Hackettstown Advocacy

My final paper will focus on my hometown of Hackettstown, New Jersey. The All Aboard group and the Hackettstown Historical Society are both advocates for the town, helping to improve it through various networks. Since Hackettstown has many historic buildings across the area, the Historical Society helps protect them and research them to offer information to visitors. They curate artifacts, protect houses, and maintain cemetery records, helping to keep the unique historic background of Hackettstown prevalent. All Aboard is affiliated with Main Street Hackettstown, and is partially funded in part by the Hackettstown Town Council. This group "is, in many respects, similar to a Special Improvement District." It's goal is to enhance the downtown area, "and has extended loans to property owners and lent design assistance that has resulted in improvements to commercial structures in the downtown area." They also help investigate the quality of different areas around town and determine if it needs some restructuring or improvements. "The design standards should focus on preservation of existing structures and ensuring design compatibility of new structures and renovations with what already exists. Standards should be sensitive to cost concerns of property owners." (Master Plan)