2015 Smart Growth Award Winners Announced

March 30th, 2015 by Elaine Clisham

Leadership Award will honor land-use attorney and
former New Jersey Future trustee Anne S. Babineau Esq.

A redevelopment of a historic urban park; the expansion of an anchor institution in our capital city; a “complete” redesign of a major urban street; a landmark multi-use building that serves as a community anchor; two plans to revitalize neighborhoods near transit; and a pioneering collaborative effort to improve urban neighborhoods prone to stormwater flooding are the winners of New Jersey Future’s 2015 Smart Growth Awards.

“We had a very thoughtful and varied group of entries this year,” said Andrew Hendry, president and chief executive officer of the New Jersey Utilities Association and a New Jersey Future trustee, who chaired this year’s jury. “The winners reflect all of the current growth and development issues the state is facing — re-thinking a street to accommodate all users; re-energizing ‘edge’ neighborhoods that have good access to transit; making maximum use of urban green space to enhance neighborhoods and control flooding problems; and leveraging anchor buildings and institutions to revitalize urban centers. The jury is proud to present these as exemplars of best-practice planning and development in the state of New Jersey.”

New Jersey Future will also present the Cary Edwards Leadership Award to Anne S. Babineau Esq., a partner in the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer PA. This award, named for the late former assemblyman and state attorney general who was a key player in passage of the State Planning Act in 1987, recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding commitment to improving the quality of life and promoting smart growth in New Jersey through sustainable land-use policy and practice.

“Anne has been a tireless crusader for high-quality, intelligent development and redevelopment in New Jersey,” said New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach. “Her elegant solutions to difficult issues have on so many occasions been the key that opens the way to exactly the kind of redevelopment and revitalization New Jersey needs in order to thrive. Our state, and in particular its urban areas, would be less vibrant and less economically healthy without Anne’s hard work.”

2015 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards

Military Park, Newark
Reactivation of a neglected landmark downtown park as a thriving public space
Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, City of Newark; Prudential; The MCJ Amelior Foundation

Thomas Edison State College Campus Expansion, Trenton
Multi-site initiative to expand an anchor institution’s role in revitalizing our capital city
Thomas Edison State College; Clarke Caton Hintz; City of Trenton

Washington Street ‘Complete’ Redesign, Hoboken
Plan for re-engineering 16 blocks to improve safety and comfort for cyclists and pedestrians
The RBA Group; City of Hoboken

My East Camden
Comprehensive revitalization plan for a growing neighborhood at the edge of the city
Regional Plan Association; Cooper’s Ferry Partnership; St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society

Netherwood Transit-Oriented Development Plan, Plainfield
Plan and updated zoning to revitalize the neighborhood around a key transit asset
City of Plainfield; New Jersey Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Design

18 Park, Jersey City
New, mixed-use building housing retail, community space, a charter school and residences
Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners; HWKN; Ironstate Development; Kushner Real Estate Group

Camden SMART
Partnership of community organizations working to construct green and grey infrastructure
Collaboration of six organizations, including Cooper’s Ferry Partnership; City of Camden;
Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority.

Anne S. Babineau Esq.
Cary Edwards Leadership Award
Partner, Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer PA
Champion for smart growth and redevelopment in New Jersey

The New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards are selected by an independent jury. Serving on this year’s selection committee besides Mr. Hendry are Jen Coffey, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions; Colin Driver, economic-development director of the Borough of Somerville; Tyrone Garrett, executive director of the City of Long Branch Housing Authority and its subsidiary, the Maestro Community Development Corporation; Jen Gonzalez, environmental/transportation planner with Louis Berger Group; Mark Lohbauer, principal of downtown economic consulting firm JGSC Group and current chairman of the Pinelands Commission; Hon. Colleen Mahr, mayor of Fanwood and director of strategic planning and intergovermental affairs for Union County; and Meishka Mitchell, vice president of neighborhood initiatives for Cooper’s Ferry Partnership in Camden.

The ceremony honoring Ms. Babineau and the Smart Growth Award-winners will be Thursday, June 4, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Metropolitan Room at the Newark Club, One Newark Center, 22nd Floor, in Newark.