Haddon Township, a suburb of Philadelphia located in New Jersey, might have been so relieved to finally close a deal on a long-disputed redevelopment project that it neglected the immense potential of the opportunity.
Kevin Riordan reports on the larger significance of a recently project approval in Haddon Township in New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia. According to Riordan, "Cutting-edge concepts like [transit villages and urbanism] are being brushed aside in Haddon Township, where the Planning Board Monday unanimously approved an old-fashioned, suburban-style apartment complex for downtown."
Developer Fieldstone Associates will spend $52 million to build a 252-unit rental complex, comprising seven buildings and including 373 parking spaces. The new development will rise on a formerly weedy lot on the Haddon Avenue corridor, adjacent to the Westmont PATCO station. The site has been the subject of redevelopment scrutiny, with all of the planning and litigation that comes with it, for over a decade.
Playing both the role of reporter and critic, Riordan, however, writes to lament what might have been. "Though the project will bring several hundred residents to the business district, it seems unlikely to capitalize on the full potential of Haddon Avenue's biggest and best-ever redevelopment opportunity - and unlikely to help make Westmont's long, somewhat jumbled, and thoroughly car-centric main street more of a destination." The article includes more details about the approved development and Riordan's opinion, echoed by members of the public that the development should be chalked up as a missed opportunity.
FULL STORY: With some critics mollified, Haddon Twp. project gets OK
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
Fair Housing Cannot Take a Back Seat to ‘Build, Baby, Build’
If we overlook fair housing principles in the plan to build US housing back better, we risk ending up right back where we started.
LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan
The newest plan for the 710 corridor claims it will not displace any residents.
Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size
City planners say the new rules would ensure an efficient distribution of charging infrastructure across the city and prevent an overconcentration in residential areas.
Making California State Parks More Climate-Resilient
A recently released report offers recommendations for keeping state parks healthy and robust, including acquiring additional land for conservation and recreation.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.