Since 2007, more than 1,500 condominiums and market rate and luxury rental units have been approved by the city, according to its economic and housing development office.
The two-year-old Prudential Center - home to the NHL's New Jersey Devils - has brought a steady stream of visitors to the downtown area, and new restaurants and bars have sprung up to accommodate them.
"The thing about Lincoln Park is after the business hours, there's still a thriving community here," said Gant, 48.
In the downtown area, big changes also are underway. Residential projects in various stages include what will be Newark's tallest building, a $200 million, 40-story tower with 20,000 square feet of retail space adjacent to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center; a $90 million, 25-story luxury condo building backed by NBA star - and Newark native - Shaquille O'Neal, and three high-end loft conversions.
Among the half-dozen new restaurants and lounges that have opened on the heels of the Prudential Center are Brick City Bar & Grill and The Spot Lounge.
Sure NJ's biggest city has some very rough spots, but its nice to the see the excellent parts of the city get some spotlight. The gameday experience in Newark far and away trumps the parking lot of the Meadowlands. I love the downtown and the Ironbound rules.
And this is only the beginning of what's going on there.
Just wait until a lot of the 'empty' space around the arena starts to be converted and developed. It's going to be a nice place to live, I hope...
__________________
"Why I'll be a Devil forever [...] two words. Trust and respect." - Mr. Pat Burns
"I learned not to question Cowbell's willingness to ban." - Brian Boyle
Yet it's 2010 and there are no chain restaurants downtown or under the Rock(Jeff has some splaining to do), Triangle Park STILL hasn't even started with no foundation to build on, and with the exception of a couple of conversions, no new construction has yet to start.
Yet it's 2010 and there areno chain restaurants downtown or under the Rock, Triangle Park STILL hasn't even started, and with the exception of a couple of conversions, no new construction has yet to start.
Yet it's 2010 and there are no chain restaurants downtown or under the Rock, Triangle Park STILL hasn't even started, and with the exception of a couple of conversions, no new construction has yet to start.
It's very hard to get loans approved for even medium-risk ventures right now, who is going to to want to finance anything right now?
The bigger point is that there are businesses that are proving viable. Some will not be, of course, but as long as some are, there is proof for more people to step in.
Its impossible to do the type of 180 magic they did with the Jersey City waterfront, which looks like Manhattan Jr. now, because of the fact that the downtown attractions arent really on the water, but the improvement is showing.
Its impossible to do the type of 180 magic they did with the Jersey City waterfront, which looks like Manhattan Jr. now, because of the fact that the downtown attractions arent really on the water, but the improvement is showing.
Plus the 180 on JC was forced - pre 2001 it was only IT and backup facilities for businesses in downtown Manhattan. Post 2001, a lot of companies had no choice but to move there.
Excellent point. Its also weird and unsettling to think about, the worst event in the history of this country since Pearl Harbor actually saved Jersey City.
Downtown JC is one of my favorite places, its a shame alot of people dont know how nice it is.
Well at least with chains you know what you're getting and the casual folk feel more..."comfortable" with those type of establishments imo. no matter how overrated they are.
Before you get started on the economy. You're telling me you can't get one major chain downtown since this place opened? Not two, one? Uno?
one of my friends lives in JC heights and its pretty nice
The heights is nice for the most part. I am on the West Side which is the area around NJCU which in my experience is good, I have no problems and the rent I pay (giggles) makes it worth it for another year until I finish school.
The bad part of JC is Greenville, but I have no reason to even drive through that section.
If I ever get the money, which I wont since I want to teach, I would live in Marin section around Jersey Ave and the numbered streets. It has a nice small city feel to it.
The "revitalization of Newark" will never occur in any substantial form until the city gets its' **** together and gets serious on drugs, rampant crime, murder, and other violence.
I have attended most of the home games and other season ticket holder events since The Rock opened in 2007, I have not once ever felt unsafe in the area. Whether it be up and down Mulberry Street from the lots or from Newark Penn, or even on Broad Street waiting for the Broad Street shuttle bus.
I thoroughly enjoy the area around The Rock and am always pysched to get in the car or hop on the train on game nights. I know in a few years there will be even more development and entertainment options around The Rock, it's going to be a destination area one day soon.
I do not miss the Meadowlands one iota, it had its day and I had many great times there, but there is no comparison in the fun that is at The Rock compared to the old CAA.
Newark will always have it's rough neighborhoods, it is a major urban city that has struggled and does not have much middle/upper class taxpayers, but it is no different than just about every other NHL city that has its good and bad areas.
The Rock area is good right now and will only get much better.
The "revitalization of Newark" will never occur in any substantial form until the city gets its' **** together and gets serious on drugs, rampant crime, murder, and other violence.
[/The End]
Most similar cities nationwide--NHL ones--fit that category.
The "revitalization of Newark" will never occur in any substantial form until the city gets its' **** together and gets serious on drugs, rampant crime, murder, and other violence.
[/The End]
I mostly agree with you on this one BG.
I think another thing is that the generational gap is turning over to people who don't remember nor care to talk about the Newark Riots.
My step-dad was a young kid, and saw of it going on the arena (I think he lived in Newark at the time, but possibly Hillside, I don't remember right now. There was spillover violence in the neighboring towns though, of course.)
That was such a horrible time in the history of the City, it basically has to be erased from the memory of the area. People who were alive and saw it were made cynical of everything the government does - and I think rightfully so - but it also made them very, very scared to talk about it or criticize what was happening. The change is really happening to where people aren't afraid to go to the police about things, and that is the difference maker to get to what BG is saying.
My parents tell me stories of watching Newark on fire from across the water during the riots. They tell me its a miracle so much improvement has happened since then. My father recently went by the Prudential Center and PAC and said it looked like a new city.
But like BG said, the drug trade needs to be extinguished.
I have attended most of the home games and other season ticket holder events since The Rock opened in 2007, I have not once ever felt unsafe in the area. Whether it be up and down Mulberry Street from the lots or from Newark Penn, or even on Broad Street waiting for the Broad Street shuttle bus.
That's because everything in the above post that you described is in the "Green Zone", which is safe and protected.
I doubt a chain could survive Newark. It's a miracle that they survive major cities at all.
Why go to Fridays in New York City when there are literally thousands of better, local, cheaper restaurants? Doesn't make sense, and I bet it'll be a very long time before you see chains in Newark because they just don't make sense to most people anymore.
