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May 2005 Volume 1, Number 1
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Practitioner Spotlight: Joel Schwartz, Landmark
Companies
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Joel Schwartz is a principal of
Landmark Companies, L.L.C., a design-oriented
development firm located in Princeton and Keasbey,
New Jersey. Prior to the formation of Landmark,
he was a principal for 20 years of Atlantic Development
Realty Corporation, located in Woodbridge, New
Jersey. During this time, Joel was the principal-in-charge
of more than a dozen major development projects
comprised of more than 3,000 housing units and
over 1 million square feet of retail and office
space. In particular, Mr. Schwartz has a special
interest and expertise in downtown redevelopment
while embracing the principles of traditional
town planning.
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| At Landmark, he is
involved with every aspect of the firm: land acquisition,
planning, design, development, approvals and construction.
Landmark builds housing at all price points throughout
New Jersey: affordable housing, multi-family housing,
rental flats, market-rate condominiums and high-end,
single-family homes.
One project which embodies a number of design
features that Landmark believes are fundamental
to successful downtown redevelopment is Franklin
Square in Metuchen, New Jersey. Franklin Square
is a six-acre infill site located just a five-minute
walk from the NJ TRANSIT train station. The 105-unit
project was designed to fit in architecturally
with the surrounding neighborhoods, to wear well
over time and to provide the residents with the
amenities of beautiful streetscapes and convenient,
but dispersed parking. |
Franklin Square,
Metuchen, NJ
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| Franklin Square, a proven success with
upscale homebuyers, has also attracted critical acclaim
and media attention. Locally, this project was the recipient
of the 2002 Achievement in Planning Award from the New
Jersey Planning Officials (NJPO). The National Association
of Home Builders in 2002 awarded Franklin Square its
Best in American Living silver medal in the category
of Best Smart Growth Community. It was also the cover
article in Land Development magazine's Winter
2002 issue. |
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Landmark is spearheading other transit-oriented
projects. In Rahway, plans have been approved
for the construction of a $20 million mixed-use
project, Park Square, which features 159 units
of market rate housing and 6,000 sq. ft. of commercial
space. |
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Joel is active in promoting the principles of "New
Urbanism." He is a charter member of the Congress
for the New Urbanism, a "nonprofit membership organization
dedicated to the concept that compact, pedestrian-friendly,
mixed-use neighborhoods are the best building blocks
for vibrant communities." Joel has also served
as a regular panelist with the New Jersey Mayors' Institute
on Community Design, a select group that meets in multi-day
retreats to discuss design and planning issues with
Mayors from around the state.
Joel was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He received
his undergraduate degree in American Studies from Brandeis
University and his master's degree in Architecture from
the University of Oregon. He is both a registered architect
and a licensed planner in the state of New Jersey.
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