Newark Avenue Neighborhood & Redevelopment Zone

Surrounded on three sides by historically preserved neighborhoods, the Newark Avenue retail corridor was once a thriving hub of commerce. As the city declined decades ago, banks were replaced with discount stores. Today, the reversal is true. Boutiques have begun replacing pawn shops, restaurants and bars have begun to return, and new banks are returning to the once opulent buildings that once housed their 19th century counterparts.

The neighborhood of Newark Avenue does not enjoy the same de facto cohesiveness that the historic districts receive. The Harsimus Cove or Van Vorst Neighborhoods that flank Newark Avenue are very clearly defined by their historic preservation districts. The Western end of Newark Avenue though lacks any cohesive, unifying location such as the parks that clearly define Hamilton and Van Vorst neighborhoods.

In essence, the western portion of the neighborhood is bound by the elevated portion of the New Jersey Turnpike. To the south, Christopher Columbus Drive and an old elevated rail yard. To the north and east, the Harsimus Cove and Hamilton Park Historic districts create a boundary.

The Newark Avenue area has not seen the installation of large scale modern developments like the waterfront or Paulus Hook, and lacks the ornate brownstones of the historic districts. The housing stock mostly is older and in need of replacement or renovation. These needed renovations are beginning throughout the neighborhood. For now, the most affordable downtown housing units are probably here. The neighborhood is mostly Zone 1 resident parking.