A Model for Urban Development

Urban neighborhood reform and revitalization are complex and prolonged processes. It takes decades to transform New Jersey cities where, historically, the wealthy have fled from the urban core. Despite the obstacles, over the past 12 years, places like the City of Orange Township have witnessed a sturdy, accelerated transformation. After more than 40 years of stagnation, four-term Orange Mayor Dwayne D. Warren has engineered a resurgence of strategic, market-rate real estate development that has quickened the pace of the city’s growth and vitality. A combination of residential incentives, convenient access to transportation, and bold leadership has fueled the municipality’s transformation. To be sure, the investments made in Orange have been a model for urban development across the state.

The city’s two train stations are the seeds of Orange’s development success. In 1999, the Transit Village Initiative was developed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and NJ TRANSIT. The goal of the initiative is to help municipalities create attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods where people can live, shop, work, and play around transit stations. Orange was designated a Transit Village in 2009 and began considering project plans shortly thereafter. Since then, Mayor Warren has cut ribbons to unveil more than 1,000 units of housing and about a dozen start-up businesses around its two train stations. This activity has sparked renewed interest in residential development.

According to recent U.S. Census statistics, the city’s population grew significantly—by 14.3%—between 2010 and 2020. This growth is a key indicator of improved quality of life, especially when compared to the 2000–2010 census data, which showed a population decline of 8.3%. To accommodate current and future growth, the city has undertaken the ambitious task of repaving miles of roadways and pedestrian sidewalks, along with other infrastructure improvements. Using millions of dollars in grant funding, Mayor Warren has refurbished each of the city’s six parks and constructed a seventh. Next on the city’s public project agenda, in a well-funded partnership with New Jersey Transit, is the restoration and operation of the 140-year-old Highland Avenue train station.

Orange is now moving forward with purpose as a place of urban promise.

The post A Model for Urban Development first appeared on The Positive Community.

 

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