Please RSVP to APA-NJ Northeast Area Representative

Jessica L. Giorgianni, PP, AICP at jgiorgianni@H2M.com

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In the last ten years, more than $1 billion has been invested in new residential, commercial and mixed-use development in Downtown Newark. As new neighborhoods spring up, the City’s physical landscape, civic culture and demographic profile are rapidly changing, making Downtown Newark a 24/7 place to be. In step with the City’s development progress, Newark’s emerging LGBT community has made strides in transforming perceptions of Newark as a City that is safe for all people. This tour examines how planners in Newark are working with community stakeholders to bring back the Downtown, while cultivating a distinct, LGBT-friendly business and entertainment strip that can become a regional attraction. Come learn and see how a combination of zoning changes, infrastructure investments, financial incentives, and grassroots organizing has impacted the landscape of Downtown Newark and Newark’s LGBT community. During the tour, we will examine a number of questions, such as:

How do LGBT organizing and urban revitalization overlap and complement one another?

How has gentrification impacted Newark’s LGBT community?

How can planners and economic development professionals work better with LGBT community leaders to leverage their respective efforts to create a vital and thriving place?

Tour Itinerary:

Meet and begin at Penn Station 3:30PM

Market Street and Mulberry Street: Championship Plaza

Gateway Complex and Prudential Arena

Arena and Edison Row

Creation of an Arena entertainment district, loss of gay bar

Broad and Market (stop at the LGBT vendor corner)

Crime, perceptions and coming development

Military Park

Park renovation and large-scale redevelopment

Halsey Street

Tour of local businesses and overview of Halsey Street initiative

Newark LGBTQ Center

Staff from Newark Planning Office, Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, Newark LGBTQ Community Center and Newark Pride discuss ways that economic development efforts and LGBT community organizing can leverage each other

Happy Hour at 27 Mix 5:30PM

Enjoy free appetizers and drink specials until 8pm!