Newark, New Jersey, one of the nation's oldest and most diverse communities, is embracing its future through Newark360: Shaping Our City Together. The plan aims to accommodate growth while maintaining community integrity, inclusivity, and resiliency. 

The plan's policies specifically address inequities such as escalating housing costs, air quality issues, and lack of well-paying jobs. It is rooted in neighborhoods where citywide policies will have the most visible impact. 

Recognizing the need to include voices historically excluded from planning processes, the Newark360 team spent 12 months talking to Newarkers from all neighborhoods and all walks of life, ensuring the plan was shaped by their voices. Initiatives such as the Story Bus, youth involvement through the City Planning Institute, and neighborhood workshops held in each ward built broad community engagement. The plan guides Newark’s physical development and policy framework, embedding core values of health, equity, and resilience into the city’s physical environment.

Signature recommendations include increasing density allowances along the city’s main commercial corridors, removing parking minimums, exploring Accessory Dwelling Units for single-family neighborhoods, and celebrating the city’s arts, culture, and entertainment.

As Newark is a known heat island, the planning team prioritized environmental resilience by calling for the expansion of green roofs and an enhanced tree canopy, backed by an $8 million urban forestry grant from the U.S. Forest Service.  The plan also recommends that the City establish a full climate resiliency plan for the environmentally vulnerable East Ward and a citywide parks system plan to ensure equitable access to parks and open space for all.

Zoning reforms through NZLUR (Newark Zoning and Land Use Regulations) have increased the supply of mixed-use and affordable housing, allowing for three-family homes and taller buildings near transit hubs. Upzoning of commercial corridors further aims to strengthen local businesses and support more affordable housing options.

Congratulations to the City of Newark, its residents, and the team on this honor, and our team of collaborators: Arup, Bloomberg Associates, Heyer Gruel & Associates, Ninigret Partners, ONE Architecture + Urbanism, and Zakalak Associates.