Lakewood could reach capacity within 12 years if its population continues to grow at its current rate, raising concerns among both residents and business owners.
Blimie Basch, who helps run Shoe Palace, believes the town’s recent population growth has meant more traffic, construction projects, and loss of trees, but has also created new opportunities for employment and business ventures.
Industrial Parks
Recently, Lakewood civic leaders established industrial parks and warehouses to attract small businesses and light industry, which helped propel Lakewood to one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing communities, surpassing Teterboro and East Rutherford in terms of growth rates.
Lakewood has also seen some of its leading companies establish operations here, using Lakewood as a regional hub to serve both New York and Philadelphia markets.
Lakewood Township features two major commercial areas: Lakewood Industrial Park and Cedarbridge Corporate Park, both of which have seen rapid development over time. Lakewood Industrial Park is the second-largest municipal industrial complex in Massachusetts, covering over 2,000 acres, housing 350 companies employing almost 10,000 people, providing crucial property tax revenue that supports essential services within this fast-growing municipality.
Commercial Development
Centrally located within New Jersey, Cranbury Township provides the ideal setting for business. Due to this rapid commercial development, numerous major building projects have taken place there and now feature corporate office buildings as their permanent addresses.
Lakewood’s rapid expansion can leave some residents feeling threatened by all of its newcomers, such as downtown barbershop owner Jose Quiles who fears his business won’t survive as more Orthodox Jewish community members arrive in Lakewood.
Lakewood’s growing population has left them without enough land for new houses, forcing them to limit growth to some degree in the near future. Nonetheless, developers continue to target the town’s Class A office space – these new buildings are drawing various businesses including financial services firms, retailers, healthcare and retail to the area. Leisure activities also abound here with 15 free municipal playgrounds, lakes, parks three county parks and two public golf courses available in Lakewood Township.
Residential Development
Residents can enjoy the township’s 15 free municipal playgrounds, lakes and parks that provide relaxation, leisure activities and recreational sports for relaxation or recreation. Furthermore, there are historical sites to visit, concerts and summer events as well as historical tours available to visit.
Lakewood Township in inland Ocean County has experienced dramatic population growth over recent years, creating traffic jams and tension between different groups. Orthodox Jews make up most of this growth; families move there for study at Beth Medrash Govaha – one of the world’s largest yeshivas – but stay to raise their families, contributing significantly to Lakewood’s high birth rates which contributes to its high population density.
School officials are having difficulty meeting the growing demands for classroom space as more children attend private schools that require busing courtesy from the Board of Education. A state lawmaker would like to change that by permitting schools to apply for grants that would help cover these costs.
Tourism
Lake Carasaljo and other lakes, borough parks, county parks and open playing fields offer residents opportunities for recreational activities in this township. Furthermore, 15 free municipal playgrounds exist along with libraries, two senior centers, museums and cultural and leisure events that they can attend.
Lakewood Township still retains many of the small-town characteristics associated with older neighborhoods, with residents frequently walking to shops and restaurants. But Lakewood has experienced rapid expansion; only Teterboro, Jersey City and Paterson have grown more significantly over the last decade in terms of percentage increase.
Lakewood’s economy is further strengthened by being part of the state’s Urban Enterprise Zone, offering shoppers a reduced sales tax rate of 3.3125% (half the 6+5/8% rate charged statewide). One resident was unhappy with Lakewood’s current pace of development; she rarely left her neighborhood and only ventured downtown Lakewood when paying taxes; this she attributed to Orthodox Jewish families arriving, which has caused tensions among groups living in Lakewood.
