BAYONNE, NJ December 1, 2006 – The New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (NJAIA) awarded the 2006 Smart Growth Award to the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) for its plans for The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor. The award recognizes plans that demonstrate outstanding commitment to the principles of smart growth planning: construction of mixed-use, pedestrian friendly communities with ample connections to mass transit. The firm of Clarke, Caton, Hintz Architects, who designed the master plan for The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor, accepted the award at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Convention in Atlantic City on November 17th.

“This recognition, by a professional organization as highly regarded as the NJAIA, is tremendously gratifying,” said Nancy A. Kist, Esq., executive director of the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority. “For me, personally, its confirmation that we’re moving in the right direction with this project,” she added.

The NJAIA is just the latest organization to praise the development of the former military base. Earlier this year, the plans for The Peninsula were cited by the American Council of Engineering Companies of New Jersey who awarded the BLRA the 2006 "Award for Engineering Excellence" and last year the BLRA won both the New Jersey Planning Officials 2005 “Achievement in Planning Award” and the New Jersey Future 2005 “Smart Growth Award.”

“Leaders in the fields of architecture, engineering and urban planning all seem to agree: The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor is the gold standard for urban redevelopment,” said Bayonne Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr. “And I wish to commended the BLRA for assembling the team of architects, planners and engineers who are turning the dream of building a world-class development on Bayonne’s eastern waterfront into reality.”

About The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor
Since the U.S. Army transferred complete ownership of the former military base in 2002, the BLRA has raised more than $50 million in government grants and interim lease payments to make infrastructure improvements needed to attract development. These improvements include new bulkheads along the base’s south side and environmental remediation that was completed last year, ahead of schedule. Other projects include the installation of a new sewer system and planning for a new electrical grid and new roads.

Redevelopment of The Peninsula is organized around the creation of six different, yet integrated districts.

In 2004, Cape Liberty Cruise Port opened, marking the first tangible step in the transformation of the 430-acre site. It resulted in 51 cruise ship calls in its first season and created 300 jobs. Since then, the Cruise Port has grown to become the third-ranking passenger port on the East Coast (after New York and Miami).

Early this year, the BLRA approved plans for development of another district, Harbor Station North, by Fidelco which will consist of mid-rise housing, retail space, and park space adjacent to the 45th Street light rail station.

The approval of redeveloper agreements with Trammel Crow Residential and Bayonne Bay Developers for portions of Bayonne Bay begins the transformation of the third district into a vibrant mixed-use waterfront community.

Conditional agreements with Boraie Development for a portion of the Landing District and Taylor Real Estate for portions of the Landing and Loft Districts signify progress in other districts as well.

The Landing will have a water transit docking facility surrounded by a commercial and entertainment area as well as a residential section with mid-rise housing. The Loft District will be converted to hip loft-style housing units adjacent to the ferry landing with views of lower New York Harbor, the Verrazano Bridge and the golf course.

For more information about The Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority, visit www.bayonnenj.org/blra.


 

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