ULI-NNJ Hosts Fourth Annual Leadership in Land Use Awards
By Mel Fabrikant Friday, January 09, 2009, 01:22 PM EST
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Honored With Special Recognition for Infrastructure
The New Jersey District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI-NNJ) recently honored the New Jersey Transit (NJT) for its Hudson-Bergen Light Rail because it has serves as an extraordinary stimulus for economic development. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail was one of seven winners at ULI-NNJ's Fourth Annual Leadership in Land Use awards held at the Heldrich Center in New Brunswick, N.J., on Dec. 11, 2008.
ULI is a worldwide organization that provides leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities by bringing together leaders to exchange best practices. ULI is comprised of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians.
Approximately 120 attendees, including real estate professionals, leaders from academia and government officials were on hand at the event to acknowledge the winners who embody ULI's mission of providing leadership in responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities.
"Our award winners reflect the ULI mission and the ULI principles. Their businesses and projects echo the concepts of sustainability, smart growth and the utilization of resources with a smart and consistent approach that are the hallmark of ULI," said Lawrence Jacobs of the law firm Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer, chair of ULI-NNJ. "Recognition of these projects and principles is important to the real estate and land use planning areas -- now, more than ever."
Additional award winners included Jerry Fitzgerald English Esq., Educator of the Year; Robert Antonicello, Public Official of the Year; Eleven80 in Newark, Project of the Year; the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, Special Recognition for Public Policy; the First Avenue School in Newark, Special Recognition for Sustainable Development; and Michael Graves, FAIA, for the Lifetime Achievement award.
A committee of 10 ULI-NNJ members chose the seven award winners from a collection of 14 nominations. Winners received specially made plaques, which were prepared by the nonprofit entrepreneurial glassmaking workshop, GlassRoots from Newark, N.J.
The NJT Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is one of the largest public works projects ever built in New Jersey and connects the cities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen. The project received the Special Recognition Award for Infrastructure because it served as an extraordinary stimulus for economic development.
"We all know that the most important axiom of real estate is location, location, location, but arguably what makes the location really successful is transportation," said Darius Sollohub, professor of infrastructure at NJIT, who presented the award. "The most dramatic project in this regard in our region, and I would say in the nation, is the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, developed by NJT."
The 20 miles of light rail runs through seven municipalities along the western edge of the Hudson River. The $2 billion investment led to the development of an estimated $12 billion in commercial and residential real estate development, $5 billion of which is from 10,000 housing units that were developed and are continuing to be developed in these areas.
"The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has lead to the wholesale transformation of vast tracts of crumbling warehouses into thriving urban communities," said Sollohob. "We can really imagine no greater stimulation package through a public organization then what NJT has done with the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. May this be a model for the rest of the nation."
The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail opened in April 2000 with the help of several state administrations and numerous state and federal legislators, as well as commissioners and hundreds of NJT employees. Nearly 11 million riders use the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail annually. In September there were 44,000 daily riders and 46,000 riders on the weekends.
"New Jersey Transit is grateful for this award, but the people who are truly thankful are the tens of thousands of riders who use the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail every day," said Jeffery Nadell, NJT senior director of real estate and economic development.
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.
The New Jersey District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI-NNJ) recently honored the New Jersey Transit (NJT) for its Hudson-Bergen Light Rail because it has serves as an extraordinary stimulus for economic development. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail was one of seven winners at ULI-NNJ's Fourth Annual Leadership in Land Use awards held at the Heldrich Center in New Brunswick, N.J., on Dec. 11, 2008.
ULI is a worldwide organization that provides leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities by bringing together leaders to exchange best practices. ULI is comprised of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians.
Approximately 120 attendees, including real estate professionals, leaders from academia and government officials were on hand at the event to acknowledge the winners who embody ULI's mission of providing leadership in responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities.
"Our award winners reflect the ULI mission and the ULI principles. Their businesses and projects echo the concepts of sustainability, smart growth and the utilization of resources with a smart and consistent approach that are the hallmark of ULI," said Lawrence Jacobs of the law firm Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer, chair of ULI-NNJ. "Recognition of these projects and principles is important to the real estate and land use planning areas -- now, more than ever."
Additional award winners included Jerry Fitzgerald English Esq., Educator of the Year; Robert Antonicello, Public Official of the Year; Eleven80 in Newark, Project of the Year; the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, Special Recognition for Public Policy; the First Avenue School in Newark, Special Recognition for Sustainable Development; and Michael Graves, FAIA, for the Lifetime Achievement award.
A committee of 10 ULI-NNJ members chose the seven award winners from a collection of 14 nominations. Winners received specially made plaques, which were prepared by the nonprofit entrepreneurial glassmaking workshop, GlassRoots from Newark, N.J.
The NJT Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is one of the largest public works projects ever built in New Jersey and connects the cities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen. The project received the Special Recognition Award for Infrastructure because it served as an extraordinary stimulus for economic development.
"We all know that the most important axiom of real estate is location, location, location, but arguably what makes the location really successful is transportation," said Darius Sollohub, professor of infrastructure at NJIT, who presented the award. "The most dramatic project in this regard in our region, and I would say in the nation, is the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, developed by NJT."
The 20 miles of light rail runs through seven municipalities along the western edge of the Hudson River. The $2 billion investment led to the development of an estimated $12 billion in commercial and residential real estate development, $5 billion of which is from 10,000 housing units that were developed and are continuing to be developed in these areas.
"The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has lead to the wholesale transformation of vast tracts of crumbling warehouses into thriving urban communities," said Sollohob. "We can really imagine no greater stimulation package through a public organization then what NJT has done with the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. May this be a model for the rest of the nation."
The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail opened in April 2000 with the help of several state administrations and numerous state and federal legislators, as well as commissioners and hundreds of NJT employees. Nearly 11 million riders use the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail annually. In September there were 44,000 daily riders and 46,000 riders on the weekends.
"New Jersey Transit is grateful for this award, but the people who are truly thankful are the tens of thousands of riders who use the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail every day," said Jeffery Nadell, NJT senior director of real estate and economic development.
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.
