Transforming Lower Broadway, Draft by Jonathan Warner

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Acknowledgements

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

“Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap” was published in August 2011 after

a two-year participatory planning process that included over 300 community members from the Lower Broadway neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. Program staff, consultants, and funders are listed below. A full list of participants and stakeholders can be found at the end of this plan.

La Casa de Don Pedro Program Staff

Raymond Ocasio, Executive Director Alle Ries, Division Director

Roberto Frugone, Program Director Aida Duran, Outreach Worker

Joel Nuñez, LISC AmeriCorps Member

Chanda Gaither, LISC AmeriCorps Member

Carrie Pugilisi Lara, Director of Program and Fund Development Julio Colon, Former Division Director

LISC Program Staff

Robin J. Brown, Program Officer

Gerard Joab, Former Executive Director

Consultants

Anita Miller, Comprehensive Community Redevelopment Expert Justice and Sustainability Associates, LLC Larisa Ortiz Associates, LLC LISC MetroEdge

Pratt Center for Community Development

Pratt Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development Project for Public Spaces, Inc. Sam Schwartz Engineering

Funders

City of Newark

The Garfield Foundation

Greater Newark & Jersey City LISC

Contents

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Executive Summary................................................................................................................... page 1 - 4

II. Introduction.................................................................................................................................. page 5

III. The Lower Broadway Community, Past and Present.................................................. page 6 - 14

IV. Creating The Roadmap..............................................................................................................page 15 - 20 V.

Priority Areas............................................................................................................................... page 19 - 28

VI. Who We Are.................................................................................................................................. page 29 - 32

Executive Summary

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Transforming a neighborhood is more than installing a new stop sign. It is more than hosting a block party or planting a tree. It is even more than calling a meeting of neighbors, rallied behind a cause and united in purpose for the good of others. Transforming a neighborhood begins with knowing that we share a common vision for our community, and believing that it is achievable. It is about celebrating our successes and building upon them, and understanding that they are part of a greater goal. It is about identifying who needs to come together to achieve a safe, healthy neighborhood that appeals to a broad range of residents. This is our goal, and we understand that neighborhood transformation requires planning and action to become a reality. This Quality of Life Roadmap documents our planning process, what was Lower Broadway, what it is, what we want it to be, and what it takes to get there. This plan has been touched, inspired and authored by hundreds of residents, merchants, faith-based institutions, educators, social service providers, community activists and other stakeholders who are joined together to make Lower Broadway a safe, healthy and thriving community. Together, our work has progressed over many years, through urban renewal, comprehensive planning, changes in political leadership, housing booms and busts, welcoming new neighbors and saying goodbye to others. Yet, through all, we continue to gather around the table to consider our current and future status. Lower Broadway is a 1.2 square mile neighborhood located on the northern fringe of Newark, New Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central business district. Its natural borders include Branch Brook Park to the west, the Passaic River to the east, Interstate 280 to the south and 4th Avenue/Bloomfield Avenue to the North. With over 14,000 residents, Lower Broadway is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the City. The community has excellent transportation linkages by bus, rail, light rail and car. It is also located within walking distance of Rutgers University, NJ Institute of Technology and Essex County College. Our commercial district is home to a diverse mix of more than 100 businesses. Over 70,000 cars and over 43,000 bus riders pass through the corridor every week, making the Lower Broadway Commercial District the busiest traffic artery leading into downtown Newark. 01

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Executive Summary

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

While currently a largely Hispanic community (51%), there have been dramatic changes within the composition of that community and it is currently dominated by residents from Puerto Rico, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. The Black population has also increased steadily and includes African Americans as well as a growing West African population. One quarter of our residents are younger than age 18, and one out of every five households is headed by a female with children under the age of 18. The unemployment rate hovers around 14% (American Community Survey, 2009.) The driving principles behind our Roadmap’s approach are simple: engage the community to define and understand the root causes of the problems that prevent this neighborhood from achieving its vision, identify practical solutions with measurable goals, maximize the talents, resources and partnerships already in place, and build new partnerships. Throughout this process, “early actions” helped build up community momentum with early and steady successes. These included strengthening the merchants’ association, embarking on a study of local retail establishments, devising a façade and streetscape improvement program, providing a parking study, opening a financial opportunity center, and holding numerous community engagement activities. Community members were involved in sharing their opinions and perceptions of the neighborhood through responding to a resident satisfaction survey, participating in a visioning event we called “Transforming Lower Broadway” to identify the principal priority areas to address, delving deep into the issues by participating in priority committees, and identifying new implementation partnerships to carry out the recommendations. The four key priority areas of greatest need for intervention are described on the following page.

Executive Summary

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Safety and Community Engagement

Economic Development and Affordable Housing

Public safety is at the top of every one’s list when it comes to envisioning a better community and Lower Broadway is no exception. We called this area Safety and Community Engagement to stress the role that each Lower Broadway stakeholder plays when it comes to improving a neighborhood. Recommendations include improving communication with law enforcement, better lighting and block watch training. But they also speak to creating a sense of community that fostered collective and individual actions such as block watches, safe havens for children, a safe school environment, looking out for children in the playground and on the streets, providing constructive activities for our children, public art installations, and other proactive measures designed to deepen the community members’ linkages and respect for one another.

Healthy communities need local shopping and service venues as well as a variety of housing options. A thriving commercial corridor that meets the needs of local residents will attract others and support business opportunities and economic development, and we understand that organizing and strengthening the capacity of local businesses are vital steps in economic development. Streetscape and façade improvements are among the recommendations, as well as investing in public art to give the district a more defined sense of place. While the diverse array of housing options befitting an urban center includes high-rise apartments, 1-3 family homes, low-rise multifamily buildings and public housing, many are overcrowded and unaffordable, and overall the majority of the homes need significant upgrades or rehabilitation. There will always be a need for safe, affordable housing options, particularly in a community as closely situated to public transportation as ours.

Access to Quality Education

Family Empowerment

Education is at the heart of every community, particularly one with many children. We are gravely concerned about the quality of our children’s education and know that we need to improve the local schools and provide as many positive opportunities for our children as possible. We understand that barriers to educational attainment as well as engaging parents within the school system are directly linked. The recommendations contained within this plan are premised on the need to have parents, community and the schools work together to improve the quality and the outcome of our educational system. This begins by building parental understanding through enhanced communication between the schools and parents. Increasing community involvement, through constructive activities such as after-school enrichment and summer programming options is another critical component.

This section speaks to the social and physical wellbeing of the people in Lower Broadway. Committee members agree that all components of the family unit must be strengthened, and so many family needs are interconnected, from the employment of parents, to recreational opportunities of children, to access to decent and affordable healthcare. Recommendations include improving accessibility to programs such as the Financial Opportunity Center which provides financial coaching, employment assistance and accessing public benefits. Other recommendations such as increasing access to recreational opportunities for both adults and children, and increasing access to decent and affordable healthcare were other notable priorities.

The full set of recommendations, photos, reports and other information are available at: www.broadwaynewark.com. 04

Introduction

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

WHO WE ARE We are the countless leaders and trailblazers who laid the groundwork for the successes we are achieving today. We are the thousands of residents who identified assets, challenges, and opportunities, and shared a vision at the “Transforming Lower Broadway” events and workshops. We are the 352 families who shared opinions and visions of an ideal Lower Broadway community through a satisfaction survey. We are the 300 Barringer 9 Success Academy students who advocated for our school, presented our case to the school board, and with support from the community, accomplished our mission. We are the 73 implementation partner organizations, the 29 residents, merchants, and partners, and the 20 organizations serving on the priority committees. We are the 15 experts who shared experience and provided advice to the committees. We are the 12 Commercial Corridor Retail Scan Committee members. We are the two newly established block watches and the five reinvigorated neighborhood associations that are making safety a priority. We are one united community with common hopes, dreams, and a collective vision for Lower Broadway.

This Quality of Life Roadmap represents our hopes and dreams for the Lower Broadway community and a plan of how to achieve that vision. The vision comes from the residents, students, merchants, parishioners, parents, athletes, employees, community institutions, visitors, and friends who breathe life into this prized gem, the Lower Broadway neighborhood. The desire and the ability to organize for a better community has been a fundamental facet of Lower Broadway for generations, but the genesis of this plan dates to November, 2008. La Casa de Don Pedro was approached by the Greater Newark & Jersey City Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to help meet its mission to transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity. La Casa’s mission of fostering empowerment, self-sufficiency, and neighborhood revitalization, its long history of civic engagement, including devising prior community planning strategies for the Lower Broadway community, made it a natural choice. Since then, efforts have been made, voices have been heard, and the groundwork has been laid. Today, as we define our vision for our community and what we need to get there, we have transformed into a collective group with a common vision. This document reflects where we came from, who we are today, and our aspirations for our community. This is our story.

Lower Broadway, Past & Present

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Early Lower Broadway

Industrialization/Immigration: Thriving City

Newark was founded in 1666 by a group of Puritans who left New Haven, Connecticut in search of a more pious place to live and practice their religion. Because of its location on the Passaic River, Newark became a valued colonial trading port. One of the oldest remaining homes in Newark from this period, The Plume House, is located on Broad Street in Lower Broadway.

Lower Broadway is a 1.2 square mile neighborhood located in the north end of the City of Newark, New Jersey’s largest city and the county seat of Essex County. The neighborhood historically was the gateway into Newark’s North Ward and today is part of the Central Ward, with the Passaic River to its east, and Branch Brook Park to its west, Interstate 280 along the southern boundary and Park and 4th Avenues to the north.

By the 1800s, Newark had grown into a national industrial and manufacturing center known for its leather factories and breweries. Lower Broadway, then known as the “First Ward,” also grew. The former Essex County Brewery, in operation from 1881 -1930, was located where the Rotunda Pool stands today. Many of the ornate masonry buildings built in Newark and New York during this period can be credited to Newark’s four sandstone quarries positioned along Bloomfield Avenue. The construction of the Olmstead designed Branch Brook Park at the close of the 19th century capped off a century of progress for the city and the “First Ward.” European immigrants, attracted by factory job opportunities, began to arrive in the 1880s. The First Ward became known as Newark’s Little Italy. In 1880 there were 407 Italians living in Lower Broadway and the surrounding area. By 1920 the population had grown to more than 27,000. The neighborhood became known throughout the metro area for its ethnically distinct shops, restaurants, churches and festivals, which catered to this predominant demographic. The Italian presence in Lower Broadway is still expressed by parishoners of the historic neighborhood’s Catholic churches, such as St. Michaels and St Lucy’s.

Mid-20th Century /Urban Renewal: Christopher Columbus Public Housing, Mies Buildings, Riots

The transition of “Little Italy” into “Lower Broadway” began during the post- WWII era. By the late 1940s, much of Newark’s housing stock was substandard and out of date. The Newark Housing Authority chose the First Ward as an initial site for federally funded Urban Renewal projects, against the protests of local residents. The Christopher Columbus Homes, a complex of 13-story towers, was built in 1954, replacing 8th Avenue, the commercial heart of the Italian community. The Colonnade and Pavilion apartment complexes, designed by famed architect Mies van der Rohe, were also built during this period in an attempt to anchor middle class residents in Newark. Nevertheless, by the late 1950s, the flight of white, middle class residents and a wave of residents largely comprising recent immigrants from Puerto Rico began to shift the ethnographic landscape. Despite their socio-economically diversity, urban renewal, deindustrialization, and post-World War II trends to the suburbs signified a shift in population, economic power, and urban fabric of Lower Broadway, Newark and American cities. The civil unrest during the late 1960s was the manifestation of the despair its citizens felt resulting from the failed American Dream for so many. It also further contributed to a loss of a social and financial investment in the city. Top: Construction of Sacred Heart Cathedral, 1910. This group of Italian stone masons is posed on the altar, facing the rear chapel. (Photo: Phyllis Scanzillo, Robert D’Auria) Bottom: Newark housing stock in the 1940s 06

Lower Broadway, Past & Present

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

1970s & 80s: Political and Social Empowerment

The upheaval of the late 1960s spawned new political leadership within the City of Newark. As members of the African-American community assumed many leadership positions, members of Newark’s Hispanic community began to organize as well. The predominantly Puerto Rican community located in the north end came together to address the challenges they were facing socially and formed Familias Unidas which created New Jersey’s first bi-lingual daycare center. This organization later laid the groundwork for what is now La Casa de Don Pedro. In the early years, La Casa de Don Pedro worked with residents in Lower Broadway to ensure that their voices were represented and heard within local government and that their needs were met. Much of the work during these years centered around organzing local residents to access public benefits, providing programming for the community’s children from birth through adolescence, and creating a safer community. Many of the young leaders from Familias Unidas and La Casa de Don Pedro expanded their careers in advocacy to institutuions of higher education, law enforcement, the judicial branch, and Newark’s City Hall.

Above: Ramon Rivera, La Casa’s first executive director, was a driving force in the organizing of Newark’s Hispanic community. Below: The Christopher Columbus Towers, demolished in 1994, left a hole in the fabric of Lower Broadway. The Wynona Lipman Gardens have since filled the gap as a successful public housing community.

Some Newark neighborhoods struggled to recover after the devastation of financial and social disinvestment, however, the Lower Broadway and Puerto Rican community grew. They established a local retail presence, redefined the aesthetic and social character, and continued their advocacy for quality of life concerns for the community. Other Hispanic groups from the Caribbean, Central and South America began gravitating towards the community.

1990s & 2000s, The Beginning of Revitalization: Wynona Lipman Gardens and New Community Institutions

The physical character of the Lower Broadway neighborhood began to take a new turn in the 1990s with public and private investments. The Christopher Columbus Towers were demolished in 1994 and were replaced several years later by Wynona Lipman Gardens, a Newark Housing Authority town home community, more appropriate to the scale of the neighborhood. As the housing market began to heat up, many market-rate developers flocked to the community to develop two and three-family homes. To ensure opportunities for local homeowners, La Casa de Don Pedro built and sold affordable homes with rental opportunities. Neighborhood planning followed and led to further positive revitalization projects such as Webster Homes, Mt. Prospect Heights Townhomes, Summer & Stone Homes, the Coretta Scott King Playground, Ramon Rivera Community Garden, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Homes.

Lower Broadway, Past & Present

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Lower Broadway Today

What We Love About Our Neighborhood

Featuring numerous bus lines, the Broad Street Station and the Park Avenue subway stop, Lower Broadway possesses excellent public transportation infrastructure – a critically important asset since one of three neighborhood residents uses public transit to commute to work. We’re fortunate to have a much-needed outdoor public swimming pool and recreation center in the neighborhood. Lower Broadway is also home to one of Newark’s green gems, the 360-acre, Frederick Law Olmstead-designed Branch Brook Park that forms our western border.

Today, the Lower Broadway neighborhood continues to welcome immigrants. Our newcomers come from all corners of Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and increasingly from South Asia. These new cultures only add to our rich diversity and prove that Lower Broadway is one of Newark’s most welcoming neighborhoods.

We like our proximity to downtown Newark while still retaining our distinct feeling of a close-knit neighborhood. This close-knit feeling is due to the presence of strong community organizations such as La Casa de Don Pedro, Victory Outreach Church and active community organizations. Lower Broadway’s convenient commercial corridors along Broadway and Bloomfield reflect new investment like Blanco’s Salon on Bloomfield, and the newly-opened Natalia’s on Broadway. These signs of revitalization convey a clear message that steady progress is occurring. We are proud of our diverse population, both in terms of who lives here, and who owns and operates businesses here.

What We Want to Improve

In the midst of measurable progress, we also see many physical reminders of Lower Broadway’s historic economic and social challenges stemming from changes in the economy and disinvestment. We see too many broken sidewalks, excessive garbage, graffiti, insufficient street lighting, and a poorly maintained built environment. We want more safe recreational spaces where our children can play organized sports, like soccer and basketball. We want to find new uses for the neighborhood’s boarded-up buildings and vacant lots.

Below: An abandoned lot in disrepair embodies need for physical improvements in our neighborhood.

We also want to decrease persistent and chronic issues that negatively impact the social health of our neighborhood, such as drug trafficking and gang-related violence. We’d like better relations with the police, to be able to address these issues in an atmosphere of mutual respect and support. We want neighborhood schools that better serve our children, that set high expectations for teachers and students, that have classrooms that are not overcrowded, and enough extracurricular programs to keep students engaged and help them become productive citizens. In the face of historic high unemployment rates, we want better job training and more opportunities for good jobs. And not least of all, we want better access to quality health care and more preventive health programs. 08

Lower Broadway, Past & Present Who Lives Here: Population Statistics

The Lower Broadway neighborhood has a current population of 14,212. This constitutes 5% of Newark’s total population. A large portion of the population is of working age: Seventy percent of Lower Broadway residents are between ages 18 and 64, while 24% are younger than 18, and 6% is 65 or older. The Black population, which includes Latino and non-Latino individuals, has increased steadily over the last ten years, from 34% to 51%. The percentage of people of Latino origin is significantly higher in Lower Broadway than in Newark as a whole: 51% in comparison to 32%. While the Puerto Rican community has made a significant cultural imprint over the past four decades many have followed earlier immigrants to the suburbs, leaving a more diverse Latino population with a growing presence of Ecuadorians, Dominicans, Mexicans, and Brazilians, as well as others. Over the past five years, the neighborhood has also seen an influx of West Africans, from Ghana and Nigeria, in particular. New groups of immigrants mean new opportunities, such as new stores and restaurants catering to West African and South American consumers. It also means a new need for service providers who possess the cultural competencies, both in language and knowledge of cultural norms, to serve this new population. Schools, health centers, and other institutions need to adjust to these changes, and these new immigrants must adapt to their new surroundings. Opportunities must be created to engage the newcomers in their community and prevent cultural isolation.

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Socio-Economic Statistics

Although the recent census data show that incomes are on the rise in Lower Broadway, one out of every three households reports an income of less than $20,000. Similarly, 28% of Lower Broadway households live in poverty, according to the federal poverty index. One out of every five households is headed by a female with children under the age of 18. The 14% unemployment rate for the neighborhood is higher than Newark’s rate of 10% and New Jersey’s rate of 9%. Manufacturing as a sector employed nearly 13% of Lower Broadway residents in 2000; by 2009, that rate had dropped to just 4%, likely reflecting broader trends in the economy. Educational services, health care, and social assistance now employ one out of every four Lower Broadway residents. Professional and administrative services employ an additional 18%, followed closely by transportation and warehousing at 13%. Closely linked to one’s ability to secure employment is educational attainment. Lower Broadway residents are slightly more likely to hold a graduate degree than other Newark residents (6% versus 3%) and a bachelor’s degree (12% vs. 8%). Thirtyone percent of residents hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. However, one of every three residents does not hold a high school diploma, and 15% possess less than a 9th grade education. These statistics spell out the need for educational programs tailored to older and working students, students with limited English proficiency, remedial programs, and for incentives and more relevant and meaningful learning to retain students in school.

Top Countries of Origin for Foreign-Born Lower Broadway

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Ecuador

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14% India

10%

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4% Ecuador

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Mexico

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Ghana

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10% Philippines

Nigeria

3% Haiti

3% China

Brazil

2% Nigeria

3% Colombia

US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2005-2009 Note: Twenty-nine percent of Lower Broadway residents were born outside the United States. Nearly 40% of households in the neighborhood are bilingual. However, 16%, or one of every six households is linguistically isolated, meaning that all household members 14 years old and over have some difficulty with English. Some community statistics of origin are given in the charts above.

Lower Broadway, Past & Present

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Health Issues According to data collected at neighborhood health screenings conducted recently over the course of ten months, nearly 50% of those tested were found to have diabetes, high blood pressure, and high levels of cholesterol. Lower Broadway residents are apt to suffer the consequences of illness more than average: nearly 60% of adults lack health insurance, in comparison to 30% in Newark.

(Sources: Ed Hernandez, La Casa Youth, Family and Health Services Division Director, and Newark Department of Health and Human Services, “Community Themes and Strengths Assessment,” 2006.)

Our Neighborhood: Land Use & Opportunities

Lower Broadway has natural, political and structural borders that define it as a distinct place: Branch Brook Park to the west, the Passaic River to the east, Interstate 280 to the south, and the Park Avenue/4th Avenue border of the North Ward to the north. The neighborhood’s proximity to downtown Newark, multiple public transit modes, and easy access to major transportation lines, such as Route 21 and Interstate 280, make it an attractive location for businesses, residents, and workers. Newark’s Broad Street Station is a few minute walk away, allowing for a convenient 20-minute commute to New York City, Newark’s Light Rail, and easy connections to Amtrak that access the country’s northeast railways. Lower Broadway’s land uses are diverse. (See map on page 13.) Residential uses are clustered in the heart of the neighborhood, although nearly onethird of the population lives in the two Mies van der Rohe - designed towers on the southern edge of the neighborhood. Broadway and Bloomfield Avenues form the commercial spine of the neighborhood. Industrial uses cluster along the Passaic River, which is at the center of a City of Newark study to create waterfront open space. While the vacancy rate is relatively low in comparison to Newark, there are vacant and underutilized properties, primarily with residential zoning that could be used to advance community redevelopment goals identified in this plan.

Commercial Corridor

The Broadway-Bloomfield Avenue commercial corridor is one of the busiest arteries into downtown Newark. 70,000 cars and 43,000 bus riders pass through on a weekly basis. More than 60% of neighborhood retail is concentrated along the corridor. Stores are diverse, and serve a diverse market. While there is still evidence of a retail 10

Lower Broadway, Past & Present Education

Transforming Lower Broadway: Ourof Quality of Life Roadmap Transforming Lower Broadway, A Quality Life Plan

history dominated by furniture and auto related businesses, more stores now sell a broader array of products and services geared to ethnic markets (Latino and African). Convenience stores, restaurants, small grocers, building material stores, and non-profits round out the character of the corridor. Normal business turnover and aging entrepreneurs present the opportunity to tap unmet market demand for merchandise, clothing, electronics, and groceries.

Housing

Neighborhood housing types range from single-family detached houses (5%), twoand three-family homes (17%), single-family attached (13%), multi-family residences including public housing (39%), to high-rise apartment buildings with 50 or more units (24%). While the median year built is 1961 (somewhat skewed by the construction date of the multi-unit high-rises in the south), much of the housing stock is over 80 years old and requires major rehabilitation.

Services & Community Facilities

The neighborhood has four public schools attended by youth from Lower Broadway and other Newark neighborhoods: Franklin Elementary (grades pre-K-4), McKinley Elementary (grades pre-K-8), Barringer 9 Success Academy (grade 9), and Barringer High School (grades 10-12). The high proportion of English Language Learners

benefit from Franklinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dual language program, the only one in the city. There is also a very large representation of special needs learners at McKinley School who are bused from neighboring communities. One parochial school, St. Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elementary, has survived the cutbacks in this community. La Casa de Don Pedro runs two early childhood centers for more than 135 children ages 3-4 and Newark Preschool Council offers a similar program for some 90 children. There are numerous churches in the area, some of which are very active in the life of the neighborhood, such as Victory Outreach Church, and others that draw congregants from a much broader geography, such as the Sacred Heart Cathedral, operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Newark (pictured at right.) Aside from Branch Brook Park, there is very little public open space for recreation or relief from urban density. Coretta Scott King Playground is a notable exception. There is no police station in the immediate neighborhood. Newark, like most cities, has suffered tremendous cuts to municipal services, and these are felt in Lower Broadway. The nearest library has closed and the Rotunda Pool and Recreation Center are threatened with closing. Strong community assets such as La Casa de Don Pedro, ASPIRA, Newark Now, the many churches and the synagogue, and block organizations form a strong social and civic infrastructure (See map on page 14.)

Left: With support from LISC and CITI Bank, La Casa do Don Pedro opened a Financial Opportunity Center with the goal of helping individuals achieve financial independence. According to Wendy Melendez, Personal Development Director, the Center, which opened in February, 2011, provides income support, employment services, and financial coaching. Right: Community residents access the Rotunda Pool, a neighborhood asset which will be threatened with closure should steps not be taken to save it. 11

Lower Broadway, Past & Present Education

Transforming Lower Broadway: Ourof Quality of Life Roadmap Transforming Lower Broadway, A Quality Life Plan Public Safety

Lower Broadway is part of Newarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2nd Precinct. The 2nd Precinct has reported significant increases in major crimes in the past twelve months, likely trending with higher unemployment and decreases in funding for public programs. Auto theft, theft, aggravated assault, and murder statistics have all increased. Concern about crime, both perception and reality, is a focal point for several plan recommendations.

Lower Broadway Landmarks

There is an impressive stock of historic buildings in Lower Broadway. They range from the Modernist Mies van der Rohe-designed Pavilion and Colonnade high rises in the south, to the historic Plume House next to 1-280, several houses of worship including Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart (5th largest cathedral in North America), Congregation Ahavas Shalom (oldest synagogue in Newark), Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church (oldest Black congregation in Newark), Branch Brook Park, St. Lucyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church, Barringer High, and the row houses on Eighth Avenue. Several of these landmarks are overdue for nomination to the State and National Register of Historic Places.

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TransformingTaLower Broadway: ylor S t Ourof Quality of Life Roadmap Transforming Lower Broadway, A Quality Life Plan

Other Educational Center

Creating The Roadmap

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

As we embarked on this journey, experience told us three critical things. First, a community plan is only as powerful as the people behind it. Second, a community plan is only meaningful if it actually says what is desired by the community. Third, early successes are the best way to gain momentum and ensure all important stakeholders are engaged. With that, the underlying goal of this quality of life plan was to engage and empower community members to take an active role in the process.

Early Successes: Getting the Word Out

The La Casa de Don Pedro team spent weeks getting to know the community even better; canvassing, distributing flyers and posting banners about upcoming activities. The team created a web page at www.broadwaynewark.com to post information on upcoming planning activities, events, reports on these early efforts, and other resources. Brochures and newsletters highlighted activities such as graffiti removal events and neighborhood block association efforts.

Creating a Healthy Commercial Corridor: Strengthening the Merchant Association & Assessing the Retail Landscape

La Casa de Don Pedro and LISC sought out municipal government partners to strengthen the merchants’ association. Years of work along the corridor indicated that merchants had strong opinions about the corridor’s strengths and weaknesses, yet lacked the cohesion to develop and execute strategies to improve the corridor. Team members started walking the commercial corridors to engage long-time and more recent merchants in conversations about the corridor’s strengths, weaknesses, needs and about undertaking small proactive steps. The then-Central Ward Councilmember co-hosted a holiday dinner with the merchants to expand those conversations. Over time we learned that accurate data about both the present state of the corridors’ commercial health as well as future potential was needed.

Key Findings

Lower Broadway Commercial Retail Scan 1. Lower Broadway serves a diverse blend of local residents, daytime employees and a regional market of older and recently arrived immigrants, primarily of Latino and African decent. It has a regional furniture market that has waned significantly in the age of big-box stores. 2. The corridor is densely populated and boasts concentrated and unmet buying power, a critical measure of market potential often overlooked by retailers. The concentrated buying power in Lower Broadway is $174.3 million per square mile - almost twice that of Essex County. Three retail categories present opportunities for existing and new businesses: general merchandise, electronics and appliance stores, and clothing and clothing accessories stores. 3. Traffic counts conducted during rush hour suggest a high volume of potential retail traffic through the commercial district in the morning and evening. The recent openings of national franchise businesses such as Dunkin Donuts, AutoZone, and Dollar General provide some indication from ‘Corporate America’ that there is a potential market. 4. Transportation infrastructure (six bus lines, average weekly ridership of 43,093 passengers, and a key passenger transfer station) provides additional and significant retail opportunities.

Creating The Roadmap Creating a New Streetscape Plan

Aesthetically stuck between the 1960s and 1980s, with traces of hidden historic landmarks, La Casa and the merchants had been lobbying and negotiating with the City for several years to support updating the physical appearance of the commercial district. With thousands of commuters and residents passing through the corridor each day, Lower Broadway needed to give those potential consumers a reason to stop and shop. Based on an earlier La Casa- commissioned contract with Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a set of guidelines for a façade improvement program was developed. This work served as the basis for a November, 2009 neighborhood design workshop that brought together over 25 local merchants and residents. Participants, as well as PPS and La Casa staff, walked the corridor collecting valuable input on existing conditions and proposed improvements.

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Improvements to the storefronts and facades were only one part of the solution. Much advocacy through the years had also yielded a commitment from the City and the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) to include the Lower Broadway corridor in its Streetscape Improvement Program. In February 2010, Newark city planners partnered with La Casa to conduct a planning charrette focused on improving the corridor’s infrastructure (See image below.) Over 20 local stakeholders participated in a planning charrette that included a review of pavement treatments, crosswalk designs, lighting elements, and street furniture. Attendees rated their preferences based on “test driving” samples of proposed street furnishing and building materials. What resulted is now a $2.4 million streetscape plan that includes new lighting, benches, trash receptacles, crosswalks, pavers, public art and street trees scheduled to break ground in 2012.

Assessing Parking Needs

La Casa and LISC addressed the merchant and residents’ common concern about the apparent shortage of parking on the corridor, despite the installation of parking meters. Sam Schwartz Engineering was commissioned to conduct a parking study in late 2009. The surprising and helpful results established a basis for progress. (See sidebar for more information.)

Addressing the Need for Financial Education and Empowerment

A Financial Opportunity Center was officially launched in February, 2011 to help Lower Broadway residents improve their current and future financial position through improved financial management, access to public benefits and career development strategies. The center is located within La Casa de Don Pedro and is supported by LISC.

More on the

Financial Opportunity Center In February, 2011 La Casa officially launched Newarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Financial Opportunity Center (FOC). The new Lower Broadway FOC is part of a national network of Centers launched by LISC, operated by local community-based organizations like La Casa de Don Pedro, and supported by key funders like the Citi Foundation. The FOC provides access to a financial coach, a benefits counselor, and an employment counselor as part of a comprehensive program to help low-income families achieve financial stability. These coaches establish long-term relationships with clients to help them reach three benchmarks: increased net income, increased net worth and higher credit scores. FOC staff also work with clients to take on smart debt, plan for post-secondary education for their children, address planning for retirement, and establish relationships with mainstream financial institutions. The Lower Broadway FOC focuses its efforts as a part of the LISC Building Sustainable Communities Initiative.

XX18

Creating The Roadmap Milestones Along the course of developing this Quality of Life Roadmap, there were certain moments that defined our work or cemented our purpose. Those moments are designated here. Events and tasks that work towards the goal of the plan and were completed while the plan was still being devloped are designated here as

Early Action

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Designated as LISC Building Sustainable Community November 2008

June 2010

February 18, 2010

Early Action Resident Satisfaction Survey conducted

Public Presentation of Lower Broadway Commercial Retail Scan

March 7, 2010

October 20, 2009

Commercial District Retail Scan Project Kickoff April 2009

2008

Early Action Parking Study Published March 2010

Commercial District Graffiti Cleanup Day May 22, 2009

Priority Committee Meetings

Early Action

2009

Early Action

Faรงade Improvement Application Opening

Streetscape Improvement Charette

Summer to Fall 2010

2010 Transforming Lower Broadway, Community Visioning Session April 10, 2010

Creating The Roadmap Broad St. Block Association Block Watch Training

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap Production of ‘Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap’

One-on-One Meetings with Implemenation Partners

July 2010

June - July 2011

January 2011 - March 2011

Early Action Priority Committee Reporting Out Session

Implementation Task Force Meeting

January 22, 2011

May 25, 2011

MLK Jr. Blvd. Block Watch Training

Financial Opportunity Center, Soft Opening

Community & Students unite to save Barringer 9 Success Academy

Early Action

December 1-2, 2010

June 2011

February 23, 2011

2010

2011

Early Action Lower Broadway Mural Dedication September 17, 2010

Safe Passages to Summer: Stop Sign Installation Party & Community Playground Anniversary

May 7, 2011

Priority Areas

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

“We envision a Lower Broadway where neighbors are engaged, united and watch out for each other. We envision a neighborhood that is drug, guns and prostitution free because no criminal can gain a foothold and there are clear consequences to committing a crime. We envision a neighborhood where respect is shared by all.”

“A thriving Lower Broadway must include a diverse array of shops and services that cater to local residents and attract shoppers from the larger community while the selection of residential opportunities remain varied and accessible to a broad range of income levels and family types.”

Safety and Community Engagement

Economic Development and Affordable Housing

Public safety is at the top of everyone’s list when it comes to envisioning a better community and Lower Broadway is no exception. We called this area Safety and Community Engagement to stress the role that each Lower Broadway stakeholder plays when it comes to securing a neighborhood. Recommendations include improving communication with law enforcement, better lighting and block watch training. But they also speak to creating a sense of community that fosters collective and individual actions such as block watch, safe haven for children, a safe schools environment, looking out for children in the playground and on the streets, providing constructive activities for our children, and other proactive measures designed to deepen the community members’ linkages to and respect for one another.

Healthy communities need local shopping and service venues as well as a variety of housing options. A thriving commercial corridor that meets the needs of local residents will attract other businesses and support business opportunities and economic development. We understand that organizing and strengthening the capacity of local businesses are vital steps in economic development. Streetscape and façade improvements are among the recommendations, as well as investing in public art to give the district a more defined sense of place. While the diverse array of housing options befitting an urban center includes high-rise apartments, 1-3 family homes, low-rise multifamily buildings and public housing, overall the majority of the homes need significant upgrades and rehabilitation. Many are overcrowded and unaffordable. There will always be a need for safe, affordable housing options, particularly in a community as closely situated to public transportation as ours.

Priority Areas

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

“We envision an education system for our Lower Broadway that provides a safe, well-maintained environment where students can obtain strong preparation to pursue higher education or technical career opportunities. The community must be empowered with some measure of local control to make decisions that ensure higher academic standards and expectations and promote excellence.”

“We envision a Lower Broadway where families feel empowered to transform their homes, neighborhoods and communities, and live in an environment where we can raise successful families that progress and grow.”

Access to Quality Education

Family Empowerment

Education is at the heart of every community, particularly one with many children. We are gravely concerned about the impact and quality of our children’s education and know that we need to improve the local schools and provide as many positive opportunities for our children as possible. We understand that barriers to educational attainment as well and engaging parents within the school system are directly linked. The recommendations contained within this plan are premised on the need to have parents, community and the schools work together to improve the quality and the outcome of our educational system. This will be achieved when we build parental understanding through enhanced communication between the schools and parents, increasing community involvement and the number of constructive afterschool and summer enrichment activities such as after-school enrichment and summer programming options.

This section speaks to the social and physical wellbeing of the people in Lower Broadway. Committee members agree that all components of the family unit must be strengthened, and many family needs are interconnected, from the employment of parents, to recreational opportunities of children, to access to decent and affordable healthcare. Recommendations include improving accessibility to programs such as the Financial Opportunity Center which provide financial coaching, employment assistance and accessing public benefits. Other recommendations, such as increasing access to recreational opportunities for both adults and children, and increasing access to decent and affordable healthcare were other notable priorities.

Priority Areas

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Safety and Community Engagement: Work Program and Schedule Recommendation

Lead Organization (*=committed)

Partner Organization (* = committed)

Timeframe (years)

GOAL: Create a safe environment for pedestrians.

1. Implement recommendations from the neighborhood traffic study to increase traffic and pedestrian safety.

Councilman Darrin Sharif*

2. Create safe routes for students commuting to and from school.

One Newark Education Coalition (ONEC)*

GOAL: Involve residents in the creation of a safe neighborhood.

3. Double the number of block clubs over the next year.

La Casa*

4. Encourage enrollment and establishment of two additional block watches.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council, Block Clubs, La Casa

Newark Police Department (NPD)*

5. Convene a lighting audit with stakeholders including representatives from the City of Newark and PSEG to determine where lighting needs to be improved.

La Casa*, Lower Broadway stakeholders

LISC Community Safety Initiative*

6. Create a permanent police presence within Lower Broadway to increase communication between the police and community residents.

City of Newark Police Department, Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

GOAL: Establish a mechanism for community input on neighborhood decisions. 7. Establish Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council made up of representatives from Block Clubs, merchants, local schools, community organizations, churches, and La Casa de Don Pedro.

Lower Broadway Block Clubs*, La Casa*

8. Establish permanent Education sub-committee within Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

9. Convene regular community workshops to provide comprehensive information on a range of topics identified by the community.

2-3

4-5

2-3

4-5

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

10. Identify partners to implement a gang intervention strategy for youth.

Victory Outreach Church*

Newark Bears

11. Establish a community recreation center linked with the Police Athletic League and Newark Police Department.

Police Athletic League, Newark Police Dept.

GOAL: Inform and motivate residents to act on behalf of the neighborhood.

12. Create and distribute an “Important Numbers” refrigerator magnet or pamphlet to provide convenient access to information and services.

Broad Street Block Association*

13. Produce and distribute a quarterly Lower Broadway community newsletter containing relevant information on local activities such as recreation programs, classes and other resources.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

La Casa*

14. Promote a community incentive program to enable residents to earn rewards by reporting dumping, vandalism, prostitution, drug dealing or other illegal activity.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

Broad Street Block Association*

15. Provide motivational speakers series at local schools and within the community to talk about issues such as diversity, civics, and personal responsibility.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council, Victory Outreach Church*, Office of US Marshals*

La Casa*

2-3

4-5

Priority Areas

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

16. Initiate new community-wide international foods festival in Lower Broadway.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

17. Conduct regular community field trips to Newark sites and surrounding regions to connect residents to each other and to the broader community.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council, Victory Outreach Church

18. Nominate Lower Broadway Neighborhood landmarks, e.g. Pavilion, Colonnade, Barringer High School, and 8th Avenue and Grant Street row houses to the National Register of Historic Places.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

City of Newark UEZ/Planning

GOAL: Utilize the arts to highlight the rich cultural diversity and talent in the neighborhood. 19. Include movie screenings, dance performances, and classes at Block Parties and Festivals to highlight community’s Latino and West African heritage.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

20. Sponsor events (Art Walks, Latino music festivals, religious festivals, competitions, etc.) featuring local and regional artists, musicians, and dancers to connect residents to the flourishing Newark arts scene and to attract additional customers to the commercial areas.

cWOW*

Local artists*, Newark Arts Council*

21. Identify, maintain and publicize a list of appropriate sites in the neighborhood for community murals and develop a plan to produce murals at those sites.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council, cWOW

2-3

Newark Arts Council, La Casa, Barat Foundation

GOAL: Create a sense of place for residents in the neighborhood 22. Collaborate with block clubs, local groups, and local artists to design community signs to be placed around the neighborhood.

City of Newark UEZ/Planning

23. Establish a uniform community identity by placing additional “Lower Broadway” signage throughout the neighborhood.

City of Newark UEZ/Planning

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

24. Support regular family events hosted by local block clubs and one annual neighborhood-wide event.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

4-5

2-3

4-5

Economic Development & Housing Development: Work Program and Schedule Recommendation

Lead Organization (*=committed)

Partner Organization (* = committed)

Timeframe (years)

GOAL: Increase capacity for merchants to take advantage of new opportunities. 1 .Empower merchants to create a strong, active Business Improvement District (BID).

City of Newark UEZ/Planning*

Newark Downtown District, Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County

2. Provide Lower Broadway merchants with a better understanding of market conditions and opportunities for growing their businesses by using Retail Scan and other data sources.

La Casa*, Business Improvement District (BID)

Newark Downtown District, Larissa Ortiz Associates

3. Increase the marketability and capacity of local businesses by providing regular merchant workshops on topics such as small business finance, accounting practices, credit building, window displays, product variety and placement, and customer service.

Rutgers Business School*

Newark Downtown District

4. Organize seasonal, coordinated events such as end of year holiday sales.

Merchants, BID

2-3

4-5

Priority Areas

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

GOAL: Enhance the customer experience on the commercial corridor.

2-3

4-5

5. Implement the community- supported Streetscape Plan, and ensure public art is incorporated.

City of Newark UEZ/Planning*, La Casa*

Merchants

6. Implement Façade Improvement Program, and facilitate increased participation of Lower Broadway Merchants.

City of Newark UEZ/Planning*, La Casa*

Merchants

7. Create additional options for long term parking.

8. Bring a supermarket to Lower Broadway to offer a multitude of fresh, healthy and economical food options.

La Casa*, City of Newark UEZ/Planning

Brick City Development Corporation (BCDC), Federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative, Social Compact

9. Increase retail square footage to diversify retail mix through new retail/ community/ housing space i.e. 43-47 Broadway /368 Broad Street.

La Casa*, RPM Development

10. Increase the amount of public art, i.e., murals, to improve the overall attractiveness of the corridor and residential areas.

City Without Walls (cWOW)*, Newark Arts Council*

Barat Foundation

11. Reduce commercial waste on the Corridor through a pilot program to encourage composting of appropriate commercial (primarily restaurant) waste to help create rich soil that can be used in any urban garden projects.

Newark Office of Sustainability*, Merchants

Green Collar ; Jersey Cares; Rutgers

GOAL: Create better connections between residents and current/potential job opportunities.

2-3

4-5

12. Utilize Retail Scan and other appropriate data to identify potential employment sectors and connect residents to targeted job-training programs.

LISC MetroEdge*, La Casa*

13. Utilize existing data and/or conduct a survey to identify residents’ skills in order to connect them with existing jobs or training for new opportunities. (FOC)

La Casa*

Green Collar Futures, LISC*

14. Link Lower Broadway residents to additional employment opportunities associated with growing sectors such as, green jobs and transportation.

NJ Institute for Social Justice*

Garden State Urban Farms, Greater Newark Conservancy

15. Increase business opportunities and jobs by working with owners of underutilized waterfront property to consider development.

BCDC

Newark Downtown District Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County

16. Create opportunities to employ Lower Broadway youth in ongoing neighborhood improvement efforts, such as mural program, commercial corridor clean-up, street festivals, etc.

La Casa*, Barringer 9 Success Academy*, City of Newark UEZ/Planning*

Merchants Association

17. Connect residents to resources aimed at building capacity for self-employment, including opportunities for currently unemployed individuals.

Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation/ IFEL

Jersey Cares, Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development, Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County

GOAL: Increase housing options in the neighborhood while preparing qualified residents to purchase their own homes.

2-3

4-5

18. Increase non-profit and private development of affordable and mixed-income home ownership and rental units in and around Lower Broadway.

La Casa*, RPM Development, M&M Development Group

19. Educate tenants by distributing educational materials and holding tenants’ rights classes.

HUD Tenants’ Association*

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

20. Develop a database of available homes and retail space within Lower Broadway.

NJ Institute of Technology, City of Newark UEZ/ Planning

Priority Areas

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

21. Increase homeownership among interested buyers by offering regular home buyer education classes and prequalifying families for mortgages.

La Casa*

22. Add usable public space by acquiring and programming vacant lots, such as the one on the corner of Bloomfield Place and Broadway.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

La Casa*, Councilman Darrin Sharif*

Education: Work Program and Schedule Recommendation

Lead Organization (*=committed)

Partner Organization (* = committed)

Timeframe (years)

GOAL: Students and parents will have multiple connections to their local schools and one another. 1. Conduct Annual School Year Kick-Off Pep Rally at each school to provide students with information on school clubs, resources in the community, etc., and establish an expectation of excellence.

Principal of each school with support of School Leadership Council (SLC)*

2. Institute a mid-year check in forum for students, run by an outside organization, to discuss what is and isn’t working for students.

All Stars Project*

3. Conduct a survey of parents to determine specific education concerns and priorities for each school. 4. Increase organization and capacity of parent organizations at all public schools and connect them to citywide parents’ organizations to advocate for common concerns.

2-3

4-5

Rutgers, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)*

Coalition for Effective Newark Public Schools (NPS)*

5. Centralize school information including enhancement programs and after-school options Coalition for Effective NPS*, La Casa* available in Lower Broadway.

Newark Education Trust, NJ Advocate for Children

6. Increase use of Newark Public Schools on-line portal for students, teachers and parents.

Office of NPS Superintendent

7. Establish annual uniform swaps.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council Education Committee

Newark NOW

GOAL: Support student learning through enhanced in-school and afterschool programming to expand future options. 8. Increase attendance/participation of students at the NPS Student Center through quarterly presentations and recruitment sessions at schools and on Parents’ Nights.

Newark Public Schools (NPS) Student Center*

9. Expose youth to professional career opportunities and connect them to role models in various professions.

Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance & Achievement (HISPA)*

McKinley Elementary & Benjamin Franklin Elementary Schools

10. Establish financial literacy program targeted to elementary and middle school students to provide a strong foundation for lifelong financial literacy.

NPS, Newark Now*, Banking Community*

NJ Coalition for Financial Education, Economics Association of America

11. Increase student participation in academic preparation and other enhancement programs such as UpWard Bound and College YES, by encouraging direct enrollment at Barringer HS, including at Parents’ Night.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council Education Committee, UpWard Bound*

12. Add local history heritage programming to school curriculum and develop studentcreated and student-led heritage walking tours.

Branch Brook Park, Barringer High School

13. Support existing afterschool programs and increase the number of options for all local youth.

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council, Elite Heat Boxing Gym*

4-H Clubs

2-3

4-5

Priority Areas

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

GOAL: Schools will be safe and healthy learning environments.

14. Increase security at Barringer High School by conducting a security audit of both the facility and of the school’s operations and protocol.

US Training Center*

LISC Community Safety Initiative

15. Provide workshops for teachers to work with students with behavioral issues.

Youth Consultation Service (YCS)*

2-3

4-5

Family Empowerment: Work Program and Schedule Recommendation

Lead Organization (*=committed)

Partner Organization (* = committed)

Timeframe (years)

GOAL: Increase health though access to quality healthcare.

1. Create a Lower Broadway Medical Center node on the commercial corridor by cobranding and bundling marketing efforts of medical providers on the corridor.

La Casa*, Merchants

2. Open a wellness center on the corridor to provide both health education and services.

UMDNJ*

3. Conduct a community health survey to identify trends in health disparities that require intervention.

UMDNJ School of Public Health*

4. Conduct regular Community Health Fairs that offer a variety of health screenings and education.

UMDNJ*

Garden State Urban Farms; Kids Corps; Dr. Ian Smith

5. Increase physical activity by providing opportunities for residents to participate in dance classes that highlight the international presence in the neighborhood, i.e. African, Zumba, Capoeira, etc.

NJ Cultural Arts Center, NJ Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

4-5

Newark Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ)*

GOAL: Young people will have healthy physical and social development. 6. Introduce child-oriented physical and nutrition education programming through the schools.

Newark Beth Israel KidsFit, McKinley Elementary

7a. Expand access to local mentorship opportunities for youth by offering regular enrollment opportunities in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)*

7b. Recruit local Big Brothers/Sisters mentors through neighborhood marketing and outreach.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)*

GOAL: Adults will improve their personal and financial skills. 8. Expand parent-education courses to assist parents to be informed, empowered and in charge.

La Casa*, Avance*, McKinley Elementary*

9. Expand and enhance the services of the newly created Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) through partnerships with financial literacy organizations.

New York Life*, Bank on Newark*, LISC*, La Casa

NJ Coalition for Financial Education, Economics Association of America, United Way, Citi Foundation*

2-3

4-5

2-3

4-5

Priority Areas

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

GOAL: Residents will fully utilize existing resources and contribute to developing additional recreational spaces and opportunities. 10. Connect neighborhood to Branch Brook Park via “Cherry Blossom Walkway,”—tree planting initiative along Seventh Avenue.

NJ Tree Foundation

Newark Conservancy

11. Provide outreach to Lower Broadway residents to ensure participation in planning of waterfront open space.

City of Newark UEZ/Planning*, Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council, La Casa*

Trust for Public Land/Office of Sustainability

12. Create more neighborhood parks and community gardens in residential areas of neighborhood.

Greater Newark Conservancy

Lower Broadway Neighborhood Council

GOAL: Become a model neighborhood for green activities such as recycling, energy conservation and environmental remediation. 13. Place recycling receptacles along with trash receptacles on the commercial corridor and elsewhere in the neighborhood.

City of Newark UEZ/Planning

14. Implement more community greening projects to enhance the air quality and aesthetics of the neighborhood and encourage residents to get involved.

NJ Tree Foundation*, Newark Conservancy

15. Ensure availability of accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible information on home energy efficiency in multiple languages.

NJ Department of Community Affairs, Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G)

La Casa*

16. Incorporate sustainable storm water management practices into Lower Broadway development and streetscape projects to decrease area flooding and conserve and reuse water for local greening projects.

City of Newark UEZ/Planning

17. Remediate brownfields and other harmful sites located in the neighborhood, especially along the waterfront.

City of Newark UEZ/Planning

City of Newark Office of Sustainability

2-3

4-5

2-3

4-5

Who We Are

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

More than 1000 neighborhood residents, business owners, institutional leaders and youth came together over the past two years and took ownership of this quality of life plan for our community.

Priority Committee Members: Pastor Nancy Aviles Joyce Bailey Deneen Cady Mattie Deere Cynthia Fortenberry Victor Gavilanes Lisa Gray Barbara Howell Tony Hughes Ada Jimenez Jeremy Johnson Elizabeth Lane Celia Maldonado Hipolita Medina Janie Merritt

Retail Scan Stakeholders Committee

Nancy Naranjo Amber Newsome Juan Newsome Detective Jose Ocasio Luis Ortega Pastor Wayne Osborne Santiago Paniagua Dorothy Rivers Officer Rosario Jannie Rufus Darlyn Santiago JoAnn Sims Nick Sniacks Dawn Snyder

Carmen Bautista, Garside Care Club Block Association Torrence Burrows, Jackson Hewitt Digna Dubon, Muebleria Discount Norma Gonzalez, Office of Newark Central Ward Councilman Charles A. Bell Maria Carmen Mosca, Office of Newark Council At-Large Luis A. Quintana Captain Gregory Meehan, Newark Police Department Norberto Otero, North Newark Pet Shop Captain Antonio Perez, Newark Police Department Joe Retamar, La Islita Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shop Perris Straughter, City of Newark Department of Economic and Housing Development Carmen Sanchez, MLK Care Club Block Association Rafael Zabala, Office of Newark Urban Enterprise Zone

Who We Are

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Committees:

Access to Quality Education Family Empowerment Safety and Community Engagement Economic and Affordable Housing Development

Implementation Partners: Principal Principal Principal Principal

Nelson Ruiz, Barringer 9 Success Academy Shonda Davis, Barringer High School Marisol Diaz, Franklin Elementary School Carolyn Granato, McKinley Elementary School

Broad Street Block Association Garside Care Club Block Association MLK Block Club Pavilion Tentants’ Association Wynona Lipman Tenants’ Association Iglesia El Ultimo Llamado/ALC Ministries St. Lucy’s Church Victory Outreach Church Newark Urban Enterprise Zone City of Newark Office of Planning City of Newark Center for Sustainable Development City of Newark Police Department State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz Freeholder Juan Rivera Former Freeholder Sammy Gonzalez Councilman At-Large Carlos Gonzalez Councilman At-Large Luis A. Quintana Central Ward Councilman Darrin Sharif

North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Newark Community Health Centers, Inc. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) Aquino Garden State Shinto Ryu Karate do Academy Broadway Vision Services El Criollo Restaurant Home Elegance Furniture and Bedding Jackson Hewitt Tax Services La Islita Men’s Shop Muebleria Discount Natalia Cafe North Jersey Federal Credit Union North Newark Pet Shop Owner Abbott Leadership Institute Advocates for Children of New Jersey All Stars Project Branch Brook Alliance Big Brothers Big Sisters Brick City Development Corporation Burger King Center for Collaborative Change Coalition for Effective Newark Public Schools City Without Walls (cWOW) Democrats for Education Reform Greater Newark Conservancy Greater Newark Enterprises Greater Newark HUD Tenants Coalition Hispanic – American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County

Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership Latino Peace Officers Association of New Jersey Kids Corporation II St. Benedicts Preparatory School New York Life Newark Alliance Newark Conservancy Newark Museum Newark NOW Newark Public Schools Student Center Newwork New Jersey Tree Foundation One Newark Education Coalition People’s Organization for Progress RPM Development Rutgers University Rutgers Business School Teachers as Leaders in Newark (TaLIN) Tri-State Transportation Campaign Trust for Public Land US Training Center WellCare Youth Consultation Services (YCS)

About La Casa de Don Pedro & LISC

La Casa de Don Pedro is a community-based development corporation and provider of comprehensive services that has been working with and serving residents of greater Newark, New Jersey since 1972. La Casa’s community organizing and child advocacy work serves as a powerful foundation for its comprehensive social service delivery system. Programs promote family wellbeing, healthy child development, educational achievement, employment opportunities, homeownership, financial self-sufficiency, energy conservation, and neighborhood renewal. Its strong links to the Lower Broadway community, comprehensive service programs, and collaborations within a defined neighborhood are unique assets and opportunities that will continue to ensure the agency’s relevance to future generations.

With a mission to foster self-sufficiency, empowerment, and neighborhood revitalization, La Casa de Don Pedro’s programs address: • Youth, Family and Health Issues • Adult Development • Community

Youth, family, and health programming cover a range of services for families and children, including parenting education, early childhood education, after-school, youth leadership programs, family counseling, health education and HIV prevention & intervention. Two Family Success Centers provide access to services internally and externally to families. Adult development programs focus on educational and employment readiness for people ages 18 and over. This includes welfare to work, computer literacy, basic education and GED, citizenship classes, prisoner re-entry, job training and placement, financial coaching, income supports, ESL, and immigration legal assistance. Community programs include home energy assistance programs, weatherization, community building and organizing, community planning, affordable housing development, homebuyer education and foreclosure prevention counseling. 31

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

Greater Newark & Jersey City LISC has, since 1986, worked side by side with private and nonprofit groups and public agencies, helping to transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy, sustainable communities that are good places to work, do business and raise children.

LISC contributes to building these sustainable communities through three strategies:

• Assembling and delivering financial resources to help community developers and other partners revitalize neighborhoods in the region; • Offering a wide range of technical assistance to local organizations to undertake projects and programs intended to improve the community; and • Facilitating a high level of community engagement and advocacy among local community building organizations, residents and other community stakeholders to ensure that a wide range of interests inform efforts to improve quality of life.

The Greater Newark & Jersey City program is one of thirty local sites within the national LISC footprint. Each LISC site is implementing the Building Sustainable Communities (BSC) program by addressing the following goals 1) expanding investment in housing & other real estate; 2) increasing family income & wealth; 3) stimulating economic development; 4) improving access to quality education; 5) supporting healthy lifestyles and environments. LISC’s collaboration with La Casa de Don Pedro to develop and implement the Lower Broadway Quality of Life plan represents the pilot Building Sustainable Communities initiative in Newark. LISC intends to expand the model to the other communities throughout Greater Newark.

Education

Transforming Lower Broadway, A Quality of Life Plan

Transforming Lower Broadway: Our Quality of Life Roadmap

For More Information: La Casa de Don Pedro 317 Roseville Avenue Newark, NJ 07107 (973) 485-0701 ext. 4641 (973) 485-7448 fax aries@lacasanwk.org rfrugone@lacasanwk.org www.LaCasaNwk.org www.BroadwayNewark.com