PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: Honoring successful public-private partnership programs throughout the state
4 AEROFARMS
A recently completed 70,000-square-foot facility in
6 CAMPUSTOWN AT THE
Housing for 612 students and 80,000 square feet of retail space come together in a complex that opens a once-insulated campus to the.public.
7 FANWOOD PROJECT
8 FLOODPLAIN PROTECTION AND BLUEWAY DESIGN IN
9 GOETHALS BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT
A
10 THE HAHNE 8 CO. BUILDING
A mixed-use project at the former Hahne & Co. building will provide
11 HAT CITY LOFTS
The 32-loft condominium complex is the city of
12 HERITAGE
This age-restricted property adds 82 much-needed affordable apartments for seniors to the community.
14 HOBOKEN'S SOUTH WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
It took decades to transform SO acres of unused waterfront into a vibrant 2.3 million-square-fO.ot commercial, residential and recreational community
15
16 MECHAFORCE MECHATRONICS PROGRAM
The goal of this statewide program is to funnel highly trained workers back into manufacturing jobs and rebrand the industry's image.
17 MARION P,
This 73,000-square-foot, four-story high school is the only one in
18 SHAPING
The residents of a low-income housing complex, who may not have had access to fresh, healthy foods, now have those foods delivered straight to them, thanks to this project.
18 NEWARK AVENUE PEDESTRIAN MALL
By closing a stretch of
19 NEW JERSEY REENTRY CORPORATION
A pipeline from prison to productive employment, NJRC helps those who've been incarcerated establish self-sufficiency, economic independence and heaithy living.
19 OLD BRIDGE BUSINESS ALLIANCE
Township businesses share ideas, experiences, resources and Information through this platform initiated to strengthen each organization and the community.
20 PROJECT COMMUNITY PRIDE OF THE
This initiative provides a safe, confidential resource to help young people address mental health illness by equipping them with new tools and techniques to maintain their well-being.
20 THE SALVATION ARMY RAY AND JOAN KROC CORPS COMMUNITY CENTER
The
21 ROEBLPNG LOFTS
A transitional neighborhood in
21 SOMERSET COUNTY BRANDING PROJECT
What do
22 TEACHERS VILLAGE 7
The latest addition to
AEROFARMS NEW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
World's Largest Indoor Vertical Farm Growing Fresh Greens, Jobs in
From the outside,
Bul behind those insulated steel wails the world's largest indoor vertical farm is taking root. The 70,000-square-fool space on
"It's a very interesting, very cutting edge technology called 'Aeroponic Misting/" said
Founded in the
Through a process that uses LED lighting instead of sun and an aeroponic mist of nutrient-rich water and oxygen in place of soil, AeroFarms grows leafy greens - including kale, arugula and herbs - year round in a temperature-controlled, pesticide-free environment.
"It's local and it's green - literally and figuratively," said Williams, "And it takes 95 percent less water and a third of the time to turn around product than a normal farming process."
Along with Hollister, the AeroFarms project brings together real estate management firm
This project is one of many that are allowing the city of
"They search out sites in urban areas where they can utilize local labor to help out communities that otherwise are not doing that well/ Williams said. "The food stays local, too. They have a test facility where they sell their products to the local
Instead of shipping its produce across the country or the globe, AeroFarms' greens remain in the region, supplying
For Hollister, a company well versed in the construction of refrigerated food facilities, the nearly two-year task of converting the former 75-year-old steel mill into a temperature-controlled farm was right in its wheelhouse, said Williams.
"It gives us an opportunity to build up our resume with this very specialized construction," he said. "AeroFarms was excellent to work with. They are very excited to expand their operation into these markets and we're fortunate to be partnered with them."
What proved trickier on this project was protecting AeroFarms' patented equipment and passing inspections.
"We were working with proprietary information that they want to keep private/ Williams said. "It does lead to some challenges with building code officials. So we have to walk them through that without giving away all their secrets."
CAMPUS TOWN AT THE
Main Street-Style Student Housing Project Opens Once-Insulated Campus to Public
If you want to build quality student housing, hire a professional, not an academic.
"Colleges are educational institutions, they are not construction companies or hotels," said
But that's just what
The act spawned a spate of new construction on colleges across die state, including the trailblazing
Started in 2014, the student housing project - entirely financed and managed by the
'The biggest thing that makes this one impressive is it's a totally off-book transaction," Lentine said. 'The college can take the money they would have spent on housing and put it into academics."
As acting developer and operator of
In return, the college receives rent for the land, all the benefits of adding 612 beds for students and a new center of campus life, while not having the burden of operating, managing or paying for the project. And
But
It adds a whole new dynamic to the school," Lentine said. "In the past, the public has been educated to stay off the college campus and students are told to stay on campus, so students and learning were isolated and internal, This creates a natural meeting area for the public and students."
Considered an upscale alternative to dorms and off-campus living, the apartments are fully occupied and include shared kitchens and living space, pnvate bedrooms, a fitness center, shopping, dining and gated parking, And all but 6,000 square feet of the complex's retail space is spoken for, with operations including
"A business needs business 12 months of the year to survive properly. College is empty four months of the year," Lentine said. "We surveyed all of the businesses in the area and identified the need for the area and for the college, and where those sections overlapped, those were the businesses we went for."
The hope is this unique downtown design will encourage students to stick around campus on the weekends and, ultimately, if replicated at other
"College is becoming extremely competitive in attracting students. Having a housing component with a public section lets them stand out from other colleges," he said. "I've been getting calls from a number of colleges who also are trying to create a similar village atmosphere."
While Lentine calls
"Academics and developers speak two different languages, but the most important thing is to have the right partners because this relationship is going to last 50, 60, 70 years," he said. "We are planning for the future; there is a lot to think about and we have to work together, the administration, faculty, staff and us. Having the right partners is critical to making it a successful relationship for all."
Residence Turns Negatives into a Positive for Neighboring Towns and an Underserved Population
It took one special project to unite two boroughs and remediate two unsightly properties for the benefit of an underserved papulation.
In 2014,
Working with multiple municipalities, state and federal agencies, CAU oversaw the adjoining of the
nCAU seems to specialize in dealing with complicated properties and making them work out," said
But before that could happen, Hurricane Sandy hit, further complicating the project. The site escaped storm damage but attracted the attention of the federal government when the state's flood maps were being redrawn.
"Abutting the property is a small stream that disappears into two huge tunnels that you could drive a
With the new flood map threatening to derail the project, CAU hired an environmental specialist to work with
"DEP looked at it and asked us to raise the base half a foot and move the footprint 12 feet away from this imaginary steam," Blanchard said. "To do that, we had to go back to the towns and get another zoning variance."
Cooperation from both towns expedited that processes, and In 2015 the more than 10,000-squarefoot, barrier-free facility opened. The lot, just blocks from bus lines, a train station, and shopping and medical facilities, contains a parking lot with 26 spaces.
The building includes two commercial units - now being used by CAU as training facilities - and two three-bedroom units on the first floor The apartments are staffed 24/7 by CAU and reserved for low-income individuals with developmental disabilities earning less than 80 percent of the Housing and Urban Development Area Median Income.
"There are thousands of people in
The second and third floors contain two one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units each, four of which are reserved for low-income individuals with physical disabilities.
"The aging of the Baby Boom generation and veterans returning with mobility issues has exacerbated the lack of barrier-free affordable housing," he said.
To accommodate those residents, the complex includes an elevator, spacious hallways and doorways, roil-in showers and is fitted with a fully automatic generator. This feature will ailow necessary power to remain on in the building in case of an emergency power-outage and ensure that the people living in the units (some who utilize powered life-essential medical equipment) are not without power.
The nearly
By revitalizing a piece of the neighborhood that was rundown and abandoned, the project helps to raise the value of neighboring residences. And since CAU also is the property manager for the building, the firm invested resources up front to minimize maintenance costs down the road.
"We use a higher grade as far as cabinetry, wood and even putting insulation between the walls inside so you can't hear your neighbor," Blanchard said, "because we are in it for the long haul."
FLOODPLAIN PROTECTION AND BLUEWAY DESIGN IN
Coordinated Effort Secures Open Space Funds to Remove Most Vulnerable Homes From Harm's Way
Rampant flooding has beleaguered
After each storm, communities would band together and residents would rebuild.
But the devastation Hurricane Irene wrought in 2011 brought its flood-prone neighborhoods to their brink.
So when
1 like to think we had a good idea and
Founded in 1981,
That "good idea" is
"Purchasing those properties not only removes people from harm's way," said Heskins Davis, "it creates a recreational amenity for people to use."
The Blueway program was developed in 2004 to help
"The homes may not qualify for federal funding, but if they are purchased for open space or public benefit, it could qualify for the Blueway program,1' Heskins Davis said. "State funding is used to purchase the homes, county funding to purchase the properties and town funding to make up the difference."
A decade later, the Pompton River Walkway stands in place of those homes. During that time,
But when
That says, 'This is really important to us,"1 she said. "It opens up the doors to these communities."
Through this partnership, six municipal flood acquisition plans have been completed for
It marks first time
With
While this Biueway program is not intended to completely solve a community's flooding problems, Heskins Davis said, it empowers them to take the lead in ensuring the most vulnerable homes are removed. Once that happens, municipalities no longer have to assume public service expenses such as road maintenance, utilities or send in rescue crews to evacuate the residents during severe weather events. It also allows towns to redirect the taxpayer dollars from rescue and rebuilding efforts to economic development and community health and wellness initiatives,
"It reduces this checker boarding effect where one house is bought out, the other is not," she said. The idea is to spark interest in being bought out, so you no longer have these areas where you have to go in and provide a service were there was a great need."
GOETHALS BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT
First P3 on Major Transportation Facility in Northeast to
When the
The girth of today's vehicles leaves no passing room on the Goethals, which means the lanes can't function independently. That's why a stalled car or accident always snarls traffic on the bridge that connects
"During the periods of peek commuting times, the bridge is now rated at the lowest standard of service. It's essentially barely flowing," said
But drivers' days of crawling across the Arthur Kill at rush hour are numbered, said Blackmore. The
"Soon the Goethals will no longer be the pinch point," Blackmore said.
"One side is heavily industrial and one side is heavily wet lands with a superfund site in the middle of it," he said. "Everything had to be considered, from noise and dust during construction to impacts on wetlands and how that is going to be mitigated."
Once given the green light to proceed, the
"We went to the P3 world and said we were seriously thinking about doing this bridge as a P3,'r he said. "We were interested in what the industry thought about this and asked if they would be willing to come in and tell us things we should be concerned about or aware of and how we should tailor our project agreement for best results."
Twelve different private firms presented proposals to the
"With a P3, you get more brains working on something," he said. "We thought we could incorporate private sector innovation and make it subject to our performance and function criteria,"
In addition to increasing lane width by two feet, the new Goethals Bridge will add another lane in each direction, four shoulders - two 12-foot-wide and two 5-foot-wide - and a 10-foot-wide pedestrian and bike/walkway on its north side. The replacement bridge design allows for a future corridor for transit such as bus lanes or light rail between the eastbound and westbound roadways.
The Goethals replacement also will provide state-of-the-art smart bridge technology, including Roadway Weather Information Systems that collect environmental data such as wind speed, visibility and pavement temperature. A Traffic Detection System will use sensors to provide alerts on traffic build-up so incident response plans may be quickly implemented.
To bring the new bridge online, all traffic from the existing Goethals will be diverted to the eastbound structure - striped to temporarily carry two 12-foot-wide lanes in each direction - for about a year until the second westbound structure comes online. The first cut over is expected to happen in the first quarter of 2017, said Blackmore.
"The alternative would be for the
Should the developer underperform or if the replacement bridge develops problems during its service period, the
"That's their skin in the game' period," said Blackmore. 'They have to build a structure that will not only satisfy the initial acceptable criteria but 35 years of maintenance. It's incentive for it to be designed and built right, in addition to alt the other checks and balances we put in there."
Everyone, especially the public, benefits from the partnership, said Blackmore.
And drivers?
The benefit to them is they get to work on time," he said.
THE HAHNE & CO. BUILDING
Modern Makeover Returns One-Time Crown Jewel of
When redevelopment of the former Hahne & Co. building opens early next year, those involved expect it to play a central role in the economic revitalization of downtown
Public and private entities have partnered to transform the long-vacant building on
'The Hahne's redevelopment will invigorate
Approximately 175,000 square feet of retail and commercial space will include
The involvement of NJHMFA, the
"The architectural restoration and modern-day repurposing of this once magnificent retail palace into a mixed-income and mixed-use development is designed to promote the long-term viability of the neighborhood and spur its revitalization while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of its city center location," said Marchetta.
"Thanks to the outstanding public-private partnership spearheaded by L+M Development and the critically-needed financing smoothly expedited by multiple partners, including the NJHMFA, the Hahne building will once again assume its rightful place as the pride of
When local businessman
The building sits opposite from
"It's just a fantastic project that will benefit everyone," said Marchetta.
The total development cost of the Hahne's building conversion is
The NJHMFA estimates that the project has generated more than
"The combination of financing provided by NJHMFA,
The public financing of the Hahne's building conversion helps the NJHMFA ensure that its investments leverage existing community resources and enhance market value and community well-being.
"This blend of mixed-income housing within a mixed-use retail setting increases community diversity, expands the local tax base, drives economic growth and strengthens the long-term vitality of the community," Marchetta said.
HAT CITY LOFTS
Once upon a time,
At the industry's peak in the 1890s, there were 34 hat-making factories in the city's 20-block Valley neighborhood, employing more than 3,700 people and producing nearly 4.8 million hats in one year.
Among them is the former
'They were tall buildings with punched-out windows, It was a reminder of a bygone era and a symbol of decline/' said
That's because
"The housing market was significantly weakened when the housing bubble burst and the economy tanked," Morrissy said. "So these are not only the first market-rate housing project, but the first condominium project in years in the Valley neighborhood."
Nearly complete, the 32-loft condominium complex with 8,600 square feet of arts-related commercial space will cap off the
The product of a public-private venture - led by partners
'Projects like this can't happen unless you bring the three sectors together public, private and private nonprofit" said Morrissy. "Who's going to undertake a project like Hat City Lofts that's been 10 years in the making? The private sector alone doesn't have that staying power."
Perhaps the biggest hurdle the team had to get over before breaking ground on the project was getting the district designated by the state as a Brownfields Redevelopment Area, which provided financial assistance and fast-tracked environmental approvals.
'Some of these buildings were contaminated from their former industrial uses * or at least In our case the ground around it. So that meant both clean-up and a whole regimen of environmental approvals," said Morrissy. "If we couldn't unlock these properties environmentally, they would have languished."
Both municipalities planned and designated adjacent Redevelopment Areas that are zoned for and promote a common vision of arts-related revitalization. As one of the first steps,
Since launching the effort in 2006, HANDS has redeveloped 13 industrial, commercial and mixeduse properties, providing affordable space for artisans, innovators, community builders and multiple arts-related commercial uses. Another residential project in development will add 128 apartments - within walking distance of an NJ Transit commuter rail station, providing direct service to
"
The
Working within the framework of existing brick factories constructed in 1864 and 1908 give the lofts a hip, industrial appearance.
"There are a lot of the modern conveniences with some of the old materials shining though," Morrissy said. "You'll see old steel fire doors, exposed brick and beams and new floors, stainless steel kitchens, granite counters, high ceilings and big windows, not unlike places you've seen in SoHo."
All of the building's units sold before construction was complete, which Morrissy said signals not only the emergence of the
"It's priming the pump for the return of the market after the recession," he said. ' It's propelling the arts district and really changing people s image of the city of
HERITAGE
Affordable Senior Housing Complex Addresses Pressing Need of Aging Population
Building quality affordable senior housing that benefits both its residents and the community is no easy feat,
It requires knowledgeable development companies and lenders, ideal locations and patient, amenable host towns.
All of those factors came together in the case of
'Building quality affordable senior housing in
And that need in
The mayor and city council members would get calls from local seniors saying, 'We can t afford to live here, help us,'" she said. "These are people who have lived in Iheir houses for 30 years and are downsizing and living on social security. To go into the rental market and pay the rates they are asking for a one bedroom - anywhere from
Heritage
The five-story, handicap-accessible building is located in the existing historic downtown neighborhood, just two blocks west of bustling
The building's exterior features a mix of brick, stone masonry, fiber cement board, and casement windows, marrying modern architectural elements with civic undertones to blend into
Apartments feature modern layouts, central heating and air conditioning, energy efficient appliances, hardwood parquet floors, ceramic-tiled kitchen and baths, and emergency pul! cords. The building is a certified Energy Star Multifamity High Rise building and was designed and constructed using the latest in energy efficient technology. High-efficient mechanical and plumbing systems, windows, lighting, and flooring were utilized, In addition, the project will participate in the N JHMFA's energy benchmarking program.
After Hurricane Sandy, nearly 100,000 homes in
Funding for
'Tax credits are a major funding source and getting them is a highly competitive process. It look us three years to secure those credits and the town stuck with it," she said citing the process
For
Not only will the township receive affordable-housing credits, but it added much-needed senior housing to their community, which boosts the economy of the neighborhood as residents shop and entertain locally.
Being situated on the corner of
"Mayor
City,
In
It took the city of
"This is the last commercial piece in the core of the
The massive undertaking started in 1995 when the
'The
SJP properties oversaw the project's commercial development - three 13-story Class A office towers - which sits at the southern end of the site, closest to the historic
The
'
Working with such a large parcel that is owned by one public agency - the
"We could have abandoned the project, but
That third tower, completed in
"We are attaining the highest rents in the state of
And
"The three most important words in real estate are location, location and location," Schotz said. "When you are a block away from the biggest transportation center in
Developers Coax Rowan Outside the Box on Unique Student Residence and Dining Hall
Talk about a learning curve.
A pioneering
The outer edge of the ova! defines a new campus gateway to visitors approaching the university from the east, enhancing the institution's image and the safety of the students. The building is set back from the surrounding roadways, situated into the existing natural landscape and surrounded by a rain garden that serves as both a visual buffer and an environmentally sensitive storm water management strategy.
"(Vice President, Student life and Dean of Students)
But
"When we started it was very traditional. Then, as Rowan became part of the team, our architect brought a lot of creative ideas to them," said Hansen. "I think it got them excited about the project and took off from there."
University Student Living, a company of
'Working with a university takes a little longer. It is a very traditional kind of decision-making group with requirements and an organized structure. You want to make sure everyone is involved and has a say. Where as we as a private company have a boss and that boss can make a decision," he said. "But Rowan had record-breaking lime in making decisions."
Given Rowan's rate of expansion - between 10 and 12 percent annually - and limited resources, this public-private collaboration allowed the university to focus its resources on academic facilities - a new
"If Rowan wanted to build a building like this, they'd have to get an allocation of SI00 million,1' said Hansen "We can leverage the cash flow from private investors, so it's more like getting a mortgage that will be paid over 35 years In student housing fees. They got something essentially for nothing "
And there's no denying
"I like that it's not a rectangular building. The hallways are not like a bowling alley," Hansen said. "It looks like something very modem, something you would find in high-end luxury housing."
Inside these unique buildings are state-of-the-art features designed to address the needs of today's students, from seamless Wi-Fi service to increased gender-inclusive options,
"Millennials are very connected. They want to be mobile and use their multiple devises in their in the rooms, outside, in the hallways - anywhere they go," said Hansen. 'And these days we're getting into gender identity more, so we designed separate bathrooms, sink rooms and toilet rooms that can be gender neutral or gender specific, not standard male and female."
"It's fur to have those titles," he said.
MECHAFORCE MECHATRONICS PROGRAM
Statewide Program Aims to Rebrand Manufacturing Industry and Help Develop Talent to Support It
Today's manufacturing jobs are not in the factories where your grandfather worked.
"Those were dirty, dangerous, dead-end jobs, " said GaleTenen Spak, Ph.D., NJIT associate vice president responsible for MechaFORCE. "The industry has this horrible image because people don't realize how manufacturing is happening today."
An innovative, statewide program, MechaFORCE was created in 2014 to fight that stigma by rebranding the industry and assist with attracting and developing the talent needed to support modern design fabrication and manufacturing in
"We are trying to change the three Ds of manufacturing to the three Ss," said Spak. "Spotless. Safe. Sustainable."
There are 11,000 manufacturers in
"MechaFORCE has evolved as an answer to this incredible shortage of workforce," said Spak. "The long-term goal is producing the employees for advanced manufacturing and the short-term goal is helping these companies find qualified employees now,"
To accomplish that, MechaFORCE works in partnership with
The goal of the Mechatronics Program is to rebuild die pipeline that once existed at the high school and college levels to tunnel skilled workers back into the industry.
"It used to be that the community colleges in
The program's public partners - educators - have agreed to support manufacturers by integrating into their courses the very skills and competencies the companies identified as necessary for their employees. Private partners - manufacturers - not only help to develop curricula, but spend their money and time to speak with prospective employees about careers in advanced manufacturing and let students tour their manufacturing plants. The result is an industry-driven, collegiate-level
MechaFORCE provides a structured and sequential educational, apprenticeship and career pathway leading to an associate degree, industry-valued certifications and, as an option, to a bachelor's degree. This educational pathway has "off-ramps" permitting learners to assume paid positions, said Spak, and "on-ramps" permitting employees to return to their education so they can earn while learning.
In 2015, MechaForce progressed with plans to offer the
"We have hope that at the point of graduation -12th grade or one year more - students will have earned a high school diploma and an associate degree in this area and one of three industry valued credentials," Spak said. 'Then they get a job. That's the big deal. They meet that desperate need of the manufacturers for new blood and have the option to work toward a bachelor's."
In 2016, the program started offering professional development courses that lead to credentials (in addition to degrees) and jobs and develop other career and educational manufacturing pathways in addition to mechatronics.
This year, MechaFORCE will focus on helping numerous
"We are interested in success. We want highly motivated and talented students to be prepared for roles in advanced manufacturing. We want companies to remain profitable and prepared as they maximize their potential to produce," said Spak. 'We believe the MechaFORCE public-private partnership is the answer."
MARION P. THOMAS CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL OF CULINARY AND PERFORMING ARTS
The biggest challenge about building a school is that there isn't any wiggle room on the construction deadline.
' When school starts, the kids are going be there with their lunch boxes," said
On
The
Students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and training amenities that encourage experiential learning and prepare them to continue on to college or enter the workforce. The dining facility includes additional cooktops, pizza ovens, steamers and refrigeration boxes, which allows it to function as both a cafeteria and cooking classroom. For voice, dance and theater students, there is a dance studio, production room, prop workshop and blackbox theatre.
"There is a regular curriculum as well, but the students going to this school are looking to become chefs or theatrical performers or learn to run the production side. They need to know how you manipulate a stage and seating equipment," Maulbeck said, "The dance room has a wall of glass, so they can teach ballet. There's a makeup room where students can learn to do each other's makeup for theater and an area where the kids can practice producing a show."
Ensuring student safety also was a top priority for Hollister and Marion P,
"There's a full-blown security system. You can't drive into the site or enter the building without meeting or greeting someone," he said, "And an alarm sounds if they leave without permission."
The new facility is not only a meaningful addition to the students and families that the Marion P. Thomas organization serves, but also to the Central Ward and the
Without the unified efforts of the entire team, this project may not have come to fruition on budget and on time. That team includes: client and owner Friends of
After completing their second high school and fifth charter school project in
"There was an honest relationship between the two parties. I don't think there was a stressful moment because of a disagreement," he said. "We managed stresses together as a team; we pushed together to get it completed and it got done."
One of those stresses was wicked weather that threatened to push back an already tight construction schedule,
"By the time we got released on the project, we were in the dead of winter," he said. "When the (weather-sensitive) concrete and steel were being installed, we had to provide temporary heat and protection around the building to keep it going. But we got it done."
SHAPING
Community Couples Resources to Deliver Healthy Food to Struggling Elizabeth Residents
The residents in a low-income housing complex in the Bayway section of
On the fourth Thursday of each month, fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, juice, healthy snacks and bread are distributed in that community free of charge.
"Residents are beyond thrilled with the market and look forward to the regular monthly event," said
The
Realizing the residents of
About 1,100 people live in the 423 housing units of
Organizers say the mobile market has provided residents with a real sense of community when the event is held in their courtyard. Since the first market took place in March, residents have volunteered to assist with distributing the food and delivering it directly to the doors of those who are physically unable to pick it up themselves. About 250 people are served each time the market visits the housing complex. To date, the
The atmosphere we have fostered by providing music and food sampling items is festive and happy,1' said Hart, "It's truly a party every time we host an event."
Any leftover food is delivered to families and senior citizens residing in the other affordable-housing sites owned by the Housing Authority.
Partnerships such as this are important because public housing agencies often are not equipped to financially support many of the intensive services needed to provide safe and decent housing opportunities for low-income individuals and also offer a healthy environment where families can thrive. HACE realizes that to effectively operate as a successful housing agency, it must create partnerships with both nonprofit and private sector companies,
The team in this project consisted of five staff members from the
The
"The collaboration that has come together in an effort to provide our families with access to fresh and healthier food choices has created a solid foundation for which other programs and services can be delivered to a population that struggles with just making ends meet," said Hart. "The public and private partnership framework is critical to providing opportunities to families struggling to succeed. By coupling resources together, we can touch more people and create better lives."
NEWARK AVENUE PEDESTRIAN MALL
Bustling Jersey City Transforms Unsightly Streetscape Into Welcoming Open Space Oasis
Open space is hard to come by in
But several community organizations have done their best to change that by turning a once unwelcoming street into a bustling space shared by pedestrians and bicyclists.
"
The primary objectives of the project were to create a unique destination and highlight attraction for residents, visitors and tourists. It also helps support the local downtown small-business district and fosters more frequent cultural and social exchanges in the community,
Located near the
The entire space is painted green and decorated with murals painted by local art students. Round tables with umbrellas invite people to sit and stay awhile. Plans also are in the works for
"This is the first space of its kind in
Every project has its complications, and this one was no different.
"As with any new project, the community and local small-business community was apprehensive," Morrill said. "We were proposing to dose a thoroughfare to traffic that was seemingly vital to the success of the local businesses that would also, at the same time, create an environment not desired by the local residents. After several community meetings and a pilot program, we were able to come to a mutually beneficial plan and process for this pedestrian space."
The challenge was to complete the project with minimal capital and resources, and that challenge was met.
"We managed to create this space using what we had and through some creative applications of low-dollar features," Morrill said. "We focused on low investment Items such as a coat of paint and a siring of lights rather than building new structures and permanent changes to the streetscape."
The planters were moved from other parts of the city, HDSID covered the expense of filling them with plants and volunteers painted murals on them. The swing gates cost less than
Morrill believes the public-private partnership was beneficial to everyone Involved.
"The residents of
Agencies' Successful Pipeline from Prison to Employment is Reducing Reincarceration Rate
With the leadership of Gov.
' When individuals return home from incarceration and have access to much-needed services, communities are made safer and stronger," said NJRC Chairman
Due to the extraordinary commitment of its case managers and private sector partners, the recidivism rate of NJRCs clients has been significantly reduced to 19.7 percent and the cotporation has secured employment for 62,7 percent of its clients. In total, the NJRC has 1,054 clients enrolled across our five locations in
'The NJRC, with our private and public partners, offers a rational investment in a different way of life, a different way of living and, most importantly, a different outcome; that of being a responsible, healthy person," McGreevey said.
The NJRC has a
Private partnerships have been established with employers, unions, housing providers, health centers, banks and attorneys Federally qualified health centers provide weekly onsite health care screenings and
"The NJRC understands that private-public partnerships are essential to succeed," said
The NJRC in each of its locations works with the private sector to identify employment opportunities, train clients, and provide for an employment-ready workforce. Evaluating economic clusters within each of our sites, the NJRC makes a special effort to customize training to be responsive to employer needs. Whether advanced manufacturing, transportation logistics, the hospitality industry, sales or construction development, the NJRC designs training that is uniquely responsive to the employer's needs.
The construction industry and large and small developers represent a ready source of quality job opportunities. The NJRC also has benefited from the leadership of the
Private employers who hire NJRC clients may qualify for state and federal programs such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Federal Bonding Program and Parolee Employment Placement Program. These programs reduce a company's federal income tax liability, provide business insurance and pay an employer for a portion of an employee's wages for half a year.
"An increasing number of private sector employers now use the NJRC as an employment recruiting agency of first resort," Koufos said. "Companies are assured that our clients - prospective employees - are clear, ready to work and sufficiently trained."
McGreevey said the private and public partners are grateful for witnessing clients transform from being state dependents to becoming productive, lax-paying citizens.
"Our clients move from active acfcfiction and dependency to sobriety and self-sufficiency," he said. "The greatest moral benefit is to witness people benefiting from the dignity of work while providing for their family,"
Business-building Programs Encourage Economic Growth in the Township
"The alliance has brought the
Membership includes business owners, developers, merchants, property owners, realtors, corporate leaders, other professionals and nonprofit organizations, all of which are conducting business in
Each quarter, a large event is planned, such as the job fair that was hosted in conjunction with the Middlesex County Workforce Development Team and attracted more than 50 businesses to participate.
"Being part of the
Through these connections the
Business owners have the flexibility to tailor the program by choosing a rebate percentage and processing platform. Of that percentage, one quarter pays administration fees and the remaining 75 percent is credited to the patron's
Excel Urgent Care,
"The challenge we faced was in getting the word out about this unique and forward-thinking group," said Mamakas. "The task got easier with the immediate support from key local and high profile business leaders."
There were minimal upfront costs associated with
"The program has encouraged local economic growth in the township and created awareness that the administration is focused on helping businesses in the community," Mamakas said.
In an effort to combat drunk driving and provide an incentive for residents to dine in the township, the
"In a short amount of time, the
PROJECT COMMUNITY PRIDE OF THE
Towns, Schools and
Mental health is increasingly becoming a national issue - especially among our youth.
Several entities in
Project Community Pride is a no-fee counseling program founded by the Borough of
By 2013, the program was financially strained by the nearly 100 children and teens utilizing it annually. Volunteer-driven events to raise charitable funds and awareness had dwindled, making funding pressures even worse.
To address these issues,
"The frequency and seriousness of substance abuse and addiction, bullying, family conflict and adverse social pressure are continuing to escalate," said
Since the program aligns with the
"Project Community Pride and the CMHI represent a rare, publicly-funded mental health iniliative coordinated al the municipal and school district level," said Mann. "The Y maintains quality and confidentiality standards and reports anonymous summary data regularly to the funding partners on program utilization and impacts."
Project Community Pride provides one-on-one counseling that is often supplemented with group counseling sessions. To assure confidentiality, services are conducted in Project Pride's offices in a
"I cannot overstate the importance of the collaborative and visionary leadership of the
The towns and school districts involved provided a total of
"With a minimal shared financial investment in counseling services, each of the public partners saves thousands of dollars each year in mental health crisis and addiction recovery services, as well as emergency room costs in cases of overdoses and self harm," said Mann. "Local teens and children are more prepared lo address and surmount the challenges and pressures of their social, academic, economic and family situations, having learned tools and techniques to care for themselves in these situations."
THE SALVATION ARMY RAY AND JOAN KROC CORPS COMMUNITY CENTER
Massive Charitable Donation Spurs Revitalization and Hope in
In 2015, The
"When
Through Ihe design of these community centers nationwide, The
The 120,000-square-foot building includes a gymnasium, competition pool, an indoor waterpark, fitness center, leen center, senior center, black box theater, chapel, food pantry, library, meeting rooms, an early childhood education center and a
"The Ray and Joan Kroc Center has impacted the
Wood said the project created more than 300 development jobs, 120 permanent jobs, remediated
The city of
The NJDEP played a critical role in the project by providing technical and logistical expertise, as well as
'The land has been transformed and now our mission is to transform lives," said Wood.
In addition to securing
"Numerous governmental agencies at every level needed to work together in order to make the Camden Kroc Center a reality," said Wood. "Several times, it looked as if the project would be derailed. But through unprecedented cooperation, undaunted determination and the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations, the Camden Kroc Center slands as a reminder that All things are possible with God.'"
In 2015, President
By reclaiming a long-abandoned but critical vacant property, the center not only provides a key civic destination for area residents, but also has spurred active community participation in the longterm future of the area. There are now plans to use the remaining 86 acres of the landfill site to create what will be the
"The public partners have transformed a hazardous site into a state-of-the-art facility that will serve the needs of the community for years to come, helping to bring stability to the neighborhood, job creation and a safe environment for individuals and families to thrive," said Wood. The
ROEBLING LOFTS
A transitional neighborhood in
In January, the
Roebiing Lofts is located on a 6,8-acre site at the intersection of
The new lofts, expected to begin occupancy in the spring of 2017, will offer extraordinary light and design properties, including 16-feet to 20-feet high ceilings and massive factory windows with built-in solar mesh window treatments. The lofts provide a mix of double-height living rooms and sleeping platforms. Amenities include green finishes and materials, high-efficiency HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems, Energy Star appliances, LED lighting and gourmet kitchens with induction ranges. The one- and two-bedroom lofts will range in size from 759 to 1,553 square feet. One-bedroom rents will start at
?The open space within the complex will allow for entertainment in the form of concerts, festivals, fairs and pop-up venues," said
The renovation involves the complete overhaul of the structure, which was deemed eligible for federal historic tax credits, and NJEDA multi-family ERG credits. The complex will set aside 20 percent of the units for moderate-income housing. Commercial development on the site, located in a
'Roebiing Lofts was the brainchild of
The
Roebiing Center?s modern office space also will be built within converted factories, ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 square feet with 18-to-24-foot ceilings, skylights and a mezzanine level.
The project was introduced to
"Public partners in the city of
HHG is tasked with creating an extensive marketing campaign that attracts professionals to the city, which is 10 miles southwest of
"This project is different than the standard multi-family housing project because it makes full use of the city's natural resources and expands upon them to breathe new life into a depressed area," German said. "The project is on schedule and looking great, with enthusiasm from city government and local businesses alike."
Securing
What do
A common belief that
To ensure the county continues to thrive, the agencies forged a branding initiative to tie those concepts together.
This partnership was formed while the
"
Participating on the committee are county staff and representatives from the
The diverse partners involved all share a common goal of marketing
The Somerset County Branding Committee connected all involved parties in three separate, half-day work sessions, which were facilitated by committee member
In December of 2015, the Somerset County Branding Committee held a public meeting to present to the
The next phase of the branding initiative is to build upon the work completed by the Branding Committee. In 2016, a public request for proposal was drafted and released to identify industry experts who can help turn Vibrant Connections into a county brand identity that will resonate with residents, employers, employees and visitors to our community.
The committee believes that Vibrant Connections represents
Vibrant Connections and a unified brand identity will add value to the community in many forms and can be used in different ways by community partners to reach local, regional and global networks.
"We are pleased that the
TEACHERS VILLAGE 7
Latest Addition to
In a grand plan created for the historic Four Corners district of
"
A majority of the units are intended specifically for
All units in the
The apartments are located on the second through sixth floors. Retail or the first floor includes restaurants, a medical office, a dry cleaner, wash-and-fold laundry and a green grocer, with more to come.
Residents have access to a 5,900-square-foot basketball court and a 24-hour fitness center. One parking spot per apartment is located adjacent to the development. Each building has a resident lounge and a smart classroom to provide an opportunity for lifelong learning through after-hours classes. Teachers may also use these rooms to host students after school or to further their own degrees.
Residents have access to their building and apartment via secure key fobs. All buildings are equipped with integrated security camera systems that feed directly to the
"The hope is that
The idea and design for
The mixed-use project is personal to architect Richard Meier, who was born and raised in
The first six buildings in
The project, however, has not been without its challenges. The charter schools are adjacent to the new buildings and construction was ongoing while school was in session. Extreme safety measures were put in place and a lot of coordination was necessary to prevent school operations from being affected.
In addition,
"
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