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Asbury Park’s Central Business District, otherwise known as the downtown of the city, has been named a finalist by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association in the 2014 People’s Choice Awards for outstanding downtowns in New Jersey, according to a news release from the city.

The public is invited to vote online for the favorite downtown in each of the Northern, Central and Southern Areas of New Jersey. Asbury Park’s Central Business District will compete with these Central New Jersey Area downtowns: Somerville and Red Bank, the release said.

“Building upon the City’s rich entertainment history, Asbury Park’s downtown consists of a model mix of restaurants, the visual and performing arts, shops, and services; all combined with the all important residential presence,” Donald Sammet, the city’s director of planning and redevelopment, said in the release.

The People’s Choice Awards is part of APA-NJ’s Great Places in New Jersey awards program. A panel of planning professionals selected Asbury Park’s Central Business District from nominations that APA-NJ received from the public throughout the month of July. When notifying Asbury Park, APA-NJ officials indicated that the panel deliberated how well each downtown excels in the characteristics of a great downtown, including how well it functions as the centerpiece in the everyday life of the community; its reputation for excellence even beyond the community’s boundaries; its vitality during the day, in the evening and on weekends; available options for transportation; and support from the community to attract, retain and grow businesses, the release stated.

Voters can log onto the njplanning.org website to cast their vote. Polls close at midnight on Sept. 26. Participants can only cast one vote, however, there is no limit to the number of times you spread the word on social media.

APA-NJ will announce the winners early in October. Each winner will receive a plaque at a local award ceremony, a place on the map of Great Places in New Jersey at njplanning.org, and, of course, bragging rights.

The full list of 2014 finalists in the APA’s People’s Choice Awards is as follows:

Northern New Jersey

• Hoboken

• Historic Downtown Jersey City

• Montclair Center

• Downtown Morristown

Central New Jersey

• Downtown Asbury Park

• Downtown Red Bank

• Downtown Somerville

Southern New Jersey

• Downtown Haddon Avenue, Collingswood

•  Glasstown Arts District, Millville

• Asbury Avenue, Ocean City

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