a vision for revitalizing the french street commercial corridor

! A Vision for Revitalizing the French Street Commercial Corridor Prepared for the Esperanza Neighborhood Project & New Brunswick Tomorrow

2015 APA-‐NJ Community Planning Assistance Program

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Report Outline

!  Overview of Community Planning Assistance Program (CPAP) !  Team of Volunteers – Who We Are !  ObjecNve !  Process !  Key Goals from CPAP ApplicaNon !  Project Area and ExisNng Land Uses !  Planning Context !  ExisNng Land Uses !  ObservaNons from Field Walk !  SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, OpportuniNes and Threats) !  Public Input !  Strategies !  Next Steps !  Streetscape Treatment Techniques

CPAP Program Overview

!  The Community Planning Assistance Program (CPAP) is an iniNaNve to provide pro bono planning services to community organizaNons and municipaliNes.

!  Each year community organizaNons and municipaliNes are invited to submit proposals for consideraNon by the CPAP SelecNon CommiZee.

!  If chosen, a team of volunteer professionals is assigned to the Project.

!  The French Street Commercial Corridor proposal as prepared by the Esperanza Neighborhood Project was selected to be a 2015 CPAP Project.

Team of Volunteers -‐ Who We Are

!  Our team of volunteer professionals includes individuals with experNse in planning, development, landscape architecture, traffic circulaNon, pedestrian safety and public space: !  Dan Bloch, Maser ConsulNng PA !  Mike Cassidy, NJCDC !  John Duda, MKW Associates !  Joe Herbert, Sailfast Development !  Jessica Schellack, Port Authority of NY & NJ !  MaZ Sprung, Sprung Planning Company !  Xunjing Wu, AECOM

!  Our role is to idenNfy planning techniques in support of the goals idenNfied by the Resident Leadership Team and NBT/Esperanza Project for the French Street Commercial Corridor.

Objective

!  To create a vision plan to enhance the French Street commercial corridor using input and recommendaNons from community residents, businesses and shoppers.

Process

!  Review Key Goals from CPAP applicaNon and recommendaNons from the Resident Leadership Team

!  Perform Field Walk to assess ExisNng CondiNons

!  IdenNfy Land Uses and Planning Context related to city and broader region

!  Review Relevant Planning Documents

!  Conduct SWOT Analysis

!  Facilitate Public Input MeeNng

!  Revisit and Refine Key Goals

!  Develop Planning Strategies to address Key Goals

!  Present Findings and Final Report

Key Goals from CPAP Application

!  The Esperanza Neighborhood Project idenNfied the following key goals in the CPAP ApplicaNon1 for revitalizing French Street: !  BeauNfy and Improve Cleanliness !  Improve Pedestrian Safety and Vehicle Traffic Flow !  Improve and Create Public Spaces (War Monument/Triangle

Park) !  Reduce Crime and Loitering !  AZract Shoppers to the Businesses along French Street

!  The above goals are consistent with recommendaNons of Esperanza’s ResidenNal Leadership Team2

1 Appendix A: 2015 CPAP ApplicaNon prepared by Esperanza Neighborhood 2 Appendix B: RecommendaNons of Esperanza ResidenNal Leadership Team

Project Area

Existing Land Uses !  French Street commercial corridor is approximately 0.5 mile length between

Bayard Street and Sanford Street. !  Heart of corridor is between Bayard Street and Bethany Street (War

Monument/Triangle Park) !  Predominantly mixed use including 1st floor commercial/retail businesses

with 2nd floor residences !  Majority of commercial/retail businesses are service businesses including

Restaurants, Grocers, Pharmacies, Laundromats, Beauty Salons, Bars, and Financial Services serving the nearby neighborhood.

!  Retail uses account for approximately 25 percent of the businesses along French Street, including Clothing, Electronics, Jewelry, General/Discount Stores, and other Specialty Shops.

!  French Street is located within walking distance to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital/University, New Brunswick Train StaNon, Rutgers University Downtown Campus, and other downtown offices.

Planning Context -‐ 1

Down-‐town

Planning Context -‐ 2

!  George Street and Easton Avenue compete with French Street to aZract shoppers and clientele.

!  The rich Hispanic/LaNn culture surrounding French Street offers a unique markeNng and branding opportunity

!  Fundamental conflict between use as commercial corridor serving neighborhood residents and cut-‐through for commuters.

!  New Brunswick Master recognizes exisNng parking problems along French Street and a need for more neighborhood oriented shopping. The Master Plan also recommends designaNng a Special Improvement District (SID) to improve economic vitality along the French Street corridor.

!  French Street is designated as the Neighborhood Commercial District. The Master Plan emphasis pedestrian-‐scale and pedestrian friendly design as well as neighborhood commercial oriented façade and signage standards.

Observations from Field Walk

!  Near Robert Wood Johnson Hospital and other Medical Buildings

!  Middlesex County Parking Lot on Bayard Street

!  Many bars and liquor stores

!  Garbage receptacles are full and bags are piled directly on the sidewalk during peak weekend hours

!  IntersecNons along French Street are staggered, which adds to congesNon and safety concerns

!  No public art or murals along French Street

3 Appendix C: Complete List of Field ObservaNons

Observations from Field Walk (cont’d)

!  Lack of ADA Accessible Curb Ramps

!  Crosswalks are faded and difficult to see

!  On-‐street parking is metered

!  War Monument Park is referred by some locals as Oaxaca Park

!  War Monument Park is only green space along French Street

!  Day Laborers linger at Park

!  Many restaurants do not have English speaking staff

!  Public drinking and disrupNons from bars ojen spillover to Park

SWOT Analysis

!  The SWOT Analysis describes strengths, weaknesses, opportuniNes and threats related to French Street’s vitality as a commercial corridor.

!  Strengths and weaknesses pertain to internal characterisNcs of French Street.

!  OpportuniNes and threats relate to external factors (i.e. University and other commercial corridors)

Strengths (Internal)

!  Rich Hispanic and LaNno culture !  Concise walkable corridor (0.5 mile between Bayard and Sanford Street)

!  Diverse group of businesses including restaurants, retailers and personal service shops serving the local community

!  Urban Enterprise Zone !  CombinaNon of on-‐ and off-‐street parking

!  Situated on major transportaNon route and highly visible

!  Open space at War Monument Park !  Certain businesses aZract clientele from outside of the neighborhood

!  Kim’s Bike Shop

!  Somewhere In Time

!  Cinco de Mayo Restaurant

!  Costa Chica Restaurant

!  Low vacancy rates for commercial spaces !  Cinco de Mayo FesNval

Weaknesses (Internal)

!  Loitering and Drinking: "  Bar and liquor store at intersecNon of Harvey and French St "  AcNvity at bar near Handy and French St spills over to War Monument Park

!  Day Laborers linger at War Monument Park which discourages use of park !  Women express feeling uncomfortable when walking by large groups of men !  Staggered intersecNons and signal Nming adds to safety concerns for pedestrians and

potenNal for pedestrian/vehicle accidents !  Crosswalks stripes are faded and handicap ramps do not appear to be ADA compliant !  Garbage accumulates on sidewalk !  Infrequent cleaning of sidewalks and streets !  Lack of shade trees and street furniture !  Many restaurants and businesses lack bi-‐lingual staff and menus !  Underdeveloped brand

Opportunities (External)

!  Proximity to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital: "  PotenNal to aZract employees to restaurants and businesses along

French Street. "  PotenNal for employment and training opportuniNes.

!  Proximity to Rutgers University: "  PotenNal to aZract students to restaurants and businesses. "  PotenNal for educaNon opportuniNes

!  New Brunswick Health Sciences Technology High School

!  Open space at Middlesex County Parking Lot on Bayard Street

!  Edward J. Bloustein/Voorhees TransportaNon Center/Walk Bloustein Bike Bloustein

Threats (External)

!  George Street commercial corridor

!  Easton Avenue commercial corridor

!  External percepNon/stereotypes

!  Expansion of Hospital and Medical Offices

!  TransportaNon improvements that favor automobiles

Public Input Meeting

!  Introduce the CPAP Program and team of volunteers.

!  Outline the Planning Context affecNng French Street.

!  Gather input from residents and businesses to be used in developing planning strategies.

Public Input -‐ Streetscape

!  What are desired beauNficaNon techniques including decoraNve sidewalks, shade trees, and street furniture appropriate for installaNon along French Street?

!  Street Lights with decoraNve lamps and hanging flowers pots

!  Street trees, plants and flowers

!  Brick and decoraNve sidewalks

!  Benches

!  More shades

!  Sidewalk bump outs at crosswalks

!  Bike lanes

Public Input – War Monument Park

!  What types of uses and events should be held at War Monument/Triangle Park?

!  Farmers Market

!  Music FesNval/Concert

!  LaNn Food Fair

!  Playground/Fenced Play Area for Children

!  Improved Landscaping and Street AmeniNes (i.e. benches, trash cans, lighNng, etc.)

!  Increased police patrol and enforcement to reduce loitering and criminal acNvity

Public Input – Branding and Marketing

!  What are strategies to build upon the French Street culture and develop a brand that will differenNate French Street from George Street and Easton Avenue?

!  MarkeNng Plan that emphasizes LaNno character

!  Logo

!  LaNno/Mexican food event

!  Need for addiNonal lighNng as it relates to safety – especially at three (3) rail underpasses

!  Façade Improvement Program (City’s Planning and Economic Development Department)

Public Input – Pedestrian Safety and Vehicle Traffic

!  What issues and intersecNons feel unsafe for pedestrians? !  CriNcal intersecNons of concern:

!  Jersey Ave, Handy St and French St

!  Suydam St, Louis St and French St

!  Weekends (Friday – Sunday) are most congested

!  Loitering and drinking make others feel unsafe and deter people

!  Police do not strictly enforce double parking and traffic violaNons

!  Police on foot patrol to improve sense of safety

!  Staggered intersecNons and parked cars reduce visibility/safety for pedestrians

!  Majority from public meeNng not opposed to restricNng parking on French St

!  Provide/improve street lights

!  Enhance/illuminate pedestrian crosswalks and crossing signals

Strategies – Beautify and Improve Cleanliness

!  Streetscape Improvements

!  Shade Trees, DecoraNve Sidewalks, Street Benches

!  Light Poles with Flag and DecoraNon Mounts

!  Façade Improvement Program

!  Public Art/Murals

!  Larger and/or AddiNonal Garbage Bins

!  More Frequent Garbage CollecNon

!  More RouNne Street Sweeping

Strategies – Improve Pedestrian Safety and Vehicle Traffic Flow

!  Enhance Crosswalks

!  Install Pedestrian Signals with Countdown and Sound Alerts

!  Construct Accessible Curb Ramps

!  Restrict/Limit On-‐Street Parking

!  Review/Update Signal Timing

!  Provide Dedicated Turn Phases at Staggered IntersecNons

Strategies – Improve and Create Public Spaces

!  Install Public Art representaNve of LaNn Culture

!  Work with Day Laborers to reduce Loitering and Gambling

!  Repair Wall and Install Landscape Improvements at War Monument Park

!  Repurpose/Redesign Triangular Island with Clock

!  Use Middlesex County Parking Lot for Community Events

!  Cultural/Holiday Ceremonies

!  Farmer’s Market

!  Music Performances

hZp://www.colab-‐arts.org

Strategies – Reduce Crime and Loitering

!  Provide AddiNonal Street LighNng

!  Implement Foot Patrol Policing (Police)

!  Enforce Parking and Traffic ViolaNons More Strictly (Police)

!  Crackdown on Public Drinking and Gambling (Police)

!  Work with Bar and Liquor Store businesses to manage clientele by hiring Security Guards

!  Work with Businesses to install Storefront LighNng to brighten sidewalks

!  Work with Businesses to install Security Cameras

Strategies – Attract Shoppers

!  Develop Branding and MarkeNng Strategy based on LaNn Character (i.e. LaNn Quarter, LiZle Oaxaca, etc.)

!  Design Logo

!  Organize LaNno/Mexican Food Event

!  Assist Businesses with growing Online Presence/Social Media

!  Assist Restaurants with PrinNng Bilingual Menus

!  Add Restaurant Menus to Scarlet Menus

!  AZract Students and Staff from University and Hospital with Lunch and Dinner Specials

!  Engage Walk Bloustein/Bike Bloustein Student Group to work with Kim’s Bike Shop to host Walking/Biking Events

!  Organize Music/Street Performers on Weekends/Holidays

!  Façade Improvement Program

Next Steps (Priorities)

!  Add Street LighNng to BeauNfy, Improve Safety and AZract Shoppers

!  Provide Large Bins to contain excess Garbage

!  Request that City more strictly enforce Parking and Traffic ViolaNons

!  Develop LaNn Character Brand and Logo

!  Publicize Brand and Logo via Social Media

!  Print Bilingual Menus for Restaurants and solicit at University and Hospitals

!  Work with City and County to Host No Parking Experiments

!  Enhance Crosswalks and Pedestrian Signals

!  Advocate for Façade Improvement Program

!  Install DecoraNons and Cultural Banners/Flags

!  Complete Public Art Displays and Murals

!  Schedule Community Events for Middlesex County Parking Lot and War Monument Park

Streetscape Treatment Techniques

Streetscape Treatment Techniques (cont’d)

Appendix A – 2015 CPAP Application

“French Street Commercial Corridor Revitalization”

APPLICANT INFORMATION Organization: New Brunswick Tomorrow

390 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Contact: Charles Bergman, Director, Esperanza Neighborhood Project

732-246-0603; [email protected]

ORGANIZATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Since 1975, New Brunswick Tomorrow (NBT) has focused on improving the quality of life in the City of New Brunswick. It was founded through the initiative of Johnson & Johnson as the backbone organization to lead the public/private effort to revitalize New Brunswick. Recognizing that “brick-and-mortar” projects alone are not enough to transform a community, NBT has largely focused on the “social revitalization” of the City, addressing critical community needs and enhancing the dignity and well-being of residents, particularly those who are low-income or otherwise vulnerable.

In our almost forty-year history, NBT has worked with public and private partners to develop, incubate and support countless programs and initiatives that meet community needs in health, human services, education, and neighborhood development. Our work is currently organized through four primary vehicles: three Task Forces that gather stakeholders in the areas of Health, Youth, and Neighborhoods, and a Faith-Based Coalition with New Brunswick’s houses of worship.

The work of our newly restructured Neighborhood Task Force reflects our history of catalyzing neighborhood development. Over twenty years ago, NBT, DEVCO, and the City of New Brunswick partnered with the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens to initiate the Renaissance Project along the south portion of State Route 27, a project that touched a significant portion of the city’s public housing residents. Ten years ago, NBT collaborated with the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick and Rutgers University on the George Road Gateway Project, where an assessment revealed the concerns of a neighborhood that borders Rutgers Cook College. During the same period, NBT and the New Brunswick Housing Authority partnered to implement a federal HOPE VI grant; NBT provided supportive services to 188 families who were being relocated from antiquated public housing buildings. Over the past seven years ago, NBT has also partnered with and supported Unity Square Partnership, a neighborhood development project of Catholic Charities. In 2014, NBT has for the first time taken on its own neighborhood based improvement project, the Esperanza Neighborhood Project. More on the Esperanza Project can be found on the next page in “Project Overview.”

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mailto:[email protected]

PROJECT OVERVIEW The French Street Commercial Corridor Revitalization project aims to improve and beautify a 0.8-mile corridor in the heart of one of New Brunswick’s neighborhoods, in order to make it a more inviting, safe, and vibrant destination for residents and visitors. The French Street project would be one element of the larger, ambitious Esperanza Neighborhood Project, a comprehensive neighborhood improvement and revitalization initiative focused on a 57-block area of New Brunswick. The Esperanza Project, which launched in January 2014, is spearheaded by New Brunswick Tomorrow in collaboration with the Puerto Rican Action Board (PRAB). Its four principal elements are Neighborhood Building, Housing, Community Services, and Economic Development. It is supported by the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. The following maps show the area context and boundaries of what we define as the “Esperanza neighborhood.”

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PLANNING CONTEXT As can be seen in the map, State Route 27, which in this stretch of the city is French Street, runs through the heart of the neighborhood. Route 27 connects New Brunswick with Highland Park and Edison to the north and runs along North Brunswick, Franklin and South Brunswick townships on its way south to Princeton. As such it is a major route through which substantial auto traffic passes.

French Street and the adjacent portions of New Street and Jersey Avenue are form an active business district with approximately 90 businesses. The vast majority of these businesses are small businesses owned and operated by local Latino entrepreneurs, a character that befits the neighborhood. Over 75% of the approximately 8,600 residents of the neighborhood are Latino, mainly immigrant families from Mexico and to a lesser degree Central America and the Caribbean.

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These residents visit French Street for its mix of restaurants, retail stores, beauty salons, food markets, and money transfer operations. Much of this business activity has emerged largely in the last ten or twenty years.

Unfortunately the lively activity along this corridor is marred by a number of unseemly attributes: It is also home to a surplus of bars and liquor stores, and suffers from unattractive amounts of litter and a negative perception of its safety. In a neighborhood resident survey conducted by NBT and the Eagleton Institute of Public Interest Polling at Rutgers in September of this year, resident responses revealed this contrast between the positive and negative:

Although these responses refer to the neighborhood as a whole, our extensive engagement with residents confirms that the same mix of positive and negative feelings is likewise associated with the French Street corridor. French Street, particularly the small city park in its heart and the spots around bars and liquor stores, is a frequent focus for complaints at the neighborhood Crime Watch meetings we facilitate.

The corridor is designated as a state Urban Enterprise Zone, meaning that businesses are eligible for reduced sales tax and other incentives. Based anecdotally on conversations with local business owners, however, it is unclear if most are fully aware of and taking advantage of this program. One relevant planning endeavor formalized by the city is the Jersey-Handy Redevelopment Area, an area

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of over ten acres that sits just adjacent to French Street to the southeast. While the Redevelopment Area has attracted a Walgreens and several small businesses to a strip mall, a large portion remains an undeveloped, vacant lot. These designated areas can be seen on the map below.

Generally speaking, however, French Street business owners appear disengaged from municipal and state planning and economic development processes, and do not benefit from the level of sustained support and attention afforded the City’s downtown business improvement district, for example, through New Brunswick City Market. And although NBT counts the City of New Brunswick as a key partner in the Esperanza Neighborhood Project, their Department of Planning and Economic Development does not have the capacity to tackle a planning project as local and specific as the “French Street Commercial Corridor Revitalization.”

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PROJECT CONCEPT: FRENCH STREET COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR The French Street Commercial Corridor Revitalization project aims to improve and beautify French Street and adjoining portions of New Street and Jersey Avenue, which together form the Esperanza neighborhood’s most important commercial corridor. Our hope is to make it a more inviting, safe, and vibrant destination for residents and visitors alike. We believe that the priorities for the planning process, based on our surveys and our ongoing outreach and work with neighborhood residents, business owners, and stakeholders, would be the following:

Beautification and streetscaping The French Street corridor is busy, but not especially attractive to the eye. Litter is a constant eyesore, sidewalks are in need of repair, and store windows are crammed with clashing and fading signs. There is no public art, while graffiti is an issue. Part of making the French Street corridor more inviting and vibrant has to involve improvements to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

Vehicular traffic flow State Route 27 (French Street) and State Route 91 (Jersey Avenue) meet in in the heart of this corridor, creating a staggered three-way intersection with Handy Street. Just north on the corridor, there is a disjointed, irregular intersection where Suydam Street meets French from the south and Louis Street meets French from the north. These two intersections, particularly the latter, are frequent bottlenecks, especially for turning vehicles. Road improvements could help both alleviate congestion and improve safety.

Walkability and pedestrian safety The same intersections that are troublesome for vehicles are also hazardous for pedestrians. Any improvements to roads and sidewalks should prioritize pedestrian flow and safety, particularly in crosswalks.

Improving and creating public spaces The corridor’s primary public space is the small park bordered by French, Jersey, and Bethany, variously known as Triangle Park or War Monument Park. Unfortunately, it is an asset that has been neglected. The park attracts high levels of negative loitering and associated ills such as drugs and gambling. Design improvements as well as an emphasis on positive park activities could help change the perception and use of the park.

In the same vein, the small portion of New Street that connects the downtown to the north end of the French Street business district is currently something of an aesthetic dead space (though it is not vacant) that may offer opportunities for a connective public plaza or “bridge” space.

Loitering and crime prevention As mentioned above, Triangle Park and the corridor’s bars and liquor stores are hot spots for loitering and associated ills. Besides the obvious roles of policing and resident engagement, environmental improvements may help curb these activities and improve the area’s character.

Our extensive investments of time and energy thus far in this Project has allowed us to surface these concerns and begin to address them through our resident committee and our relationships with businesses and city departments. But we need the guidance of professional planners and a coherent, comprehensive planning process to help translate our efforts and ideas into actionable and practical development strategies.

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Finally, we would like to emphasize the assets we already have in place to support the CPAP process, if we are fortunate enough to be selected:

Resident buy-in The Esperanza Project has a strong base of awareness and involvement among neighborhood residents. Over 300+ residents have participated thus far in our meetings and activities, not including the attendance at our two major neighborhood festivals. With our support, they have done many neighborhood clean-ups, forged a Crime Watch partnership with police, and successfully urged County officials to make safety improvements to the county road that borders the neighborhood. A strong committee of active resident leaders has emerged to take the reins of the Project, and are eager to invest their time and energy in the revitalization of French Street.

Business engagement Another element of the Project, which we began to roll out this fall, is our engagement of local businesses. In that short time frame, we visited 70+ of the neighborhood businesses, including many in the French Street corridor. We have begun gathering with key business owners with the aim of supporting the creation of a business coalition or merchants association. Our relationships with businesses will be key to any efforts to revitalize the commercial corridor.

Stakeholder partnership New Brunswick Tomorrow’s almost forty-year history in New Brunswick, and its unique model as a convener of the City’s many small and large institutions, mean that the Esperanza Project launched this year with an already wide network of organizational partnerships. We have leveraged this network to form a Stakeholder Advisory Committee made up of representatives from a dozen key institutions, including the City Planning Department, neighborhood churches, schools, and non-profits. This committee, which is already invested in the Project’s success, would be designated as the Steering Committee for the purpose of the CPAP.

Neighborhood Revitalization Plan Prior to launching the Esperanza Neighborhood Project, we engaged in a multi-year process of research and preparation. This lead to the development of a Neighborhood Plan, which was also a requirement of the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. The Plan provides an overarching framework for our work, compiling relevant research and outlining development priorities and strategies. Thus the French Street Revitalization Plan would serve as an in-depth “chapter,” as it were, giving the corridor a level of specific, sustained attention that it has not yet received.

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Appendix B – Recommendations of Residential Leadership Team

Esperanza Neighborhood Project, Resident Leadership Team:

Recommendations for Improving Our Community!

A safe community: Crime & safety Safety is a big concern among neighborhood residents. In the neighborhood resident survey

we did last September, it was the most common answer of residents when asked what they

liked least about the neighborhood. 29% say that safety is “poor” or “very poor,” and another

36% say it is only “fair.” Most say the level of safety hasn’t changed much in the past few years.

What have we done?

We started a Crime Watch group last May so that residents can work with police to identify and

resolve crime and safety concerns. Residents give reports to the NBPD Crime Watch liaison,

Detective Harry Hudson, and as a group we have also shared the following recommendations

about overall safety. Our Crime Watch group has also facilitated conversations with the NBPD

Domestic Violence unit, a 911 dispatcher, and two of the newly hired, bilingual NBPD officers.

What has the City done?

The New Brunswick Police Department has actively worked with us to support our Crime

Watch group. Det. Hudson has actively pursued many of the residents’ reports and concerns.

Additionally, based on our feedback, the NBPD sent some more patrols around the park on

French Street (War Monument Park).

Most importantly, the City recently hired eleven new officers, including four who are Latino.

What do we recommend?

1. More consistent police presence and patrolling at the neighborhood level, especially in

crime “hot spots” (French Street bars and park; Railroad Ave underpasses)

2. Better engage community with information about public safety and crime

a. Specific incident alerts and updates through Nixle or otherwise

b. Create a publicly accessible crime database and map

3. Continue expanding Police Department’s Spanish-language capacity, especially

through new officer hires

4. Reduce harms of liquor stores and bars: more restrictions, fewer licenses

An attractive community: Clean-up & beautification Our survey showed that only one-third of residents rate our community’s cleanliness as “good”

or “very good.” 38% say that it is only fair, while 28% say that it is “poor” or “very poor.”



However, 30% believe that the neighborhood’s cleanliness has improved in recent years,

compared to 15% who say it’s gotten worse. We hear frequent complaints from other residents

and businesses about litter on French Street in particular.

What have we done?

The Esperanza Project has been extremely active in cleaning up our community. We partnered

with the City’s Clean Communities Program to recruit seventeen new “block captains” among

our members in 2014, to take responsibility for clean-up on our streets. Together we also

organized seven clean-ups of between 10 and 30 participants, as well as partnered with Holy

Family Parish for a large community clean-up with over 150 volunteers! One of our clean-ups

also included graffiti removal. Finally, we did an assessment of trash issues on French Street,

which led to several of the following recommendations.

What has the City done?

Donna Caputo of the Department of Public Works’ Clean Communities Program has been an

excellent partner. She and DPW supported two of our large-group clean-ups. She also

attended an Esperanza Project meeting to hear our concerns and ideas about trash and clean-

up in New Brunswick. Because of this meeting and our recommendations, the City installed

new public trash cans at three locations on French Street.


1. Tackle graffiti proactively with a city-led effort

2. Expand use of large plastic trash and recycling bins to neighborhood commercial zones

3. Increase frequency of Green Team sweeping on French Street

4. Work with day laborers to seek a safer, more appropriate gathering space for those

seeking work on French Street

An accessible community: Transportation Access to transportation was the highest-rated category in our survey: 72% of residents say

that it is good or very good. But the survey also showed that residents, especially Latinos, rely

heavily on taxis: 50% of Latinos use taxis as a primary mode of transportation, more than cars



or buses. We know that many are using unauthorized taxis, rather than the five City-registered

companies.

What have we done?

Pedestrian safety is an important issue for our families. Last year, we joined the campaign to

push for safety improvements to Livingston Avenue after the unfortunate accident that injured

several schoolchildren. Working with partners like Unity Square, we successfully lobbied the

County to make temporary lane changes around two schools to slow traffic. Now we are

actively engaged in the County and City’s plans to make permanent improvements to

Livingston.

We have also addressed the complicated issue of taxi use here in New Brunswick. First we

shared concerns about abuses by unregistered taxi drivers in our Crime Watch meetings. This

then led us to attend two meetings of the City’s Taxi Commission, to give feedback to City

officials and several of the registered taxi companies. We also created and have widely

distributed an informational flyer about City taxi rates and regulations.

What have the City and County done?

The County and City have taken residents’ concerns about Livingston Avenue safety seriously.

The County fast-tracked the lane changes around Redshaw/Livingston and Roosevelt schools

last summer. This year, they have invited us into a planning process that started with meetings

in February. We are encouraged by the possible changes they are discussing, such as the

“road diet” to slow vehicular traffic.

In sharing our concerns about taxis, we have received assistance and encouragement from

City Clerk Dan Torrisi and his office. However, we have been disappointed that the City-

appointed Taxi Commission is not more active.


1. Prioritize pedestrian safety and “complete streets” in road improvements, especially

along Livingston Avenue and French Street

2. Work with registered taxi companies and the City’s taxi commission to improve services

to Spanish-speaking customers

3. Study possibility of offering more local, in-city bus services and stops

Appendix C – Complete List of Field Observations

Field Observations On Sunday, May 17, 2015, volunteer CPAP Team members met with Charles Bergman, Director, Esperanza Neighborhood Project, to perform a field walk and share initial thoughts regarding the French Street Commercial Corridor Revitalization. The following were in attendance: Mike Cassidy John Duda Joe Herbert Matt Sprung Charles Bergman (Client Contact) Notes Beginning at Bayard Street and walking south along French Street, the following items were observed and discussed:

1. Medical buildings and offices associated with Robert Wood Johnson Hospital end at Bayard Street.

a. Does the hospital have plans to continue development south along French Street?

b. If so, can a plan/design be obtained from the City? c. What techniques can be used to attract employees from medical offices

to restaurants/businesses along French Street? d. Are there workforce development and training opportunities for

medical/health careers? e. New Brunswick Health Sciences Technology High School is located at the

corner of Bayard Street and French Street. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brunswick_Health_Sciences_Technology_High_School

2. Middlesex County Parking Lot on Bayard Street, adjacent to French Street, may be repurposed in near future.

a. How might this space be used by the community (i.e. weekend events, farmers market)?

3. Kim’s Bike Shop and Somewhere In Time are 2 retail businesses that draw clientele from outside the neighborhood.

4. Late night loitering is a problem at the intersection of Harvey Street and French Street due to presence of a bar and liquor store on either side Harvey Street.

5. Buildings housing Latino Supermarket, Chinese Food and Chicken Express are

setback for the curb, which provides a large sidewalk spaces for outdoor seating/benches or other. (Area is approximately 100’ x 25’).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brunswick_Health_Sciences_Technology_High_School

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brunswick_Health_Sciences_Technology_High_School

6. Garbage collection is infrequent and not over the weekend, which results in piling of garbage bags and overfilling of receptacles. Receptacles are full and garbage is piled along sidewalk during optimum weekend shopping/retail hours.

a. Esperanza Neighborhood Project/NBT has approached City about obtaining large plastic receptacles.

b. What other techniques can be used to remove/reduce piling of residential and commercial garbage along sidewalk?

7. Staggered intersection of Suydam Street, French Street, and Louis Street causes

vehicle gridlock. a. Intersection is signalized – is it possible to add dedicated left turn

signal/phase? b. Pedestrian safety? c. Signal cycle for vehicles and pedestrians?

8. Contact NB Police Department to obtain traffic incident reports for French Street.

9. What/who are uses/tenants at office building at southwest corner of Louis Street and French Street?

a. Sidewalk is 15’ to 16’ wide along this frontage.

10. Majority of intersections do not have ADA accessible curb ramps.

11. Crosswalk striping is limited and missing at certain intersections.

12. On-street parking is metered.

13. Sidewalk width varies but generally 10’ to 12’ wide.

14. New 4-story mixed used residential/commercial development at the corner of Seaman Street and French Street.

a. Residential apartments on top 3 floors. b. 3 commercial/business spaces are available at 1st floor. c. Building construction includes parking garage. d. Building appears to be vacant. e. Developer Frank Garcia. f. What are rents for residential space? g. What businesses might occupy the available 1st floor spaces?

15. New Brunswick Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) encompasses portions of French

Street but many business owners are unfamiliar with program. Esperanza is assisting to notify and register businesses.

16. Triangular area/plaza is formed by French Street, Jersey Ave and Baldwin Street. a. Handy Street, which becomes Alexander Street west side of French

Street, cuts through the center of the plaza.

b. North of Handy Street is a small triangular sidewalk island with a decorative clock/bench feature

c. South of Handy Street is War Monument Park, also referred to by some locals as Oaxaca Park.

d. Intersection of Handy Street, Jersey Ave and French Street is heavily congested with vehicle and pedestrian traffic. (Recommend completing a traffic study of intersection).

e. What physical design improvements including sidewalk configuration, decorative sidewalk bands, crosswalks, striping, pavement markings can be used to enhance/brighten this triangular plaza/area?

17. War Monument Park (Oaxaca Park) is the only open public green space along

the French Street corridor. a. Park is commonly used as a place for laborers to await work. Laborers

generally linger at the southerly side of the park, along Baldwin Street, waiting for work opportunities.

b. Lingering of laborers is prevailing use of park, which may invite other less desirable uses such as loitering, drinking and gambling.

c. Is there a way to improve/formalize the process for hiring laborers by developing a Day Laborer Office (refer to Lakewood model)?

i. Joe H. to research Lakewood model d. Park has been used in the past for public events but its location in the

center of a major vehicle intersection makes it difficult for pedestrians to cross the street.

i. Additional thought should be put towards ideas for repurposing/using this location for events and detouring traffic as needed on event dates as necessary.

18. Mi Tierra Bar at the corner of Handy Street and French Street has been location of public drinking, fights, minor crimes. These activities often spillover into War Monument Park.

a. Increase policing. b. Add security cameras. c. Employ crime prevent through design techniques at the park.

19. Main commercial corridor for French Street extends from Bayard Street south to

Bayard/Baldwin. South of Bayard/Baldwin commercial is more dispersed and consisting of larger businesses. This is characterized by less pedestrian activity.

a. This distinction should be clearly shown on map of French Street

corridor.

20. Cinco de Mayo Restaurant at corner of French Street and Hale Street is used by RU students more than other restaurant businesses on French Street.

a. There are a number of Mexican and other ethnic restaurants along French Street.

i. Are certain restaurants more popular for different dishes or meals (i.e. lunch, dinner, sandwiches, entrees)?

ii. What marketing tools might assist restaurants with distinguishing themselves from one another?

iii. What collective marketing tools might assist in defining the corridor as place specializing in Mexican and other ethnic foods to attract clientele from outside the area?

iv. Brand as Latin Quarter? v. Many restaurant staff do not speak English well.

21. Need to review current/updated version of New Brunswick Master Plan and

associated zoning/land use maps.

22. Vacant lot at Comstock and Jersey Ave was previously approved for commercial development but remains undeveloped.

a. Sign indicates that lot has environmental concerns. b. What information can be found out about this property using NJDEP Data

Miner? c. Lot is not fenced, which suggests any level of environmental concern is

not hazardous. d. Could lot be used for hosting a farmers market or outdoor event? e. Could raised planter beds be placed at this lot as a temporary use?

23. There are vacant businesses spaces at Brunswick Town Center.

24. French Street is State Route and County Route.

a. Is it possible to obtain copies of recent County plans for French Street?

25. Policing:

a. What is police patrol pattern (vehicles/walking)? b. Installation of security cameras and signs?

26. Arts organization – coLAB Arts

a. Mural locations

Appendix D – Garbage Collection Comparison (New Brunswick and Union City)

Ideas on Improving Garbage Situation in New Brunswick (French St Area)

Current Problems - There is no pickup during the weekends and trash thus piles up on the curb in the daytime.

During the weekdays, trash bags are taken out to the curb before the scheduled pickup time. As

a result, the smell and appearance of the garbage makes the street very unattractive to locals

and visitors.

- Questions: Do people take out more garbage than they are supposed to? Is this a problem? Or it

is mainly the time of the day that they take out the garbage?

Comparison between Union City and New Brunswick Union City doesn’t seem to share the same problem. Therefore, its garbage collection practice is looked

into and compared with New Brunswick’s to stimulate thoughts on solving the garbage problem in NB.

Key Observations:

- Collection frequency: Union City (UC) and New Brunswick (NB) both have pickups for household

trash twice a week. For recycling items, UC does it once a week, and NB every other week

(Table1). UC has much fewer residents, but its population density is much higher than NB

(Table1), which probably explains why UC pickup schedule is more frequent.

- Collection load: UC doesn’t seem to have a requirement on maximum pickup load. Based on my

own experience, my apt building (two apts) has three 64 gallon trash/recycling bins, including

both trash and recycling. NB allows up to 3 trash containers of up to 32 gallons each per

household, the total per household load of which is bigger than what UC allows.

- Time of bringing garbage to the curb: In UC, residents take out garbage/recycling after 8pm,

while in NB it is after 5pm. In the summer, sunset is usually after 8pm, and 5-8 pm could be the

golden hours to attract more visitors, students who get off classes, workers who get off work,

locals, etc. It is suggested that residents take out garbage/recycling after 8pm in NB to keep the

street free from garbage bags and bad smell during the “golden hours”.

- Collection time: In UC, garbage/recycling is collected on the same day they are brought out. In

NB, however, the garbage is picked up the next day, which leaves the trash/recycling on the

curb from 5pm the day it was brought out to 6pm the next day (Table2). As a result, the trash

could still sit on the curb waiting to be picked up in the day, which makes the street unpleasant

and unattractive.

- Garbage excess: In NB, It is reported there is more garbage brought out to the curb than the

amount allowed. Not every household uses trash bin to measure the trash load. A better way of

making sure each household not exceeding the max trash load is needed. In UC, trash bins are

required and the bins have addresses on them. It is unclear but likely that the town (UC)

provides the bins for free. NB only provides free recycling containers for new homeowners

(details).

Suggestions for Improvements - After-sunset curb time (summer): In order to make the streets more pleasant during the “golden

hours”, residents are suggested to bring garbage/recycling to the curb after 8:30pm or after

sunset. In the winter, the time after which residents could bring garbage/recycling to the curb

could remain at 5pm, as the sun sets around 4:30pm usually in the winter.

- Same day pickup: In order to better prevent garbage/recycling from sitting on the curb

overnight, they should be picked up on the same day, instead of the next day.

- More frequent pickup schedule: Increase the pickup for recycling items to once a week, rather

than once in two weeks.

- Address on the bin: Provide free bins with clearly-identifiable addresses shown on the bins. OR

provide free address stickers and enforce a rule that every bin on the curb has to have an

address on.

Table1. Land and Population of Union City and New Brunswick, NJ

Union City New Brunswick (French St)

Land (sq mi) 1.283 5.227

Population (2014) 68,668 57,080

Density (/sq mi) 51,810 10,556

Density rank 2nd of 566 in NJ 34th of 566 in NJ

Sources: Wikipedia and Census

Table2. Comparison of Trash and Recycling Collection Schedules in Union City and New Brunswick, NJ

Union City New Brunswick (French St)

Frequency (regular trash) Twice a week Twice a week

Collection Days (regular trash)

Mon. to Sun. depending on areas

Monday and Thursday

Frequency (recycling) Once a week every other Monday

http://thecityofnewbrunswick.org/public-works/trash-and-recycling-info/

Collection Days (recycling) Mon. to Wed. depending on areas

Monday

Brought to the curb after 8pm after 5pm, the night b4 the collection days

Collection time starts at 11pm 6:00am and 6:00pm

Trash load Not specified Up to three trash containers; less than 50lbs and lighter than 32 gallons each container.

Recycling load Not specified Not specified

Other rules Trash bags must be tied to prevent litter.

Sources: The municipal websites of Union City and New Brunswick, NJ.

a vision for revitalizing the french street commercial corridor

Education