New Brunswick, New Jersey : the decline and revitalization of urban America / David Listokin, Dorothea Berkhout, James W. Hughes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Listokin, David, author.

Berkhout, Dorothea, 1950- author.

Hughes, James W., author.

Series:

Rivergate regionals.

Rivergate Regionals

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

City planning--New Jersey--New Brunswick.

City planning.

Cities and towns--Growth.

Cities and towns.

New Brunswick (N.J.)--History--21st century.

New Brunswick (N.J.).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (296 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New Brunswick, New Jersey ; London, [England] : Rutgers University Press, 2016.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

While many older American cities struggle to remain vibrant, New Brunswick has transformed itself, adapting to new forms of commerce and a changing population, and enjoying a renaissance that has led many experts to cite this New Jersey city as a model for urban redevelopment. Featuring more than 100 remarkable photographs and many maps, New Brunswick, New Jersey explores the history of the city since the seventeenth century, with an emphasis on the dramatic changes of the past few decades. Using oral histories, archival materials, census data, and surveys, authors David Listokin, Dorothea Berkhout, and James W. Hughes illuminate the decision-making and planning process that led to New Brunswick's dramatic revitalization, describing the major redevelopment projects that demonstrate the city's success in capitalizing on funding opportunities. These projects include the momentous decision of Johnson & Johnson to build its world headquarters in the city, the growth of a theater district, the expansion of Rutgers University into the downtown area, and the destruction and rebuilding of public housing. But while the authors highlight the positive effects of the transformation, they also explore the often heated controversies about demolishing older neighborhoods and ask whether new building benefits residents. Shining a light on both the successes and failures in downtown revitalization, they underscore the lessons to be learned for national urban policy, highlighting the value of partnerships, unwavering commitment, and local leadership. Today, New Brunswick's skyline has been dramatically altered by new office buildings, residential towers, medical complexes, and popular cultural centers. This engaging volume explores the challenges facing urban America, while also providing a specific case study of a city's quest to raise its economic fortunes and retool its economy to changing needs.

Contents:

Front matter

CONTENTS

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABBREVIATIONS

INTRODUCTION

1. The Economy of New Brunswick: A City Reinventing Itself from Inian's Ferry to the Information Age

2. The People of New Brunswick: Population and Resident Profile over Time

3. The National Context of Urban Revitalization

4. New Brunswick Transformation: Challenge and Strategic Response

5. New Brunswick Transformation: Critical Projects in a Multi-Decade Revitalization

6. Looking to the Past and Future of New Brunswick and National Urban Revitalization

Appendix A. New Brunswick Oral History Interviews, 2009-2015: Biographical Information

Appendix B. New Brunswick Redevelopment and Economic History: A Timeline

Appendix C. Maps

Notes

References

Index

About the Authors

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-8135-7558-3

OCLC:

948756491