Creating Places to Age in New Jersey

Tim EvansNew Jersey Future

Redevelopment Forum 2014March 14, 2014

New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings together concerned citizens

and leaders to promote responsible land-use policies. The organization employs original research, analysis and advocacy to build coalitions and drive land-use policies

that help revitalize cities and towns, protect natural lands and farms, provide more transportation choices

beyond cars, expand access to safe and affordable neighborhoods and fuel a prosperous economy.

New Jersey Is Getting Older

As of 2012, more than 2.3 million New Jersey residents – 26.6 percent of the state’s population – were at least 55 years old, with more than half of that total over the age of 65 and nearly 200,000 being 85 or older.

Aging and Land Use

From a land-use perspective, has New Jersey built the kinds of places – and built enough of them – that provide what older adults are likely to be seeking as they age?

Aging-Friendliness and Land Use

1. Compactness of the development pattern2. Presence of a mixed-use center3. Street network connectivity4. Access to public transportation

Aging-Friendliness and Land Use

1. Compactness of the development pattern

as measured by net activity density= (population + employment) / developed acres

Higher activity density is better for older people because it puts destinations closer together, an important consideration for people with constraints on their mobility.

Aging-Friendliness and Land Use

2. Presence of a mixed-use center

as indicated by:• designated center in the State Plan or Pinelands (or Highlands)

• SID, BID, or “Main Street” organization• others meeting density threshold (e.g., Harrison, Keansburg,

Lambertville, Bordentown, much of southern Bergen County)

Town centers with multiple land use types in close proximity allow those with limited mobility, or with limited desire to drive, to maximize their trip-making by minimizing the distances among different types of destinations.

Aging-Friendliness and Land Use

3. Street network connectivity

as measured by local road density= route-miles of local road / square mile

Without connectivity, high density and mixed use can end up meaning that you can see your destination out your window but have to walk or drive a mile to get to it.

Street network connectivity

• Connectivity is an important measure of ped-friendliness• Shore towns generally score well, despite having low year-round density

Street network connectivity

Aging-Friendliness and Land Use

4. Access to public transportation

as measured by local bus stops per square mile

Public transit access is presumed to be a plus for older people, because it offers them access to destinations to which they may not feel comfortable driving.

Aging-Friendliness and Land Use

1. Compactness of the development pattern2. Presence of a mixed-use center3. Street network connectivity4. Access to public transportation

The land-use characteristics that make a place good for older people are the same “smart-growth” features that make it easier for everybody to get around.

Compactness of the development pattern

Presence of a mixed-use center

Street network connectivity

Access to public transportation

Aging-Friendliness and

Land UseGood news: 31.3 percent of all New Jersey residents aged 55 or older live in one of the 107 municipalities that score well on all four aging-friendliness development metrics. Bad news: 13.1 percent – almost 300,000 people – live in one of the 109 municipalities that score poorly on all four.

Aging-friendly, but not aging-ready

Aging-friendly, but not aging-ready

More than just land-use patterns:• Housing types• Housing unit size• Housing affordability• Crime• Pedestrian safety (sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic light timing, vehicle speeds….)

Creating Places To Age

In places that already have “good bones”:• Add to and diversify the housing stock• Address safety issues

In places that score poorly:• Create brand-new “downtowns” (e.g. Robbinsville Town Center, Plainsboro)• Retrofit existing single-use development to make more mixed-use and ped-friendly (e.g. Willingboro, Echelon Mall, Somerdale)

Creating Places To Age

Thank you!

Tim EvansResearch Director

tevans@njfuture.orgNew Jersey Future

137 W. Hanover St.Trenton, N.J. 08618

609-393-0008 ext. 103http://www.njfuture.org

Who Lives in Downtown Cranford?

New housing options brings more empty nesters than expected.

Who is living in downtown Cranford in 2014?

3 new mixed-use projects & townhomes built since 2003 have brought a huge increase in empty nesters calling downtown home .

• Cranford Crossing – 50 luxury units • Riverfront at Cranford Station – 126 luxury units• 29 Alden – 14 luxury units• Northgate – 8 luxury townhomes• More than 80% empty nesters• Most from Cranford, Westfield & other nearby towns• 198 units / 3 children / 1 school age

Is this a new trend in Cranford?

• No. Downtown residents have typically been divided into two age groups: 55-63 yrs and 23-32 yrs. The difference is the growing number of Baby Boomers.– 55 + yrs have traditionally occupied apartment

and condo buildings in and surrounding downtown for many years

– 55+ yrs are the predominant tenants of new luxury housing

– 23-32 yrs typically occupy apartments above stores

What makes downtown living appealing?

• Familiarity – downsize but remain in a place that is familiar, interesting

and easier; close to family, friends, clubs, civic activities, doctors, gym, hairdresser, etc

• Convenience/Active Lifestyle– Downtown offers easy access to stores, restaurants,

churches, professional & personal services, library, community center, parks, bike paths, pools, tennis,etc.

• Pedestrian & Transportation Oriented– Easy access/walk to above, rail & bus transportation

What about all of the schoolchildren & traffic problems?

• Not an issue & not an issue– We know from our own Cranford evaluations that

downtown residential projects have not added any significant numbers of school children

– People living downtown are walking, not driving, to stores, restaurants, services, train etc.

The Dollars & Cents • Providing downtown housing options pays off

for the municipality and local businesses– Downtown residents of all ages help to create a

“downtown neighborhood”– In a 2013 survey, 60% of Cranford business owners

said downtown residents support their business; 23% weren’t sure

– Two redevelopment projects and several smaller housing projects have generated almost $90 million of private investment