Programs

The Newark Downtown District (NDD) continues its important supplemental cleaning efforts with great success. The NDD Clean Ambassadors work hard to keep the sidewalks and pedestrian corridors of the Newark Downtown District clean by picking up litter, eliminating graffiti from the attractive directional signage, walls, and bus shelters, and removing posters and illegal signage. Annually the Clean Ambassadors disposes of more than 16,000 bags of garbage from the District.

Wearing bright yellow and black jackets, the NDD Clean Ambassadors have a welcome presence on Newark’s streets, providing a hospitality service and most importantly, ensuring that the sidewalks are clean through pan-and-broom sweeping, trash pickup and litter removal. During the winter, the fifteen-member team engages in snow and ice removal from key areas, and in summer months, they remove weeds and power wash the sidewalks throughout the district. The Clean Ambassadors provides its employees—most of whom are Newark residents—with full benefits and competitive wages.

Anthony McMillan, Executive Director of the NDD, hopes that the Clean Program will change people’s perception of Newark. According to Mr. McMillan, the Clean Ambassadors work has a direct impact on the city’s image and its revival, and with the positive response from local merchants and residents, he has confidence that his team’s work can help dispel negative myths. One of Mr. McMillan's goals is for the Clean Ambassadors to meet and exceed the expectations and needs of the stakeholders. He has created a survey which is available by clicking here,  designed to identify the ways in which the NDD Clean Ambassadors can best service the business district.  Feedback & suggestions are always welcome & can be submitted to Anthony McMillan, Exec. Director here.

With the support of the Booker Administration and the Newark Municipal Council, the Newark Downtown District (NDD) is directing the largest Capital Project ever to be financed by a Special Improvement District (SID) in the State of New Jersey. This $17.5 million Capital Streetscape Improvement Project (the Project) is remaking 56 blocks of downtown Newark, improving sidewalks, lighting, signage, horticulture, benches, trash receptacles and more.

“This is an exciting time for downtown Newark. The Newark Downtown District’s Streetscape Improvement Project is the first significant, wide-scale Capital Improvement Project to take place in downtown Newark in over a generation,” says Anthony McMillan, Executive Director of theNewark Downtown District.

History

In 1998, the Newark Municipal Council approved the creation of the Newark Downtown District, a Special Improvement District dedicated to providing supplemental cleaning services, hospitality/security services, marketing, special events, and physical improvement programs for the downtown district. The SID is funded through a special assessment on nearly 600 commercial properties in downtown Newark. Since the Newark Downtown District became operational, it has hauled away literally tons of trash, produced and initiated events such as weekly Farmers Markets and Foodtopia Food Festivals, managed a $1 million façade improvement program for small businesses that yielded $10 million in private investment, and produced collateral materials to promote downtown Newark to visitors and investors such as the Downtown Newark Map, Downtown Newark Cultural Guide, Downtown Newark Restaurant Guide, and the Downtown Newark Real Estate Marketing Packet.

Now in its twelfth year of operation, the Newark Downtown District is excited to be nearing completion of its most ambitious project to date, the $17.5 million renovation of the downtown streetscape.

Financing

The Newark Downtown District’s Streetscape Improvement Project is being financed through an innovative partnership with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). The NJEDA has approved $10 million in bonds to be issued on behalf of the NDD, and the debt service on the bonds will be paid for by the Newark Downtown District (NDD).
The remainder of the $17.5 million will be supplied through cash and in-kind commitments from the City of Newark, the Newark Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), the Newark Downtown District (NDD), and PSE&G.

Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker says, “We are particularly thrilled that we were able to finance this Project through mostly private resources – and at minimal cost to the citizens of Newark.”

Construction Schedule

The Project, which broke ground on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, contains three (3)phases over a three-year period. The first phase of construction focused on the area immediately surrounding the Prudential Center – including portions of Market Street, Edison Place, Alling Street and Mulberry Street – in order to prepare the area for the grand opening of the arena.

Project Team

The streetscape design was led by BRV Corporation of New York and Stantec/Vollmer, a Newark and New York-based engineering and landscape architecture firm, with support from H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture LLC. The team previously worked together on large streetscape improvement projects in New York City in the areas of Grand Central, Bryant Park, and 34th Street. The wayfinding signage is being designed by Newwork.

Project Design

Daniel Biederman, Principal of BRV Corp. says, “The Downtown Newark Streetscape Improvement Project will in some ways be better than those programs I’ve led in Manhattan since we were able to learn from those experiences and tweak the design and materials to best serve the City of Newark.”

All fixtures will be finished in a high performance, graffiti-resistant, color coating in the City of Newark standard black.

Lighting – Four different tiers of streetlamps – reflecting the size and character of the streets – make the sidewalks of downtown Newark continuously bright, thus creating a safe and inviting atmosphere for pedestrians. Metal halide lamps have replaced the high pressure sodium vapor lamps,providing a brighter, whiter light. “The difference is day and night,” says H3 Principal, John Fontillas. Certain street lamps feature banner arms allowing the Newark Downtown District to promote cultural events and activities downtown, while also branding the district. Other poles feature arms for hanging baskets allowing for more greenery against the urban streetscape. The street lamp luminaries and poles are custom-fabricated by Hadco of Littletown, PA.

Benches – The Newark Downtown District benches have a frame made from recycled steel and are designed for low maintenance and high durability in an urban environment. The benches are fabricated by Soheil Mosum Ltd., of Toronto, Canada.

Street trees and grates – Four different groups of trees are planted reflecting the scale and character of individual streets. Smaller, columnar trees are planted on narrow side streets, while larger, wider varieties grace larger boulevards like Broad Street. All of the trees have been selected for their attractiveness as well as their ability to thrive in an urban environment. Distinctive tree pits formed by granite curbing provide abundant space and water for healthy tree growth. The pits are also adorned with attractive flower beds for seasonal display.

Where sidewalks are narrow, attractive metal tree pit grates allow for air and water to reach the root systems while providing for a smooth and safe pedestrian surface. In areas where vaults beneath sidewalks and other obstacles prevent installation of tree pits, planter boxes with lush seasonal foliage reinforce the uniqueness and attractiveness of downtown Newark.
Trash receptacles – Since 2000, the Newark Downtown District has installed 250 new trash receptacles to aid in the reduction of litter downtown, and the Newark Downtown District Clean Team has collected more than 14,000 tons of trash. The new trash receptacle has a 36 gallon capacity and a decorative shell enclosure that contains a low-cost polyethylene liner. Their clever side access door allows personnel to empty them easily without heavy lifting. The recycled steel receptacle has a high-performance finish which resists graffiti and vandalism. The receptacle is the Urban Renaissance model by Forms + Surfaces of Carpentiera, CA.

Corner treatments – Improving downtown Newark’s sidewalk treatment at the street corner will produce an impressive visual impact at a place where pedestrians gather while waiting to cross the street. Every corner will be both beautiful and functional, with granite curb cuts allowing for smooth access to crosswalks for all pedestrians, including individuals with disabilities. Replacing concrete with granite will provide a more durable and, ultimately much smoother surface. The corners will consist of a black granite field with gold granite ramps, a brick band and black granite curbing. Crosswalks will be embossed and highly visible to both pedestrians and motorists.

Wayfinding signage – Signage in downtown Newark will be improved on every level—directional signs for motorists, signs marking street names, and pedestrian-oriented signs that will provide directions and distances to major destinations, retailers, and historic landmarks. The signage will be color-coded to add to ease of use, will be made of durable and reflective materials, and, in some instances, will be illuminated.

Newark Downtown District Streetscape Improvement Project

For a more attractive, safe, and inviting streetscape, the Newark Downtown District, the Mayor of Newark, the City of Newark Municipal Council, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and PSE&G have all come together to help create a more beautiful and flourishing downtown that will improve the quality of life and economic opportunities for every worker, visitor, property owner—and most importantly—every citizen of Newark.
For more information, please contact the Newark Downtown District (NDD) at 973-733-9333.

The Newark Downtown District’s (NDD) Façade Improvement Grant Program offered financial assistance to qualified property owners and tenants seeking to renovate or restore building facades. The program helped revitalize downtown Newark area by improving its physical appearance. The program made available one-time grants of up to 25% of total project cost (to a maximum of $10,000 per grant) for exterior rehabilitation of commercial and mixed-use structures in the NDD.

The NDD grants focused on well-designed improvements that transformed the important features of a storefront into a more attractive space, including restoration of architectural details, removal of dated and inferior façade treatments, improved windows & doors, and well-proportioned signs and lighting. Whenever feasible, the NDD encouraged multiple projects within a given block, so that the positive impacts were maximized. All improvements had to be in compliance with zoning regulations of the City of Newark and had to conform to the NDD’s design standards.

Due to the creation of debt service to pay the $10 million bond for the Streetscape Improvement Project, the Façade Improvement Grant Program is currently inactive.
 

The District's marketing program introduces people to an invigorated Newark. The program promotes the City's diverse arts and cultural offerings, its unique restaurants and international character. We also run a series of special events designed to draw both people and positive attention to the Newark Downtown District. Stop in the NDD office for the most recent restaurant guides and cultural events!

The vision of the Newark Downtown District (NDD) Security Task Force (STF) is a safe and secure community where all citizens feel free to take full advantage of the city’s life and resources day and night. Serving as the clearinghouse for security related information of the merchants, property managers and corporations of Newark, our goal is to gather and share information/issues, as well as recommend solutions, to the decision makers.

Every other month, the NDD Security Task Force meets to discuss and review the issues and action plans of each sub-district. Then, on alternating months, the sub-district team leaders meet with their teams to compile information and updates to create a report summarizing the issues, action plans, and status updates associated with each issue discussed. The team leader then presents this report at the following STF meeting with the intent of gaining additional support for assistance to the proposed action plans. The sub-districts of the NDD Security Task Force are pictured on the map below.

In the past, the Newark Police Department has shared with the Security Task Force their expertise and advice on issues of public safety, homeland security, emergency preparedness, and public health, as well as a “Security Tip of the Week” to be posted onto out website. A single point of contact from the Newark Police Department was also established regarding information for the website, attendance at STF meetings, assisted in initiating a telephone-chain if necessary, and provides direction in the event of an emergency. Therefore, we strive to continue to coordinate our efforts with local, state and federal agencies such as the Newark Police Department, Newark Fire Department, Red Cross, Postal Service, and FBI, in order to protect our city.

Other focuses of the Security Task Force are to support the NPD Anti-Gang Task Force, pay attention to the “broken windows” theory of crime prevention by not ignoring small problems such as graffiti, litter or broken glass, and planning to create and train an Emergency Response Team among the business community in Newark to address the threat of an emergency or disaster that can overwhelm the City of Newark’s immediate response capability. These goals are merely support systems and are not intended to replace the City’s response capability, but rather serve as an important supplement.