2012 Smart Growth Award Winners Announced

April 18th, 2012 by Elaine Clisham

An innovative zoning code in a small town, a wide-ranging multi-jurisdiction open-space and historic-asset preservation feasibility study, a dramatic repurposing of a distressed suburban shopping center and a mixed-use brownfield redevelopment project are among the seven 2012 winners of New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Awards. (Full list.)

In addition, the Cary Edwards Leadership Award will be presented to Joseph M. Taylor, chairman and chief executive officer of Panasonic Corporation of North America. In April 2011, Mr. Taylor announced that Panasonic would construct a new North American headquarters on the riverfront near Newark Penn Station. 

“All of this year’s entrants are to be commended on pursuing the vision of smarter growth and redevelopment, even in a very trying economic environment,” said New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach. “The winners exemplify the very best of smart-growth principles, from fostering development near transit to preserving our precious historic and open-space resources to working collaboratively with public and private stakeholders to bring about fairer and more efficient land uses. We are honored at their participation in this awards program and we look forward to celebrating their work.

“We are also pleased to be able to honor Joseph Taylor for the significant investment he and Panasonic are making in the ongoing revitalization of Newark,” Kasabach continued. “His decision now to bring his company to Newark will provide lasting benefits to Panasonic, to its employees and to the city, and we are proud to recognize his vision with this award.”

The Smart Growth Award-winners also drew praise from New Jersey Future trustee and senior fellow Ingrid Reed, who chaired the selection committee. “The committee was pleased to see a broad diversity of approaches to addressing local needs and opportunities through smart-growth strategies,” Reed said. “Yet all exhibited the same goal: to foster responsible development that creates vibrant places to live, work, study and enjoy. This year’s winners provide examples that can be emulated by communities around the state and, indeed, around the country.”

The winners will receive their awards at a gala ceremony at the Newark Club in Newark on June 7, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm.

2012 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award Winners

Shopping Center Transformation
Cooper Towne Center, Somerdale
Alberto & Associates, Borough of Somerdale, National Realty Development

Transit-Oriented Development Partnership
Gateway Transit Village, New Brunswick
New Brunswick Development Corporation, New Brunswick Parking Authority, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Pennrose Properties

Innovative Participatory Plan
Hammonton Form-Based Code
Brown & Keener, a division of RBA, Main Street Hammonton, Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey, Town of Hammonton

Mixed-Use Brownfield Redevelopment
Harrison Commons
Ironstate Development, Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners, The Pegasus Group

University-Neighborhood Center Revitalization
McGinley Square Redevelopment Plan, Jersey City
Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, St. Peter’s University, Trinity Choice Communities

Inter-Municipal Open Space Preservation
Morris Canal Greenway Feasibility Study, Passaic County
Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, Canal Society of New Jersey, County of Passaic, Louis Berger Group

Infill Strategies for Adaptive Re-Use
Newark Neighborhood Housing
City of Newark, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, RPM Development Group

Cary Edwards Leadership Award
Joseph M. Taylor
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Panasonic Corporation of North America 

 

About the Selection Committee
The New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award-winners are selected by an independent jury. Serving on this year’s selection committee were: Chairwoman Ingrid Reed, New Jersey Future trustee and senior fellow; and members Tom Clarke, executive director, CityWorks; Andy Davis, vice president and general counsel, PS&S and New Jersey Future trustee; Anastasia Harrison, AIA, LEED-AP, director of sustainability, Gensler and chair, U.S. Green Building Council-NJ; Jason Kasler, AICP, PP, executive director, New Jersey Planning Officials; Marie Raffay, councilwoman, Byram Township; Jay Watson, vice president, D&R Greenway Land Trust; and Kevin Wilkes AIA, principal, Princeton Design Guild and councilman, Princeton Borough.

Posted in Cities and Towns, Community Design, Development and Redevelopment, Environment and Agriculture, Housing and Equity, Land Preservation, Land Use Solutions, Local Planning, Planning and Governance, Redevelopment, Regional Planning, Smart Growth, Transit, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

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One Response to “2012 Smart Growth Award Winners Announced”

1. Boss Norcross says:

   April 18, 2012 at 10:22 pm

   Somerdale is one of the worst uses of open space land…it’s a horrible design, development and if not for
   Joe Flacco, it would be a nothing!