I was reading this article about a new development in Jersey City. In this case, residents nearby and residents that were being displaced by the project all spoke our in favor of the development because of the community benefits it would bring - flood mitigation measures, a new public school, and the removal of dilapidated housing (with full support of the current homeowners).
It's a breath of fresh air from the typical NIMBY arguments. Where else in the country is this happening where development is positively welcomed?
Jersey City Council approves redevelopment plan
Plan includes public elementary school, green space, and workforce housing
https://hudsonreporter.com/2020/11/1...elopment-plan/
What stood out for me is just how supportive the public meeting was for this development. Is this a model that can be adopted elsewhere? The only somewhat negative comment was not about the 50-stroey development themselves, but that the proposed workforce housing should be more affordable to the average resident. See below:
Quote:
A new public school and more than 800 residential units will be coming to downtown Jersey City... The project will transform the dead-end streets of Saddlewood Court and Laurel Court where small deteriorating homes currently stand into 807 residential units, a 12,000-square-foot public park, and a 50,000- square-foot public elementary school for children in Pre-K through Fifth grade...
The project will include major onsite infrastructure to help combat area flooding and capture stormwater...
During the council meeting, residents of the two blocks urged the council to approve the plan that has been seven years in the making.
Residents noted that their homes are in poor condition and no longer fit in with the surrounding neighborhood.
“The neighborhood has changed dramatically,” said resident Leigh Sellinger. “The homes don’t make sense anymore … I think the buildings are a safety hazard.”
She said that the homes are joined, meaning that if there are structural issues, neighbors have to band together to try and fix them.
“If there is a fire, it is easy to have it spread because of the thin walls, and the houses are all connected to each other,” said Resident Angelita Vicuna.
“The Neighborhood is changing,” said Susana Perlez, noting the high rises surrounding her home. “Our block is not consistent with the rest of the area anymore.”
Said resident Greg Marx, “This is a good project for the city. Our city and our region need housing; affordable housing and market-rate housing. We need public infrastructure, including schools and parks.”
“...We believe the proposed development will further enhance downtown Jersey City for all who live here, by providing additional affordable housing, a much-needed public school, infrastructure improvements, and greatly expanded green space.”
“$2,100 will be unaffordable to the majority of Jersey City working families,” said Tehmim Zafar. “We need to provide affordability that doesn’t economically segregate residents to other parts of the city.”
“Downtown Jersey City’s elementary schools are already overcrowded … and that’s before up to 10,000 new homes will be built here in the next five years,” Solomon said. “The transit-oriented Laurel-Saddlewood development will address that infrastructure challenge by building a new, public elementary school for up to 400 students. And it will do so without costing taxpayers a cent.”
“Just days after announcing the public-private partnership for the creation of the new innovative Liberty Science High School, we’re already moving forward on another brand-new school to alleviate the school system’s overcrowding and long waitlists, and further our efforts to provide top-quality educational opportunities for our youth,” said Mayor Steven Fulop after the council’s vote. “It’s important for us to ensure our community benefits from these projects, and this is the latest example of how we’re becoming a national model for smart growth.”
Council President Joyce Watterman said, “This site will be transformed to serve not only the residential units being built, but also the surrounding neighborhood and the city as a whole, which is exemplary of what economic development can accomplish."
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