Gritty Cities to National Models
By Mel Fabrikant Monday, December 03, 2007, 04:34 PM EST
In his opening remarks at a recent conference, Robert Antonicello, executive director of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, quoted from founding father Alexander Hamilton, who predicted that "a great city will rise on the west bank of the Hudson."
Hamilton's vision has come true, with Jersey City being transformed from a "gritty city" to a modern transportation hub and financial center with a skyline that is beginning to resemble that of the great city directly across the Hudson, Antonicello noted.
But the continuing prosperity of the state's formerly gritty cities, such as Jersey City and Hoboken -- as well as of the state itself - is threatened if the state does not continue to invest in its transportation infrastructure.
That was the conclusion of participants at the conference, entitled "Gritty Cities to National Models," which was sponsored by the Northern New Jersey District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI-NNJ).
ULI is a nonprofit education and research institute whose mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of the land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities across the world. The "Gritty Cities" conference was one of a number of educational programs that ULI-NNJ sponsors throughout the year.
After World War II, Americans left "gritty cities" such as Hoboken and Jersey City for the suburbs in a pattern of growth fueled by affordable land and cheap gasoline. But now, with land and gasoline prices at an all-time high, the development pattern that prevailed for 60 years is no longer sustainable.
The population is shifting back to these formerly gritty cities where industrial wastelands are being transformed into new residential developments that are expected to become models for the state -- as well as the entire nation -- of development trends such as New Urbanism, smart growth, mixed use and sustainable design.
Stating that transportation infrastructure is directly linked to economic advancement, Dr. James W. Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Policy at Rutgers University, urged the state to make it a high priority to invest in infrastructure improvements in order ensure that it is a player in the global economy.
"Success in the new global economy is ever more dependent on speed and movement," said Hughes, who was a participant in a panel entitled "Aging infrastructure and the global economy" -- one of three panels offered at the conference, which also included tours of new waterfront developments and a cocktail party.
The second topic addressed was the relevance of buzz words like "smart growth," "sustainable development" and "affordable housing" to connect their meaning with actual policy, while the third panel discussed the importance of creating a sense of place in development projects.
The conference, which was attended by more than 200 participants, was held earlier this month at the Liberty House Restaurant at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, whose stunning views of the new development along Jersey City's waterfront provided a fitting venue for the conference subject matter.
The event provided an opportunity for ULI-NNJ members, who include representatives from the entire spectrum of land use and development disciplines, including developers, builders, investors architects, public officials, planners, attorneys engineers, financiers and academics, to network with one another.
"This is a great opportunity to stay current with what's going on and to network with clients," said Tom Bauer, a landscape architect with Melillo and Bauer Associates of Manasquan, and a member of ULI-NNJ.
ULI-NNJ is hosting The Third Annual Leadership in Land Use Awards, on Dec. 6, 2007. It will be held at The Heldrich Center in New Brunswick from 6 to 9 p.m.. Cocktails and buffet will be served and tickets are $150. For more information contact Pat Hanley of ULI-NNJ at (201) 997-6982 or visit www.nnj.uli.org. To make a reservation, please call (800) 321-5011.
About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute that is supported and directed by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute today has over 34,000 members and associates representing the entire spectrum of the land use and development disciplines. It is comprised of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians.
Hamilton's vision has come true, with Jersey City being transformed from a "gritty city" to a modern transportation hub and financial center with a skyline that is beginning to resemble that of the great city directly across the Hudson, Antonicello noted.
But the continuing prosperity of the state's formerly gritty cities, such as Jersey City and Hoboken -- as well as of the state itself - is threatened if the state does not continue to invest in its transportation infrastructure.
That was the conclusion of participants at the conference, entitled "Gritty Cities to National Models," which was sponsored by the Northern New Jersey District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI-NNJ).
ULI is a nonprofit education and research institute whose mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of the land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities across the world. The "Gritty Cities" conference was one of a number of educational programs that ULI-NNJ sponsors throughout the year.
After World War II, Americans left "gritty cities" such as Hoboken and Jersey City for the suburbs in a pattern of growth fueled by affordable land and cheap gasoline. But now, with land and gasoline prices at an all-time high, the development pattern that prevailed for 60 years is no longer sustainable.
The population is shifting back to these formerly gritty cities where industrial wastelands are being transformed into new residential developments that are expected to become models for the state -- as well as the entire nation -- of development trends such as New Urbanism, smart growth, mixed use and sustainable design.
Stating that transportation infrastructure is directly linked to economic advancement, Dr. James W. Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Policy at Rutgers University, urged the state to make it a high priority to invest in infrastructure improvements in order ensure that it is a player in the global economy.
"Success in the new global economy is ever more dependent on speed and movement," said Hughes, who was a participant in a panel entitled "Aging infrastructure and the global economy" -- one of three panels offered at the conference, which also included tours of new waterfront developments and a cocktail party.
The second topic addressed was the relevance of buzz words like "smart growth," "sustainable development" and "affordable housing" to connect their meaning with actual policy, while the third panel discussed the importance of creating a sense of place in development projects.
The conference, which was attended by more than 200 participants, was held earlier this month at the Liberty House Restaurant at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, whose stunning views of the new development along Jersey City's waterfront provided a fitting venue for the conference subject matter.
The event provided an opportunity for ULI-NNJ members, who include representatives from the entire spectrum of land use and development disciplines, including developers, builders, investors architects, public officials, planners, attorneys engineers, financiers and academics, to network with one another.
"This is a great opportunity to stay current with what's going on and to network with clients," said Tom Bauer, a landscape architect with Melillo and Bauer Associates of Manasquan, and a member of ULI-NNJ.
ULI-NNJ is hosting The Third Annual Leadership in Land Use Awards, on Dec. 6, 2007. It will be held at The Heldrich Center in New Brunswick from 6 to 9 p.m.. Cocktails and buffet will be served and tickets are $150. For more information contact Pat Hanley of ULI-NNJ at (201) 997-6982 or visit www.nnj.uli.org. To make a reservation, please call (800) 321-5011.
About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute that is supported and directed by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute today has over 34,000 members and associates representing the entire spectrum of the land use and development disciplines. It is comprised of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians.
