Small Town New Jersey Looks At Big Redevelopment Project

"A proposed $1 billion redevelopment project on 300 acres of abandoned industrial land along the waterfront has captured a good deal of attention and large-scale investment. But some residents are already asking if their city’s much-heralded rebirth is worth the trouble."

"After more than a decade of discussions, preliminary work has begun on the first of a handful of projects that would almost double the town’s housing stock, replace punched-out factories with more than a million square feet of retail space and make Harrison the home of a professional soccer team with a new 25,000-seat stadium."

"The concerns about the redevelopment project are nearly as plentiful as the abandoned factories. For one thing, residents question whether the city is prepared to handle all the new commercial development and housing, which could double Harrison’s current population of about 14,000 and strain the school system and other services. They are also puzzled by a plan to build so close to the waterfront, an area with a history of flooding."