This study considers ten redevelopment plans in a single town in New Jersey, which created some 1500 new multi-family units and rehabilitated some 29 deteriorated residential buildings in the Township over the course of 20 years.
The study was sponsored by the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission. It (and the substantial number of redevelopment projects currently underway) generated several news articles in the regional press.
Jaimie Julia Winters, "Ten Developments, 20 Years: Report looks at What Worked, What Hasn't," Montclair Local (January 31, 2019).
Julia Martin, "Rapid development poses risks for Montclair," North Jersey Record (February 21, 2019; updated February 22, 2019).
Montclair's downtown is awash in new construction, much to the inconvenience of the residents. One major street has been closed for some three years for the construction of an 8-story hotel with no end in sight, and more recently, two blocks around a major entertainment venue have been closed off, the lots cleared, and two parking lots nearby are fenced off to create a new "arts district." The disruption of normal life downtown had resulted in pushback from the residents on several other projects that add even more density to the area.
How do we decide whether a redevelopment project is worthy of pursuing? What are the costs? What are the benefits?
You can find the full study here.
