Phillips Preiss was retained by the City of Englewood to conduct adaptive reuse feasibility analyses for two key public buildings: the Liberty School, a handsome historic school building, and the Wright Arena, a semi-enclosed ice rink. PPG provided the City of Englewood with a feasibility analysis for several reuse ideas which had been advocated by various constituencies in the community.
RIOC retained Phillips Preiss to conduct a retail market analysis and planning study to help Main Street realize its potential as the true town center of Roosevelt Island. The report revealed significant potential for more retail on Main Street and recommended a series of policy and urban design interventions to revitalize the commercial district.
Within one year of the completion of the study, RIOC moved forward with a central recommendation of the report by soliciting proposals for a master leaseholder for the Main Street retail spaces.
New mixed-use buildings face the Morristown Green. Upper floors are stepped back, per one of the design standards required in exchange for a height bonus.
Courtyard and mid-block pedestrian connection behind the mixed-use building that faces the Morristown Green.
The new LEED-accredited office building for the Morristown Parking Authority.
With its City Council and Planning Board at odds over approval of a major downtown redevelopment project, Phillips Preiss brokered a compromise and brought the project to a close on behalf of the Town of Morristown. Many Town leaders and residents were alarmed by the height and bulk of the project, and were also unhappy with its original design. The proposed project involved the complete redevelopment of several key, underutilized blocks abutting the Town Green, with new mixed-use development. Phillips Preiss worked with the Town to impose a series of design standards, including LEED certification, as a condition of approval in exchange for allowing building heights in excess of the current zoning.
The first phase of the project, New Jersey’s first LEED Platinum building, has been completed. The plan won four statewide awards: the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Outstanding Smart Growth Plan, the New Jersey Planning Officials Award for Innovative Design, Downtown New Jersey’s Excellence in Downtown Award and New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Award for Creative Downtown Redevelopment Strategy.
Radburn, a planned community designed by Clarence Stein and Henry Wright in 1929, has been an inspiration for planners and architects around the world and a thriving neighborhood for over 80 years. Phillips Preiss, in coordination with Fradkin and McAlpin Architects, created Guidelines for Architectural Control intended to help preserve the character of this National Historic Landmark planned community. The firm has also advised the Radburn Association in the expansion of Radburn school, the reconstruction of the historic Plaza building and in the design and planning for the development of a major vacant site.
Phillips Preiss is providing ongoing planning services to Asbury Partners LLC, the designated Master Developer of a 50-acre redevelopment area on the waterfront within the City of Asbury Park, NJ. The firm’s work has included drafting a comprehensive amendment to the Waterfront Redevelopment Plan in coordination with the City, preparing economic and fiscal impact analyses, and providing expert testimony in condemnation matters.
Asbury Partners LLC’s VIVE townhome development is under construction. The amended Waterfront Redevelopment Plan was adopted by the City of Asbury Park.
Phillips Preiss works on behalf of both private property owners and public agencies in eminent domain proceedings to provide expert planning and market evaluations of taken properties before the courts.
Phillips Preiss' services have provided the basis for fair and equitable valuation of property, resulting in voluntary settlement between “taking” agencies and property owners; or where litigation has ensued, have provided the courts with a basis for informed rulings on value.
Street section redesign for Main Street, Woodbridge, adding bicycle lanes, street trees that will grow to a taller height than the current trees, and wider sidewalks with bulb-outs.
Main Street, Woodbridge
The creek-side park in Woodbridge
Downtown Vision Plan for downtown Woodbridge, NJ. The town has a nearly continuous streetwall of retail stores extending for several blocks, a beautiful creek-front park, and a train station providing direct service into Manhattan. However, the downtown has little foot traffic. While downtown has a large parking supply, it is not allocated or managed efficiently. The design of the streets and private property frontages and facades does not contribute to creating an interesting and intriguing environment for pedestrians. Several large parcels with low-intensity development offered opportunity sites for infill and intensification. Phillips Preiss developed a Vision Plan that spells out a wide range of short- and long-term improvements that would help bring more residents downtown, transform the downtown into a dining destination, and create attractive public spaces to gather and linger.
