Having started my commercial real estate career in Newark, New Jersey in the late 1980s, I’ve had a front row seat to the evolution of The Brick City, and specifically the strides taken by the community toward enhancing the soul of the downtown area. What was once a city centered largely around Newark Penn station, the region has experienced new growth, particularly northward and westward toward the Broad Street corridor. Additionally, while improvements over the past two decades were slow, but steady, the past five years have seen a more intense ramp up in activity.
People on streets: Retail, amenities a growing focus as Newark development boom continues
As developers continue to invest in downtown Newark, the city is attracting both new residents and businesses. That makes it all the more important to create amenities and spaces that will bring permanent foot traffic during the day and at night, which has become a growing focus for both public- and private-sector leaders in the state’s largest city.