In early 2019 Habitat for Humanity in Paterson, NJ contacted the APA-NJ chapter to talk about their need for a team of volunteer planners. They wanted to create a concept for a green space along the Passaic River in the Northside Neighborhood of Paterson, NJ. They wanted two types of green space; a walkway along the river, called Riverwalk, and a sports fields in an area along the river dominated by abandoned and marginal industrial and residential properties. The Northside Neighborhood is across the Passaic River from Downtown Paterson.

1. THE PATERSON
GREENWAY
PROJECT
Flood Mitigation & Expanded Community Open Space in the
Northside Neighborhood
Paterson Habitat for Humanity
Community Planning Assistance Project, NJ APA

4. Overview
The Paterson Greenway Project is a phased effort to create a Riverwalk and parkland
along the Passaic River in the Northside Neighborhood of the First Ward that will:
• Promote local economic development within the area.
• Create welcoming gateways at the bridges that cross the river.
• Address the need for improved and expanded community open space.
• Mitigate flooding through green infrastructure.
• Improve community safety and sustainability.
• Extend the greenway from the Great Falls Park to the Straight Street Bridge.
• Provide access to the riverfront for recreation and enjoyment.

5. Project Team
• Margaret (Peg) Seip, AICP/PP, Project Lead
• Zainab Al Mansour, “Zee”, Project Intern, GIS Cartography and Design
• Michael DiGeronimo, AIA/AICP/PP, Urban Design Lead
• Thomas Fusillo, Environmental, Brownfields & Property Analysis
• William Long, Planning & Visioning
• Steven Martini, AICP/PP, Planning & Community Assessment
• Julio Mora, Mapping & Design
• Shweta Puri, Mapping & Design
• Eric Sturm, Urban Planning & Riverwalk Design
• Brian White, Property Research
• Tom Schulze, Coordinator, NJAPA Community Planning Assistance
Program

6. NJAPA, Community Planning & Assistance Program
The project team evaluated:
• Client and community needs.
• Demographic and other economic data.
• Planning, zoning and key development proposals.
• Land use, building conditions, property ownership.
• Geological and environmental conditions.
To provide mapping, design proposals, and relevant examples to inform:
• Community and government stakeholder engagement.
• Investigation of potential funding and strategies for development.

7. Paterson Habitat for Humanity
• Focus on 1st & 4th wards
• Housing construction and renovation - 277 homes for over 300 families
• CPTED safety improvements to homes & streets
• Micro-enterprise program
• Streetscape improvements - commercial corridors
• NRTC grant for Northside Neighborhood Plan
• New community open space - Clinton Street Garden, Paterson Greenway

8. Community
Context
• HISTORY
• COMMUNITY
• HOUSING & LAND USE
• PLANNING & ZONING

10. ● Historic (1903)
● Hurricane Diane (1955)
● 13 occasions of major flooding (1979)
● Hurricane Irene (2011)
● Hurricane Sandy (2012)
● Neighborhood devastation
● Combined Sewer Outflow (CSO) & other
environmental impacts
Flooding - Increasing Impacts
19032007

11. Northside - Demographics
• Slight population decline 2000-2010
• Primarily Black/African American & Latino/Hispanic
• Youthful population with median age 25.7 years; 36% 19 years and younger; and
16% of population 5-14 years old
• High levels of educational achievement (67% total population) with 42% HS
graduate/GED; 19% assoc. degree/some college; and 7% college degree.
Source: US Census ACS 2013-2017 5 Year Study & 2010 US Census for Census Tract 1807

12. Northside - Income & Employment
• Median household income $30,887 (City of Paterson $36,106)
• Nearly 20% employment in manufacturing;
• 16% employed in education/health care/social services (St. Joseph’s Regional
Medical Center; Paterson School District)
• 14% working in transportation/warehousing
• 10% unemployment rate in 2017 (6.4% city of Paterson)
• 32% family poverty (37% individual)
• 44% food stamp/SNAP assistance
• 17% cash public assistance
Source: US Census ACS 2013-2017

13. Northside - Housing & Transportation
• 63% two-family homes
• Median household value $179,700
• Low rate of homeownership (26% for Paterson; 12% in some neighborhoods)
• 22% housing vacancy (956 units total)
• Older housing stock (46% built before 1940)
• 37% with no vehicle; 40% with one vehicle
• Diversified commuting: nearly 20% walk/public transport; 20% carpool/jitney (Source: ACS 2013-17 5 Year Study)

14. Community Resources
• Schools: PS12 and Dr. Frank Napier
Tech (K-8); PS28 (PreK-8); Urban
Leadership Academy
• Northside Library (Temple St.)
• Northside Firehouse (Matlock St)
• Religious - numerous houses of worship
• Parks - Cobb Memorial Park; Tyrone
Collins Memorial Basketball Courts;
Clinton Street playground (in
development)
• Habitat for Humanity and other CBO’s
• Local & regional employment
Community Strategies
• Support homeownership
• Provide services for young families and
children
• Enhance outdoor recreation and open
space resources
• Promote community safety
• Support local economic development
and employment
• Mitigate impact of flooding
• Promote equitable development
• Honor local culture and leadership
• Engage & support community-driven
decision-making

15. Planning and
Zoning Context
• KEY PLANS & STUDIES
• LAND USE
• BUILDING CONDITIONS
• OWNERSHIP

16. Plans and Studies
• Northside Neighborhood Plan (2011) Paterson Habitat for Humanity
• The Paterson Northside Community Action Plan (2014) Together North
Jersey
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) City of Paterson,
Audit of Six Corridors(2015) Together North Jersey
• First Ward Redevelopment Plan (2017) City of Paterson
• Vista Park Master Plan (2017)
• Great Falls National Park General Management Plan (2016)

17. 1stwardredevelopmentplan

18. -Northside
Source: NJGin Open Data

19. Environmental &
Property Analysis

20. Paterson Greenway Project
Environmental & Property Analysis
NORTHERN SECTION:
“Blue Acres” Park & Straight Street Gateway
CENTER SECTION:
“Mechanic’s Row” & Arch Street Gateway
SOUTHERN SECTION:
West Broadway & Ryle Avenue Gateways

21. Southern Section- Overview
1. Connection to Great
Falls National Park
2. “Maker” Redevelopment
Property
3. Existing Riverfront Park,
Playground, and Courts
4. West Broadway Bridge
5. Main Street Bridge
6. P.S. 28 Elementary
School
1
2
3
3
4
5
6

22. Bridge connecting from Downtown
View along Ryle Ave. Connection from Great Falls & Vista Park
View of the River from West Broadway
Bridge

23. View along Ryle Ave. Today
View along Ryle Ave. from
1930s

24. Source: NJGin Open Data

25. Southern Section: Vacant & Public-Owned Properties
Source: NJ DEP GIS

26. Southern Section: Industrial Properties Southern Section: Commercial Properties
Southern Section: NJDEP Site Remediation Program Southern Section: Brownfield Sites
Source: NJ DEP GIS

27. Central Section Overview
1. Vacant Library Property
2. Arch Street Bridge
3. Existing Riverfront Park,
Playground, and Courts
4. Galaxie Chemical
Property
5. North Main Street
Corridor
6. P.S. 28 Elementary
School
1
2
3
4
5
6
4

28. Vacant Library building Arch Street
Bridge
View of River from Main Street Bridge Sidewalk on Main Street

29. 29
• Adjacent to the existing riverfront park space, schools and community center
• Arch Street Bridge - Trestle Style - opportunity for design
• Arch Street Bridge has small sidewalks
• Main Street Bridge has wider sidewalks and nice views of River
• Potential adaptive reuse of Library
• Auto and Salvage Uses – Long-term park and redevelopment opportunities
Central section – Arch and Main Street Gateways

30. Source: NJGin Open Data

31. Central Section: Industrial Properties
Central Section: Commercial Properties
Central Section:
Properties in NJDEP Site Remediation Program
Source: NJ DEP GIS

32. Central Section: Vacant PropertiesCentral Section - Government Owned Properties
Source: NJ DEP GIS

33. Northern Section Overview
1. Haledon Avenue
Corridor - County
“Green Streets”
2. Straight Street Bridge
3. “Blue Acres” Blocks
4. Galaxie Chemical
Property
5. Redevelopment
Opportunity Site
6. P.S. 12 Elementary
School
7. North Main Street
Corridor
8. Bunker Hill Industrial
Park
1
2
5
6
4
3 3 3
1
3
3
3
3
5
7
8
8

34. Historic portion of Galaxie
Straight Street Bridge
Typical “Blue Acres” Block

35. Vacant and abandoned lots
Galaxie Chemical along Piercy Street

36. Source: NJGin Open Data

37. Source: NJGin Open Data

38. Northern Section: Government-Owned Properties Northern Section: Vacant Properties
Northern Section: Vacant and
Government-Owned
Source: NJ DEP GIS

39. Northern Section
Groundwater Classification Areas
Source: NJ DEP GIS

40. Northern Section: Industrial Properties Northern Section: Commercial Properties
Northern Section: Properties in
NJDEP Site Remediation
ProgramSource: NJ DEP GIS

41. Design Concept
• SITE ANALYSIS & DESIGN CONCEPT
• PHASES AND APPROACH
• GATEWAY AND CONNECTIONS
• PRECEDENTS

43. Current Condition

44. PHASE I
1. Promenade along river edge
behind the existing playground
and basketball courts
2. Lighting, signage, public art to
existing park spaces
3. Clearing of buildings and
greening of City-owned land
and connecting promenade to
Great Falls Park
4. Sidewalk, lighting, gateway
enhancements for Arch and
Straight Street bridges
5. Clearing & greening of existing
buyouts/publicly owned in
Northern Section

45. PHASE II
1. New active/passive park
elements in City-acquired area
2. Incorporation of the “Maker”
redevelopment Continue
promenade from Arch to Straight
street behind “Mechanics Row”
3. Indicate Clinton Street Park and
Library site adaptive reuse
4. Connection to riverfront walk to
North
5. Clearing of buildings at the foot of
bridge for future park space
6. Additional streetscape
enhancement to Haledon/Straight
7. Connection to riverfront walk to
South
8. Clearing of buildings commercial
uses with active/passive park
elements

46. PHASE III
1. Relocation of “Mechanic’s Row”
businesses and replacing with
active/passive park elements
2. Adaptive Reuse of Galaxie site
3. Redevelopment of “triangle”
space on Haledon per other plans
and studies
4. Clearing of remaining properties
East of East Main with ball fields
and other active/passive park
elements

47. Southern Section Concept Plan
Credit to: Michael DiGeronimo

48. Southern Section - Connection to Great Falls National Park

49. Central Section Design Concept 1. Scattered Site Infill of Single
Family, Duplex, and Small
Townhouses
2. Gateway improvements to the
Arch Street Bridge including
lighting, pedestrian upgrades,
and public art
3. Streetscape improvements to
North Main Street
4. Adaptive reuse of the Library
Building
5. Connecting the riverfront trail
in a series of paths and
boardwalks to the Southern
and Northern Sections
6. Long-term relocation and
redevelopment of auto-
oriented and salvage uses for
new park spaces and
“riverfront and parkfront”
redevelopment

50. Riverwalk with access points at gateways

52. 52
• Phased approach for Blue Acres area - neighborhood “gardens” to large park
• Continuing Habitat’s strategic infill and development
• Trestle Style Bridge – opportunity for design
• Adaptive Reuse of Galaxie Chemical Corp (former National Silk Dyeing Co.) –
original brick building and taller warehouse portion
• Redevelopment of Triangle area on Haledon – identified in Redevelopment
Plan and other studies
Northern section – Blue Acres parkland and
Straight Street gateway

53. Current Condition

54. Northern section
Proposed Connection

55. Credit to: Michael DiGeronimo
PHASE I

56. Credit to: Michael DiGeronimo
PHASE II

57. Credit to: Michael DiGeronimo
PHASE III

58. 58
Park Design Precedents
& Case Studies

59. 59
Precedent: Riverfront Park
Newark, NJ
• Local example along urban
riverfront
• Theme and branding with
color and design elements
• Planned & implemented in
phases with environmental
and acquisition issues

61. 61
Precedent:
Gowanus Canal
Brooklyn, NY
• Urban waterway in an
industrial area
• Implemented in phases
• Design guidelines for
development

62. 62

63. 63
Precedent:
Monan Trail
Indianapolis, IN
• Rails-to-trails project
• Used the color red and very
distinctive graphics all along it
to brand it in a very creative
way.
• Use of industrial artifacts as
public art and branding
• Use of iconic bridge
architecture

64. 64

65. 65
Pittsburgh, PA
• Creative design with lighting
and public art.
• Number of bridges that have
be repurposed to connect
areas in the City a few for
pedestrians/bikes only.
• Use of iconic bridge
architecture
Precedent:
Pittsburgh Bridges

66. 66

67. Normal
100 Year Flood
500 Year Flood
Seasonal flooding fertilize soil
Terraced landforms serve as storm water
management infrastructure, which provides
opportunity for both cultural programs and
urban agricultural productions.
Case Study
Let it Flood/ Let it Grow
Source:https://bustler.net/news/3124/asla-2013-student-excellence-award-winner-natural-water-as-cultural-water-
by-daniel-zhicheng-xu

68. Street Section
Components:
● ~ 6-7 ft Sidewalk
● 5 ft Green Strip
● 3 ft protected bike
lane
● 6 ft parking space
● 7 ft driving lane
Case Study: Street Improvements

69. • Place making - place keeping
• Honor local culture & leadership
• Community Land Trusts, Homebuyer
Workshops, Displacement Free Zones
• Support from Our Place America
• Urban Institute measuring impact of
equity work
Case Study: Community Engagement for Equitable Development
Anacostia River 11th Street Bridge Park - Building Bridges Across the River
Source: bbardc.org - Anacostia Park Copyright OMA & Luxigon

70. Source: bbardc.org Building Bridges Across the Park - Anacostia River 11th Street Bridge Park

71. Paterson
Greenway
Project
• STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH
• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
PARTICIPATORY DESIGN
• SURVEYING/ ENGINEERING
• COST ANALYSIS
• FUNDING RESEARCH & PROPOSALS