A diverse group of innovative development and redevelopment projects located in cities, towns and townships across New Jersey will be honored with 2009 Smart Growth Awards from New Jersey Future.

Seven projects and 20 honorees will receive Smart Growth Awards for initiatives ranging from a comprehensive redevelopment strategy involving two projects in downtown Newark to a town center redevelopment plan in Bloomfield to an affordable-housing and neighborhood revitalization project in Camden to a community-university partnership between Glassboro and Rowan University. (A complete list of the winners and honorees follows.)

The New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards honor projects and plans — approved or built — that reflect the most forward-looking development and redevelopment practices in New Jersey. Award-winners are chosen by an independent jury of respected professionals.

“This year’s Smart Growth Award winners represent a true cross-section of the outstanding, innovative work being done from one end of our state to the other to make New Jersey a more attractive place to live and work,” said Peter Kasabach, executive director of New Jersey Future. “These projects show the breadth and depth of smart-growth efforts to redevelop urban centers, revitalize neighborhoods, link nonprofits and universities and waterfronts and train stations with their communities — all efforts that will improve the quality of life for New Jersey residents.”

The eighth annual New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards ceremony honoring the winners will be held Wednesday, June 3, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Newark Club, One Newark Center, 22nd Floor, Newark. Title sponsors of the event are New Jersey Natural Gas and SJP Properties.

New Jersey Future is a statewide research, policy and education group that advocates for sustainable growth, environmental preservation, neighborhood revitalization and transportation choice. Founded in 1987, New Jersey Future is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and the leading voice for promoting smart growth in New Jersey.

For more information on New Jersey Future and the Smart Growth Awards event, please visit our website www.njfuture.org or call (609) 393-0008,
ext. 101.

2009 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards

Sustainable Design and Implementation
14 Maple Avenue, Morristown
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; Robert S. Goldsmith/Greenbaum Rowe
Smith & Davis; Morristown Parking Authority

Town Center Redevelopment Plan
Bloomfield Center Redevelopment Plan, Bloomfield 
Township of Bloomfield; Newwork; Value Research Group

Comprehensive Revitalization Strategy
Broad Street Station and
Living Downtown Redevelopment Plans, Newark 
City of Newark; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Creative Affordable Housing and Neighborhood Preservation
Fairview Village, Camden 
Camden Redevelopment Agency; New Jersey Housing & Mortgage
Finance Agency; RPM Development

Main Street Redevelopment
The Avenue Development and Eden Gourmet Marketplace & Café
Eden Gourmet; Township of South Orange Village; Sterling Properties

Participatory Neighborhood Plan
North Camden Neighborhood Plan, Camden
Camden Lutheran Housing Inc.; Cooper’s Ferry Redevelopment Association;
Save Our Waterfront

Community-University Partnership
Rowan Boulevard, Glassboro 
Borough of Glassboro; Rowan University; SORA Holdings

(The New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards are selected by an independent jury. Serving on this year’s selection committee are: Thomas O’Neill (chair), Consultant, New Jersey Future Trustee; Florence Block, Executive Director, U.S. Green Buildings Council-New Jersey Chapter; James Constantine, Principal, Looney Ricks Kiss; Lopa Kolluri, Vice President, Development, Community Investment Strategies, Inc.;Vincent Myers, Principal, Design Ideas Group Architecture & Planning LLC; Kathleen Miller Prunty, Downtown Director, Township of Cranford, President, Downtown New Jersey; Jon Vogel, Senior Development Director, Avalon Bay Communities, Inc.; Jim Waltman, Executive Director, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association; and Lee Wasman, Senior Public Affairs Manager, Atlantic City Electric, New Jersey Future Trustee.)