CP Assistance Program

CPAP was contacted by the Urban League to support their efforts to resist a plan by the local utility to place a major electric switching station in the middle of the Fairmount neighborhood in Newark’s Central Ward. The site being proposed for the switching station was identified the Fairmount neighborhood’s plan as for mixed use, job-generating commercial and residential development. Chapter volunteers advised the neighborhood on technical issues related to the utility’s proposal and supported their efforts prepare testimony to given to Newark’s Board of Adjustment.

The CPAP team was invited to develop a strategic plan for this neighborhood surrounding the West Side County Park in Newark’s Central Ward. The neighborhood has many of the challenges facing older city neighborhoods throughout New Jersey, including poverty, high crime, challenged schools, abandoned buildings and lot, a lack of jobs, and inadequate recreational activities for children. All of these challenges have become more severe since the recession that started in 2008, now exacerbated by the high number of foreclosed residential properties.

CPAP volunteers were invited to Perth Amboy to work with the public, municipal officials, and business owners to develop strategies for improving the City’s commercial street, Smith Street. The effort was concentrated on the portion of Smith Streets west of the NJ TRANSIT train station. The planning work was carefully coordinated with several other planning efforts that were underway in the area, including a Together North Jersey funded TOD study at the train station and larger area-wide plan funded by the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. The planning work involved two meetings with the public, a survey or business owners and customers on Smith Streets, and numerous field visits.

CPAP volunteers were asked to review the plans by the City’s engineer for quickly rebuilding the waterfront area along Kill Van Kull and Raritan Bay. The area was badly damaged in the storm, and the city wanted to begin the repairs in time for the 20__ summer season on the waterfront. The volunteers attended a presentation by the engineer to the city officials, then, within several days, delivered a review of the proposals. The review affirmed the majority of the engineer’s proposals, and made some recommendations for making the waterfront more resilient in future storms.

The Borough of Bradley Beach sought planning assistance to explore economic and design issues in support of revitalizing its Main Street commercial corridor. The central business district has traditionally thrived based on its rich variety of restaurant offerings, which attract a regional audience on a year round basis. However, that pattern has eroded in recent years, and the district is in need of new strategies for its economic survival.