In January 2012 Women Rising submitted an application to the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NJ) for pro bono support to update its community plan. Their plan had been written in 2005/2006. The application was made to APA-NJ’s Community Planning Assistance Program (CPAP), which provides pro bono planning support to municipalities and community groups. Recipients are selected through a process that begins with a formal request for proposals. Submitted proposals are then evaluated and two to three projects are selected each year. Women Rising’s proposal was one of three projects selected for 2012.

1. September 29th 2012

2. Today’s Agenda:
1. Introductions
2. Overview & Background
3. Where are we now?
4. A couple of things to think about…
5. Break
6. Group break out session
7. Break
8. Regroup & Share

3. Astor Place Neighborhood Association Brenda Pettiford, (At Large)
Fairmount Housing Corporation Claire Davis, (At Large)
Garden State Episcopal CDC Fadia Joseph, Zone 1 Representative
Horizon Health Center Pearl Park, Zone 2 Representative
Jackson Hill Main Street Corporation Drew Jennings, Zone 3 Representative
McGinley Square Partnership Matt Ward, Zone 4 Representative
Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church Rev. Joyce Watterman, 5 Zone
New City Kids Representative
PS #17 Parent Council Henry Hernandez, Zone 6 Representative
Resurrection House
St. Peter’s University Special thanks also to:
West Belmont Tenant & Block Association Rosemary Nwabueze
West Bergen/Lincoln Park Neighborhood Tynisha Beard
Coalition
WomenRising, Inc.

4. New Jersey APA
Community Planning Assistance Team:
David Robbins AICP, RLA, LEED
Michael Groh
Elizabeth Shulman
Suzanne DiGeronimo, FAIA
Tom Schulze, PE, CPAP Coordinator

5. Why are we all here…why is this event
taking place?

6. BCU has been selected to receive planning assistance to update the
neighborhood plan through the American Planning Association
New Jersey Chapter Community Assistance Program

7. BCU Planning Area:

8. Bergen Communities United
Neighborhood Plan 2005
BCU, with the assistance of a
consultant in 2004, went through an
intensive visioning process with
neighborhood residents to develop
the current BCU Neighborhood Plan.

9. Bergen Communities United
Neighborhood Plan 2005
Four Themes:
1. A Safe and Secure
Neighborhood
2. An Urban Village
3. A Place for Us All
4. A Great Place to Work & Shop
• Each theme has 3 or 4 elements
• Each theme has 2 to 4 supporting
components
There are 73 action
items in the 2005
plan…

10. Here is the big picture…
• The BCU plan has been instrumental in leveraging
funds from the Wachovia (Wells Fargo) Regional
Foundation.
• 2007, BCU received a 5 year Implementation
Grant that is administered by Women Rising, Inc.
• 2008, the plan became and remains the only
approved neighborhood revitalization plan by the
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program.
• With a NJ DCA approved neighborhood plan, BCU
has been able to bring Neighborhood
Revitalization Tax Credit investment dollars into
the BCU neighborhood.

11. OTHER BCU ACHIEVEMENTS:
NRTC:
• 167-169 Monticello Avenue: In partnership with GSECDC
• 1st new construction on Monticello Avenue in over 20 years
• 7 moderate income condominiums (increase home ownership)
• 1 commercial space
• BCU Job Bank
Community Garden:
• In partnership with GSECDC, New City Kids, BCU Great
Neighborhoods Action Team
• Won an award for new garden
• Mercedes Benz Company- clean-up and built raised beds (New
City Kids)
BCU Firm Victims Benefit
Rose over $3,000 for victims of area fire
Technical Assistance Proposals accepted for:
• EPA Walkability Study –Audit & Workshop
• NJ APA –Assistance to Update BCU Community Plan
• North Jersey Transportation Authority
Walking Audit & Workshop - 1 daytime / 1 evening
Issues identified and requests sent to responsible
agencies/departments

12. OTHER BCU ACHIEVEMENTS:
GNAT
• Tree planting
• Workshops (Code enforcement)
Metropolitan AME Zion
WomenRising, Inc.
• Graffiti Inventories (3)
Make A Difference Day
• Neighborhood Clean-ups
• Flower planting @ Fairmount Triangle (Youth Squad)
McGinley Square Redevelopment Plan
• BCU Community Meetings
• BCU written into plan (Job Bank, compliance with BCU plan)
Jersey City Housing Authority- CHOICE Neighborhoods
• Participation in community meetings
BCU Public Meetings 2x per year for community feedback
BCU Cares- Fair- Summer 2008
Organization information tables
McGinley Square Festival- June 2012
Continuous Flow Christian Center Community Fair- July 2012
Resident Satisfaction Surveys
-2008- Completed over 300 surveys
-2012- In progress

13. Desired Outcomes:
The desired outcome of the Community Planning Assistance Program
is an updated BCU Neighborhood Plan that is derived specifically
from engaging community residents in a community visioning and
planning process…
• An updated plan is essential for BCU to continue to move forward and be a
voice for area residents…
• The plan itself when implemented is a great tool for community building…
• The new plan will address the accomplishments & challenges that derived from
the 2005 BCU Neighborhood Plan.
• The new plan will identify new goals & objectives that are important for the
further revitalization of the BCU neighborhood.
The overall objective is to continue the work started by BCU to create a “Safe and
Secure Neighborhood” with the feel of an “Urban Village” for everyone and a mix
of income levels in a neighborhood that is a “Great Place to Work and Shop.”

14. We are here
to listen…

15. Where were we?
BCU 2004 Average = ?
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Where are we now?
BCU 2012 Average = ?
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

16. Make a wish…
What is the
one thing you
would change
today?

17. Principals for Redevelopment
A couple of things to think about…

18. Neighborhood Elements

19. An Urban Vitality
Synergy of use and activity
Daytime and nighttime action
A Strong Street Focus

20. A Mixed - Use Environment
Ability to “Live above the shop”
Deliver “authentic” experiences
Ground-floor retail and services

21. Visually Orchestrated
More than just bricks and mortar
Choreographed Visual Experience
Totally Integrated Environment

22. An Authentic, messy
excitement
Allow for the unexpected
Promote diversity of interactions
Blur the line between Public & Private

23. With Indoor/Outdoor Flow
Reaching back to the Context
Providing Diversity of Experience
Promote interactive Merchandizing

24. Ten Strategies for Redevelopment…
1. It Takes a Vision
2. Evaluate & capitalize on what You’ve Got
3. Focused strategy with flexibility for response
(Provide for new opportunities)
4. Provide / Improve Public Spaces
5. Address the “broken” windows
6. Extend Day into Night (Get eyes on the street)
7. Prioritize the visible (Signage, Lighting & Landscaping)
8. Be Clean, Safe, and Friendly
9. Great Neighborhoods Need Great Champions
10. Work with local/regional government

25. Why are we here again?
To work together to make BCU:
a “Safe and Secure Neighborhood” with
the feel of an “Urban Village” for
everyone and a mix of income levels in a
neighborhood that is a “Great Place to
Work and Shop.”

26. Let’s take a Break…

27. Break Out Session

28. 20 Minutes left

29. 5 Minutes left

30. Let’s take a Break…

31. Group Feedback:
Top 10 lists

32. Next Steps

33. Questions?

34. Thank you for coming…