The Valley Revitalization Initiative

www.handsinc.org

The Valley Revitalization Initiative

• Eight Year Planning and action approach

• 40 blocks – the Valley neighborhood of Orange and West Orange

• HANDS Inc nonprofit community development corporation is the prime mover

Max Build-out

vs.

The Urban Village

Max Build-out

vs.

The Urban Village

Max Build-out

vs.

The Urban Village

Max Build-out

vs.

The Urban Village

Max Build-out

vs.

The Urban Village

Max Build-out

vs.

The Urban Village

Max Build-out

vs.

The Urban Village

Engage residents, institutions, organizations

and two municipalities

• Three Universities assisted

• 100s of stakeholders participated

• Orange and West Orange

participated in Smart Growth

planning (DCA Grant)

The Organic Planning Strategy

• Ignite a vision

• Create a signature project to create momentum

• Engage stakeholders in comprehensive planning

• Control real estate

• Advocate for and embrace redevelopment and zoning powers

• Clean-up industrial sites

• Attract the best private sector developers

Several plans make the whole

• Valley Revitalization Plan approved by DCA for Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit

• Central Valley Redevelopment Plan– Orange

• Mitchell-Joyce Rezoning Plan-West Orange

• ValleyArts Business Plan

2006-2009

• Brownfields Development Area Plan

2005 Smart Growth Award from New Jersey Futures

HANDS, Inc; the City of Orange and

the Township of West Orange

Eliminate the blight

• Obsolete deteriorated

factory buildings

• Brownfields – industrial

contamination from hat

mfg. and later industrial

uses

• Problem properties –

residential and

commercial

The challenges met and overcome

• Minimized residential displacement

• Retained key labor-intensive employers

• Retained the remaining historic character

• Critical mass of new development around the RR station

• Making it work for the residents of Orange

• Range of housing choices

Build on the Valley Neighborhood’s Assets

• Train station

• Historic character

• Large public park

• East branch of the

Rahway River

• Location on

urban/suburban divide

• Popular Italian

restaurants

• Shared by two towns

Create a world class urban village

• Transit oriented

• Pedestrian friendly

• Range of housing choices

• Mixed-use with

neighborhood retail

• Community Arts Program

• New public park space

The Arts as an Engine

• ValleyArts- a new

community organization

• Neighborhood

revitalization

• Economic development

• Raise academic

achievement

• Create a dynamic

identity

Public Art

Utilize obsolete industrial buildings

• Artist live/work

spaces

• Commercial Arts

Center

• Community Arts

facility

Resurrect the Valley’s past

• Hat making center

1860-1920s

• Historic industrial

buildings

• Strong neighborhood

identity

Rebuild the Valley’s tax base

• 600+ new residential units- $120 million investment

• 100 arts spaces for working artists and retailers

• Neighborhood retail

Rebuild the Valley’s tax base

• Retain major light industrial employers

• Top quality private sector developers

• Arts District built around old factories and

popular restaurants

Create green space

Pedestrian greenway entrance to the Valley

Attract Resources

People, $$$, Partners

Commitment to artists and

innovators

Social enterprise

Affordable financing is required

Invest in People

The Valley Revitalization Initiative

www.handsinc.org