First Generation Suburbs: Putting Principle into Practice
An Assessment of Ten First Generation Communities in Camden and Gloucester Counties

First Generation Suburbs: Putting Principle into Practice

Product No.: 03028
Date Published: 10/2003

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In December 1998 DVRPC released a report entitled The Future of First Generation Suburbs in the Delaware Valley, which defined the economic disadvantages facing older suburbs. The term "first generation suburb" generally refers to the earliest townships and boroughs to develop outside a region's central city. A second report, published in August 2000, assessed six municipalities that comprise the William Penn School District in Delaware County, an area characteristic of the region's first generation communities. The current study documents demographic and socio-economic conditions in ten first generation communities in Camden and Gloucester counties; identifies the study area's challenges and opportunities; and presents recommendations for revitalization, including broad regional strategies, intermunicipal cooperation and coalition building, and local initiatives. Two case studies are also presented which illustrate potential approaches for addressing problems common in first generation communities: revitalizing an existing residential street to enhance the visual environment and provide buffering between the street and adjacent industrial uses (King Street in Gloucester City) and the redevelopment of a greyfield (the Woodbury Heights Plaza in Woodbury Heights).

Geographic Area Covered: National Park, Wenonah, Westville, Woodbury Heights and Woodbury City in Gloucester County, New Jersey; and Audubon, Audubon Park, Brooklawn, Gloucester City and Mt. Ephraim in Camden County, New Jersey

Key Words: "First Generation" suburbs, inner ring communities, z-score, regional tax-base sharing, intermunicipal cooperation, greyfields

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