. These visual improvements not only beautify the avenue but also highlight the energy and momentum of a district where local businesses are opening, thriving, and building community every day.

Quality of life & outdoor services

Our work supports the beautification and ongoing economic vitality of the district through seasonal planting, outdoor decor, sanitation, public safety and activation. Our 7-day per week supplemental maintenance and sanitation program which includes daily street sweeping, maintenance of public amenities, trash collection, graffiti removal, daily trash collection and weekly pressure washing. We have included the disinfection of high-touch areas like trash cans, mail boxes, traffic signal buttons, and bus stops since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic. To address safety concerns in the district, we have established a supplemental policing program in partnership with the Essex County Sheriff’s Office. The daily detail includes vehicular patrols and foot patrols to address quality-of-life issues in the area. We also endorse our local community to support local businesses through social media, our street pole banner campaigns and street decals.

BUSINess promotion

BALBA supports local businesses through consistent digital promotion, community collaboration, and storytelling that highlights the vibrancy of the Bloomfield Avenue corridor. Through our On the Avenue series, we spotlight district businesses, share their stories, and promote local events to boost visibility and engagement. We frequently partner with organizations like Invest Newark to amplify campaigns and bring added value to our merchants. Our upcoming Small Business Spotlight promotion will offer even more opportunities for businesses to shine, connecting them with the community and encouraging residents to shop local year-round.

Holiday decor & programming

Each winter, BALBA transforms Bloomfield Avenue into a festive corridor, installing illuminated snowflakes, wreaths, and seasonal accents that stretch from Broadway to the Newark border. The décor culminates in our annual Holiday Tree Lighting—now a beloved neighborhood tradition—where families gather for live music, hot cocoa, and sweet treats while counting down to the grand lighting at the corner of Broadway and Bloomfield Avenue. Ongoing enhancements each year ensure the display grows brighter and more expansive, spreading holiday cheer and driving foot traffic to district shops and eateries all season long.

Capital planning

In partnership with Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr., BALBA initiated the creation of a reimagined Sal Bontempo Plaza at the corner of 1st Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue in 2020. The plaza poses the opportunity to have an immense impact on the surrounding environment, offering areas of shade, respite and traffic-calming. The ground breaking is estimated to begin this year. In October of 2022 BALBA completed a Vision Study for the corridor which allowed us to obtain insight and feedback from stakeholders and to identify priorities for the district. Findings from the Study will inform the district work plan in future years. Our capital planning efforts have also identified Michael P. Calambro Square as a site for potential redevelopment. The site was the former home to the Christopher Columbus memorial and is ripe for redesign to offer public seating, social cohesion and better represent the surrounding community.