Client: City of Newark, NJ

Overview

Phillips Preiss has provided redevelopment planning services to the City of Newark for over a decade. The firm has prepared numerous area in need of redevelopment investigations on behalf of the City and advised municipal staff on redevelopment issues. Projects have included sites throughout the downtown and other parts of Newark.

Results

The Prudential Center, a major professional sports arena, was built in an area designated in need of redevelopment by a study prepared by Phillips Preiss. Teachers Village and One Rector Street are also being built in redevelopment areas that were designated based on studies prepared by the firm.

Client: Township of Montclair, NJ

Overview

Phillips Preiss was retained by the Township of Montclair to assess the potential impacts of a major downtown mixed-use project. Notably, the development was proposed to include housing for approximately 1,000 students from a nearby state university, as well as retail, office, hotel and/or residential components. The Phillips Preiss study analyzed aesthetic, community, economic and traffic impacts and outlined a variety of possible benefits and challenges, which helped lay the groundwork for a productive discussion between the applicant, the Township and the greater Montclair community.

Results

The student housing project did not move forward, due in part to concerns about potential impacts uncovered by Phillips Preiss' study. The Township of Montclair subsequently hired Phillips Preiss to prepare a redevelopment investigation for the study area, as well as a redevelopment plan.

Client: Township of Montclair, NJ

Overview

Phillips Preiss drafted the Montclair Center Gateway Redevelopment Plan to encourage a mixed-use development at the western edge of Montclair’s downtown which advances its sustainability and Smart Growth agenda. In early 2011, the Township formed a Redevelopment Subcommittee consisting of elected officials, business owners and other members of the Montclair community to work with Phillips Preiss on crafting the plan. A series of public meetings were held to gain input from the community on their vision for the site. A widely felt aspiration to attract a hotel to downtown Montclair, which could serve its cultural arts institutions, businesses and local residents, resulted in a density bonus provision in the plan. In fulfillment of Montclair Township’s environmental sustainability agenda, the project requires a minimum level of LEED certification, which must include on-site renewable energy facilities (i.e., roof-mounted solar panels), green roof areas and public transportation access (i.e., shuttles to train stations).

Results

Since the adoption of the plan, the Township has designated Pinnacle Companies as the redeveloper. Pinnacle and the Township are currently moving forward on the first phase of the project.

Client: Township of West Orange, NJ

Overview

The Township of West Orange retained Phillips Preiss to update its Master Plan, as well as prepare a Sustainability Plan for the Township. This document was one of the first sustainability plans prepared in New Jersey pursuant to a recent change in state law authorizing such plans as part of a municipal master plan. The Sustainability Plan guides West Orange’s efforts to incorporate smart growth, energy efficiency, environmentally friendly practices, low-impact development policies and other green tools in its planning. It is also integrated with the other sections of the Township’s Master Plan Update.

Results

Phillips Preiss was subsequently retained to assist with implementation of the Master Plan Update and Sustainability Plan through zoning amendments, and was later hired to review development applications to the Township's planning and zoning boards.

Client: City of Newark, New Jersey

Overview

Newark, the largest city in New Jersey, hired Phillips Preiss in 2008 to lead a multi-disciplinary consulting team to prepare a Master Plan Reexamination that would lay the framework for a complete new Master Plan. After adopting the Reexamination, the City of Newark selected a consultant team to prepare the new Master Plan. Phillips Preiss was a key member of this team, with primary responsibility for land use and zoning issues in the Master Plan, and advised on other planning topics.

Results

Phillips Preiss worked with City staff to prepare a series of immediate zoning changes to implement portions of the Reexamination. The new Master Plan was adopted in 2012. Phillips Preiss subsequently worked with City staff on a full overhaul of Newark's Zoning Ordinance - its first in over 60 years. The new Zoning & Land Use Regulations were adopted in 2015.