This summer, the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NJ) partnered with several organizations to create the City Planning Institute, a two-week program in City Planning for 20 public high school students from the cities of Passaic and Paterson. The other partners were with the Center for Community Planning, the New Jersey Community Development Corporation, Passaic County Community College, the Paterson Board of Education and the Passaic Board of Education. The class ultimately created plans for redeveloping a historic 9-story Fabian Building in downtown Paterson as a performing arts facility and community center for the college. See what they learned.

1. City Planning Institute
Summer 2017
Paterson, NJ

2. Introduction
Paterson is city of prominent icons such as Alexander Hamilton, who harnessed an
opportunity to turn the Great Falls into a power source to power factories and mills that
eventually turned Paterson in to the first planned industry in America. Throughout the city
of Paterson there are many historical buildings that have a compelling story to tell. “If we
can go back to twentieth century, Paterson was not only known for being the nation's
leading manufacturer of silk, but its architectural beauty, bustling business, and as an
entertainment center. One of the buildings and businesses that made Paterson such a
hotspot destination was the Fabian Theater.

3. “Helping A Generation Of Immigrants
Become The Americans They Yearned To
Be”
Fred Wesley Wentworth

4. Community Overview
Diverse community
● 57% Hispanic
● 28% African American
● 9% White
● 3% Asian
Poverty Level: 46%
Unemployment rate: 7%
Crime Rate: 32 per 1,000
213% violent crime rate vs State of NJ

5. The site of the old Fabian Theater
● First floor boarded up
● Central business district
● Upper level broken windows
● Buildings surrounding the Fabian building are mostly up for rent and vacant.
● Unique smell
● Littered with garbage
● Often unused road
● Retail

6. Comments from the community about the neighborhood
● Frustration/anger
○ A lively and historic city had gone downhill so
quickly.
○ They were promised results from government
officials that Paterson would be cleaned up, but yet
no change seemed to occur.
● Not a clean or safe area
● They feel hopeless
● “But many call it home and it is our duty as Patersonians
to help clean up our city to make it look like a home”
● Good food and good people
● A lot of history that people don't know about

7. The proposal

8. Wentworth Plaza
● 9 story extension of PCCC
● Theatrical Arts program
● Theater
● Museum
● Greenhouse
● Pedestrian plaza
● Playground

9. Wentworth Plaza - pedestrian green
Rationale
● Underutilized
● Opportunity to implement green and sustainable
infrastructure
● Attract residents and tourists
Impact
● Area where kids can play safely
● Protects the area of future environmental issues
● Pedestrian friendly

10. Street Plaza
Design
● Seating area
● Playground green area
● Permeable floor
● Rain barrels
Program
● Cultural festivals
● Street market
● Community fairs

11. Pedestrian Plaza Design

12. Wentworth Theater
Design
● 2000 Seats
● Plants Along The Aisle
● Different Cultural Art Work Around The Wall
& Roof
Programs
College Students Will Perform.
● Poetry
● Concerts
● Plays
● Movies

13. Wentworth Theater & The Museum

14. Museum and Concession
Reasons
● History
● Revenue
● Jobs
Impact
● Historical enrichment for youth
● Economic growth
● Decrease the unemployment rate

15. Museums and Concessions
Exhibits
● Wentworth Designs
● History of the Fabian Theater Empire
● Historical Mural
Programs
● Walking tour
● Workshops given by Richard Polton
● Historical interactive classes for
kids

16. Studio Space/Rehearsal
space
Reasons:
● Spaces to rent to people.
● Performers need a place to practice.
● It will generate money and income.
● Not many studios and rehearsal spaces in our
community.
Impacts:
● Produce a good performer from our city.
● First hand experience for college/high school
students.
● Place for renting for schools and other shows.

17. Studio and Rehearsal Space Design

19. Co-op space and classroom space
Rationale:
● People need classroom spaces
● Mentorship
● Need for collaborative working space
Impact :
● Students will develop higher order thinking skills.
● Students will learn how to excel in theater.
● Partnership for young adults to provide theater skills .
● It will help increase students self-esteem and confidence.
● Students will be exposed to diverse experiences.

20. Co-op space and classroom space
Design:
Top Tier
○ Activity space
○ Storage
Bottom tier
○ Would be use for research
○ 20 computers,desks,and chairs
○ Mini library
Programs:
● Poetry
● Arts and fashion
● Writing /scripting
● Recreational learning activities
● TV/Commercial

21. Co-op space and classroom space

22. Career Development Space
Rationale:
● Expansion of career options for Paterson residents.
● Restoring the significance of art.
● Aid for the undecided young adults.
Impact:
● Partnership between college and high school students.
● Students can have a variety of career choices.
● Students will get trained at life skills.
● Support artists in their skills.

23. Programs:
● Sound Studio
● Light System and Management
● Cosmetology Department
● Editing Studio
● Playwright Training
● Photography studio
Design:
● 3 studios per floor
● Soundproof room
● Student space
● Vending machines
● Latest equipments

24. Career Development Center

25. Fitness Center And Pool
Rationale:
● No pool in PCCC
● Opportunities for both learning and teaching
● Profitable for PCCC
Impact:
● To create a larger body of knowledge for children on how to swim and stay fit.
● Access to recreational space
● Complements the small weight room and gymnasium that PCCC currently has.
● Handicap accessible

26. Fitness Center/Pool
Design
● 3 swimming pools
● Fitness center
● High diving board
● Locker rooms
● Benches
Programs
● Swimming
● Fitness
● Lifeguarding

27. Fitness Center/Pool Design

28. Youth Recreation Center
Rationale:
● Productive activities for children
● Youth Development skills
● Fitness activities and spaces for all ages and sizes
● A need for more daycares
Impact
● Provide a safe environment for children and young adults
● Create a place for adults to put their children while working
● Lower juvenile crime rates
● A drop in obesity rates

29. Youth Recreation Center
Interior Layout:
● Gymnasium two divisions
● Academic workspaces
● Computer lab
● Two separated floors
● Stage for open mic.
● Study hall
Programs:
● Sports teams
● Special needs Adaptive programs
● Youth Community Development
Committee
● City Planning program

30. Restroom
Restroom
The 1st Level Of The Recreation
Facility

31. Youth Recreation Center 2nd Floor

32. Wentworth Unity Garden
Design:
● A large Greenhouse that will
contain vegetables, fruits, and
showcase the hydroponic system.
● A set of stairs leading to the L -
shaped building
● This L-shaped walkway will have
the most gorgeous flowers and at
the center of it all, a marble statue
of Jacob Fabian
Reasons:
● Appearance
● Health Benefits
● Community Growth
● Economic Development and revenue Source
Impact:
● Drastic change in scenery
● Doctors recommend gardening
● Community can come together to plant in the garden
● Extra Income to help assist with the rest of the building
NGA studies suggest that $70 worth of plantings yields $530-
worth of produce. That’s a 650% profit

33. Roof Garden

34. Wentworth Plaza

35. Photo credits
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1920&bih=921&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=vending+machines&oq=vending+machines&gs_l=psy-
ab.3..0l4.255757.260882.0.261657.24.22.2.0.0.0.186.2174.16j5.21.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..1.22.2097.0..0i67k1j0i13k1.QFFc5-JcKaE#imgrc=8ZmpqaGJqp9SJM:
(Slide 19)
https://www.google.com/search?q=sound+studios&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjnqPjZ0tnVAhUn54MKHaBSD0AQ_AUICygC&biw=1920&
bih=970#imgdii=9IPjlnyFTRwnjM:&imgrc=u1liB9F9SRJAMM:(Slide 19)
https://www.google.com/search?q=light+studios&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjpppSKvtnVAhUK5YMKHVrdBBUQ_AUIDCgD&biw=1920
&bih=921#imgrc=vZdovzaCA9LheM:(Slide 19)
https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=18761 (Slide 26)
http://sportsco.ie/index.php/facilities/swimming-pool/ (Slide 26)
https://www.army.mil/article/145889/New_fitness_center_opens_at_Ansbach__followed_by_fair_promoting_readiness__resilience (Slide 26)
https://thenextweb.com/eu/2013/06/13/overheard-an-airbnb-for-fitness-clubs-and-3-other-notable-ideas-at-mini-seedcamp-barcelona/#.tnw_mylFzA6Z (Slide 26)