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NJIT architecture students will present renderings tonight of potential small businesses for vacant properties on Monticello Avenue.

(Journal file photo)

JERSEY CITY - City officials are tapping students from Saint Peter's University and New Jersey Institute of Technology to help identify commercial vacancies and creatively re-imagine how they would look with new small business tenants.

The city's Office of Innovation has partnered with the Ignite Institute at Saint Peter's University, and Freedom By Design - a student group at NJIT - as part of city efforts to support small businesses and reduce commercial storefront vacancies.

NJIT architecture students with Freedom By Design have produced nine professional renderings for properties located on Monticello Avenue and will be showing their work to prospective business owners today during an open house at two locations.

Monticello Avenue is a preferable location for new small businesses; it has seen considerable improvement in the past year, with new businesses opening up such as The Bike Hub and The Store.

The open house, at 190 and 210 Monticello Ave., will run from 4 to 7 p.m. and is open to all community members and business owners to view the spaces.