The preparation of the award-winning Lincoln Park Redevelopment Plan required bringing together residents of one of Newark’s most culturally and socio-economically diverse communities to develop a consensus vision for the future development of their neighborhood. The planning process strived to capitalize on this diversity. At community workshops, the H2M team facilitated small working groups and presented an image preference survey. The relative “new-comers” to the neighborhood (the young, higher-earning artist community, new businesses, local art institutions, and a growing number of school-age children) were able to voice concerns alongside the well-organized neighborhood seniors, established cultural and religious institutions, and the numerous social service agencies.
H2M also distributed an issue survey, created a project Facebook page, and interviewed stakeholders from an array of community groups, neighborhood schools, local historians, City Officials, City Departments and local developers. Based on the feedback and consensus-building exercises, the Plan presents new, form-based code zoning and design requirements for mixed-use and live-work development. Building forms are sensitive to the historic nature of the district and rich cultural heritage. The Plan also includes the City’s first Sustainability Checklist to be used in site plan review, a neighborhood supermarket analysis, and specific recommendations for streetscape improvements, traffic calming, parking coordination, public art, and public spaces.
