In January 2012 Women Rising submitted an application to the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NJ) for pro bono support to update its community plan. Their plan had been written in 2005/2006. The application was made to APA-NJ’s Community Planning Assistance Program (CPAP), which provides pro bono planning support to municipalities and community groups. Recipients are selected through a process that begins with a formal request for proposals. Submitted proposals are then evaluated and two to three projects are selected each year. Women Rising’s proposal was one of three projects selected for 2012.
2. Today’s Agenda:
1. Introductions
2. Overview & Background
3. Where are we now?
4. A couple of things to think about…
5. Break
6. Group break out session
7. Break
8. Regroup & Share
3. Astor Place Neighborhood Association Brenda Pettiford, (At Large)
Fairmount Housing Corporation Claire Davis, (At Large)
Garden State Episcopal CDC Fadia Joseph, Zone 1 Representative
Horizon Health Center Pearl Park, Zone 2 Representative
Jackson Hill Main Street Corporation Drew Jennings, Zone 3 Representative
McGinley Square Partnership Matt Ward, Zone 4 Representative
Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church Rev. Joyce Watterman, 5 Zone
New City Kids Representative
PS #17 Parent Council Henry Hernandez, Zone 6 Representative
Resurrection House
St. Peter’s University Special thanks also to:
West Belmont Tenant & Block Association Rosemary Nwabueze
West Bergen/Lincoln Park Neighborhood Tynisha Beard
Coalition
WomenRising, Inc.
4. New Jersey APA
Community Planning Assistance Team:
David Robbins AICP, RLA, LEED
Michael Groh
Elizabeth Shulman
Suzanne DiGeronimo, FAIA
Tom Schulze, PE, CPAP Coordinator
5. Why are we all here…why is this event
taking place?
10. Here is the big picture…
• The BCU plan has been instrumental in leveraging
funds from the Wachovia (Wells Fargo) Regional
Foundation.
• 2007, BCU received a 5 year Implementation
Grant that is administered by Women Rising, Inc.
• 2008, the plan became and remains the only
approved neighborhood revitalization plan by the
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program.
• With a NJ DCA approved neighborhood plan, BCU
has been able to bring Neighborhood
Revitalization Tax Credit investment dollars into
the BCU neighborhood.
11. OTHER BCU ACHIEVEMENTS:
NRTC:
• 167-169 Monticello Avenue: In partnership with GSECDC
• 1st new construction on Monticello Avenue in over 20 years
• 7 moderate income condominiums (increase home ownership)
• 1 commercial space
• BCU Job Bank
Community Garden:
• In partnership with GSECDC, New City Kids, BCU Great
Neighborhoods Action Team
• Won an award for new garden
• Mercedes Benz Company- clean-up and built raised beds (New
City Kids)
BCU Firm Victims Benefit
Rose over $3,000 for victims of area fire
Technical Assistance Proposals accepted for:
• EPA Walkability Study –Audit & Workshop
• NJ APA –Assistance to Update BCU Community Plan
• North Jersey Transportation Authority
Walking Audit & Workshop - 1 daytime / 1 evening
Issues identified and requests sent to responsible
agencies/departments
12. OTHER BCU ACHIEVEMENTS:
GNAT
• Tree planting
• Workshops (Code enforcement)
Metropolitan AME Zion
WomenRising, Inc.
• Graffiti Inventories (3)
Make A Difference Day
• Neighborhood Clean-ups
• Flower planting @ Fairmount Triangle (Youth Squad)
McGinley Square Redevelopment Plan
• BCU Community Meetings
• BCU written into plan (Job Bank, compliance with BCU plan)
Jersey City Housing Authority- CHOICE Neighborhoods
• Participation in community meetings
BCU Public Meetings 2x per year for community feedback
BCU Cares- Fair- Summer 2008
Organization information tables
McGinley Square Festival- June 2012
Continuous Flow Christian Center Community Fair- July 2012
Resident Satisfaction Surveys
-2008- Completed over 300 surveys
-2012- In progress
24. Ten Strategies for Redevelopment…
1. It Takes a Vision
2. Evaluate & capitalize on what You’ve Got
3. Focused strategy with flexibility for response
(Provide for new opportunities)
4. Provide / Improve Public Spaces
5. Address the “broken” windows
6. Extend Day into Night (Get eyes on the street)
7. Prioritize the visible (Signage, Lighting & Landscaping)
8. Be Clean, Safe, and Friendly
9. Great Neighborhoods Need Great Champions
10. Work with local/regional government
25. Why are we here again?
To work together to make BCU:
a “Safe and Secure Neighborhood” with
the feel of an “Urban Village” for
everyone and a mix of income levels in a
neighborhood that is a “Great Place to
Work and Shop.”
