Bergen Communities United Presentation

September 29th 2012 

Today’s Agenda:

1. Introductions2. Overview & Background3. Where are we now?4. A couple of things to think about…5. Break6. Group break out session7. Break8. Regroup & Share

Astor Place Neighborhood AssociationFairmount Housing CorporationGarden State Episcopal CDCHorizon Health CenterJackson Hill Main Street CorporationMcGinley Square PartnershipMetropolitan A.M.E. Zion ChurchNew City KidsPS #17 Parent CouncilResurrection HouseSt. Peter’s UniversityWest Belmont Tenant & Block AssociationWest Bergen/Lincoln Park Neighborhood CoalitionWomenRising, Inc.

Brenda Pettiford, (At Large)Claire Davis, (At Large)Fadia Joseph, Zone 1 RepresentativePearl Park, Zone 2 RepresentativeDrew Jennings, Zone 3 RepresentativeMatt Ward, Zone 4 RepresentativeRev. Joyce Watterman, 5 Zone RepresentativeHenry Hernandez, Zone 6 Representative

Special thanks also to:Rosemary NwabuezeTynisha Beard

New Jersey APACommunity Planning Assistance Team:

David Robbins AICP, RLA, LEEDMichael Groh

Elizabeth ShulmanSuzanne DiGeronimo, FAIA

Tom Schulze, PE, CPAP Coordinator

Why are we all here…why is this event taking place?

BCU has been selected to receive planning assistance to update the neighborhood plan through the American Planning Association 

New Jersey Chapter Community Assistance Program 

BCU Planning Area:

BCU, with the assistance of a consultant in 2004, went through an intensive visioning process with neighborhood residents to develop the current BCU Neighborhood Plan.   

Bergen Communities United Neighborhood Plan 2005 

Bergen Communities United Neighborhood Plan 2005 

Four Themes:1. A Safe and Secure 

Neighborhood2. An Urban Village3. A Place for Us All4. A Great Place to Work & Shop

• Each theme has 3 or 4 elements • Each theme has 2 to 4 supporting 

components

There are 73 action items in the 2005 plan…

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.  

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 BenefitRose 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 eveningIssues identified and requests sent to responsible agencies/departments

OTHER BCU ACHIEVEMENTS:GNAT• Tree planting • Workshops (Code enforcement)

Metropolitan AME ZionWomenRising, 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 2008Organization 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

Desired Outcomes:The desired outcome of the Community Planning Assistance Program is an updated BCU Neighborhood Plan that is derived specifically from engaging community residents in a community visioning and planning process…• An updated plan is essential for BCU to continue to move forward and be a 

voice for area residents…• The plan itself when implemented is a great tool for community building…• The new plan will address the accomplishments & challenges that derived from 

the 2005 BCU Neighborhood Plan.  • The new plan will identify new goals & objectives that are important for the 

further revitalization of the BCU neighborhood. 

The overall objective is to continue the work started by BCU to create 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.”

We are here to listen…

Where are we now?BCU 2012

Where were we?BCU 2004

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7   8 9 10

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7   8 9 10

Average  = ?

Average  = ?

Make a wish…

What is the one thing you would change

today?

Principals for Redevelopment

A couple of things to think about…

Neighborhood Elements

An Urban Vitality

Synergy of use and activity

Daytime and nighttime action

A Strong Street Focus

A Mixed - Use EnvironmentAbility to “Live above the shop”

Deliver “authentic” experiences

Ground-floor retail and services

Visually Orchestrated

More than just bricks and mortar

Choreographed Visual Experience

Totally Integrated Environment

An Authentic, messy excitement

Allow for the unexpected

Promote diversity of interactions

Blur the line between Public & Private

With Indoor/Outdoor Flow

Reaching back to the Context

Providing Diversity of Experience

Promote interactive Merchandizing

Ten Strategies for Redevelopment…1. It Takes a Vision2. Evaluate & capitalize on what You’ve Got 3. Focused strategy with flexibility for response 

(Provide for new opportunities)4. Provide / Improve Public Spaces5. Address the “broken” windows6. Extend Day into Night (Get eyes on the street)7. Prioritize the visible (Signage, Lighting & Landscaping)8. Be Clean, Safe, and Friendly9. Great Neighborhoods Need Great Champions10. Work with local/regional government

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.”

Let’s take a Break…

Break Out Session

20 Minutes left

5 Minutes left

Let’s take a Break…

Group Feedback:Top 10 lists

Next Steps

Questions?

Thank you for coming…