In 1985 Cranford became the first community in New Jersey to create a Special Improvement District (SID). The Office of Downtown Business & Economic Development is responsible for fostering economic revitalization and investments, business development and marketing for the Special Improvement District (SID), an area comprised of 224 properties and more than 300 businesses. These include stores, restaurants, personal services, professional offices and almost 1,000 apartments/ condo units in the SID and immediate surrounding area.

The Office was responsible for advancing major investments in the SID, including Cranford Crossing, Riverfront at Cranford Station, Walgreen’s, Spencer Savings and Chase Bank as well as several smaller scale retail and residential projects. Other accomplishments include streamlining the permit approval process, zoning revisions; beautification and public space improvements; and, a successful communications and marketing program that has attracted businesses, investors and visitors resulting in over 95% occupancy rate of commercial spaces.

The downtown property owners pay an annual special assessment, in addition to their general property taxes, for things like streetscape improvements and maintenance to supplement what the Township provides, marketing and communications, landscaping and strategic planning.