Join the HDSID on December 21st for their 20th anniversary and holiday party! From 6PM to 8PM in the City Hall Council Chambers Room, you can enjoy some delicious food by Taqueria and celebrate the anniversary and holiday season.

Jersey City Sweets is donating 100 cookies in gift bags for guests. The mayor will also in attendance. Definetely not missing this one!

I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District came to fruition! They’re an amazing team who have helped do so much for our community, and I can’t wait to see all the hard work continue for decades to come.

As part of the anniversary, the HDSID Board will be honoring Previous Board Director Stuart Koperweis and 50-year HDSID Business Owner & Current Board President Steven Efstathios Kalcanides. I decided to give Steve, Stuart and Rachel Sieg the Executive Director of the HDSID a call to see how they feel about this milestone celebration!

Steve, How does it feel to be honored?

Steven: It’s a very good feeling that I am being honored for what I’ve done for the HDSID and acknowledging it. It’s something I didn’t want because I felt it was my duty, it was in my best interest to be involved.

Stuart is also being honored as per my recommendation.

How long have you been part of the SID?

Myself and Jerry Blankman were the original members of the SID. We helped create it. Before we created it, I was president of the Downtown Merchants Association from the late 80s.

How has Downtown changed since you’ve been involved?

It changed a lot. It went from a vibrant retail district with a lot of clothing stores, shoe stores, a chocolatier… It was very vibrant and then in the 80s, when the Newport Mall opened, Newark Ave changed. Retail businesses moved out. That’s why we helped create the Restaurant Overlay Zone. This is after we formed as an SID in the late 90s. I think this was a game changer for the area.

What do you see happening in the future?

The ball has started rolling and it’s getting better. There are more positive things happening in the future.

How does it feel to be celebrating 20 years?

It feels great. It feels like a big sense of accomplishment from when we started. Now it’s very vibrant and we have a great Director, Rachel Sieg, that is steering the whole district into a very positive thing that’s happening. With the street fairs, the farmers markets, the Groove on Groves, holiday markets… not one event hasn’t been successful. Tons of people love our events, including myself and probably you, of course. Sky is the limit right now.

What do you love about Jersey City?

It’s my home. I grew up here since I was 5 years old. It’s home for me.

Stuart, How does it feel to be honored?

Stuart: I am very excited and humbled. It was shocking news!

I was involved in starting the district and then hiring an Executive Director. I was asked to come in to run the HDSID for about two years. I started my own company in Jersey City putting together Improvement Districts and managing them. I am managing a district in Fort Lee and in Bergenfield.

How did you get into it?

I started in Jersey City in the Economic Development Corporation. I was interested in SIDs and went to New York to learn more about them. Started Central Ave, Journal Square, McGinley Square. I’ve been actively involved in Improvement Districts for over 25 years.

Do you still live in Jersey City?

I live outside of Asbury Park.

How do you feel Downtown has changed?

It evolved into the vision we had. These are the things we wanted to see happen! There are very vibrant arts and entertainment establishments in the Downtown area. It takes a generation for things to take effect, but if you don’t start, it doesn’t happen. This has to do with the leadership of Downtown and the board.

What’s your favorite hangout spot?

There are a couple. Right now, I would just say I like visiting them all.

Rachel, how does it feel to be celebrating 20 years?

Ive been with the organization for 7.5 years and when I came on board, we were still figuring out what we wanted to do. We just started the farmers market and groove on grove… Since I started we’ve grown a lot. Support from the city, we have a lot of great sponsors. Every year we are getting bigger and I am happy about that.

Why were Stuart and Steve chosen?

I never met Stuart but heard amazing things about him. He started the organization with Steve, Jerry and Pete so we decided as a board to honor him. Steve was a no brainer. He is probably one of my favorite person in Jersey City. He really cares about the organization, been in business for over 50 years. No matter what time of the day he answers my call. Jerry and I felt that since the HDSID is celebrating 20 years, and Helen’s is celebrating 50 years we felt that it was the obvious choice to honor him. No one deserves this award more than he does.

Whats next for the HDSID?

We just finished our holiday market which was new. Every year we try to do something new! In January we will discuss it as a board. The district is growing, there are many new businesss. There will always be a surprise. It’s a group effort and we usually come up with our ideas during the board meetings.

What’s your favorite JC hangout spot?

Anywhere in the HDSID. I go everywhere, I try to support everyone.

Anything else?

I want to thank my board. But I truly want to thank Stuart, Steve, Jerry and Pete who have been here from day one. They’ve done a great job, they care not because they own property and a business. They really care about the HDSID. I am fortunate that they allow me to do things I believe in and they believe in. We are like family. Steve is always a phone call away, Jerry has been there, and Pete goes to every single event that I do.

All are welcome to stop by and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the HDSID! RSVP to rachel.hdsid@gmail.com and we’ll see you all there!