Neighborhood Revitalization Plan Complete

In January 2009, NJCDC and its partners completed a year long process to create a multi-faceted strategic vision for the revitalization of the Greater Spruce Street Neighborhood, which includes the Great Falls Historic District and is home to NJCDC’s headquarters and many of its programs. Implementation of this plan will create a more empowered community, improve housing opportunities, stimulate lifelong learning for adults and children alike, and ensure that restored productivity returns to the area. And by beginning with this strategic area, we hope a successful plan will also drive a city-wide renaissance and rebirth. The team who created the plan included Mike Powell, NJCDC Vice President of Policy, Planning, and Development; Scott Page, Mindy Watts, Leah Murphy, and Stacey Chen from Interface Studio, and Richard Polton and Robin Weiss from Value Research Group.

The Greater Spruce Street plan provides a long-term vision for the future and is the result of an inclusionary planning process that emphasized community input and listened to the voices of our neighbors. The recommendations of the strategic plan are far-reaching, and the new challenge is its implementation.

NJCDC will play the role of implementation manager of the plan, but a great deal of the responsibility will fall to a Community Advisory Board. This group will convene monthly and be the coordinating force behind 5-6 active action teams, each consisting of residents, community members, and business leaders. The areas of focus for the action teams and some of the recommendations for each area are listed in the box to the right. For more information on the Greater Spruce Street Revitaliation Plan or to join the Community Advisory Board or an action team, please contact Mike Powell at mpowell@njcdc.org.

Greater Spruce Street Revitalization Plan
Action Teams

Empowered Community Action Team
* Continue the expansion of youth activities
* Improve housing conditions and provide additional options in anticipation of future growth

Action Team for Lifelong Learning
* Leverage energy of education-based revitalization efforts to extend into the greater community
* Support the establishment of new educational facilities and programs targeted to serve a diverse population and to develop specialized workforce skills

Action Team for Restored Productivity
* Leverage establishment of Great Falls National Park to benefit the greater community and local economy
* Develop Paterson’s Arts and Cultural potential
* Expand Paterson’s Health Care sector into the Greater Spruce Street Neighborhood
* Make the Greater Spruce Street Neighborhood Paterson’s green industry incubator
* Encourage Commercial Development in the Greater Spruce Street Neighborhood

Action Team for Parks and Play Space
* Restore Hinchliffe Stadium
* Create better play spaces for youths of all ages
* Create community green spaces

Action Team for Balanced Streets
* Improve walkability in Paterson
* Increase awareness and use of local/intracity public transportation options
* Address the neighborhood’s existing public parking shortage and inefficient parking requirements
* Make Paterson bike-friendly

Improving Housing Opportunities
* Create a Greater Spruce Street Housing Alliance and Resource Center
* Establish a “Mr. Fix-it” Program by training Youthbuild participants to provide professional property management services for elderly and disabled homeowners
* Improve housing services for the growing immigrant/foreign born and those w/ special needs

Action Team for Strengthening Identity & Heightening Awareness
* Install improved signage giving motorists proper direction to Paterson’s major destinations at appropriate locations
* Install improved signage in Downtown Paterson to provide pedestrians with adequate directions to Hinchliffe Stadium, the Great Falls and Visitor Center, Paterson’s Historic Mill buildings, and other major destinations in Paterson