| For the past two decades, A.
Nelessen Associates (ANA) in Belle Mead, NJ has
been involved in numerous projects utilizing transit-oriented
urban design principles. Realizing that transit is a
major component of urban design, the firm has concentrated
on mixed-use projects containing retail, residential,
embedded parking and civic space. Its fundamental belief
is that locating projects near transit encourages walkability,
safer streets, healthier people and less pollution.
Some
of ANA’s transit-oriented designs include
the plan for downtown Metuchen (1970s) and the
preliminary vision for the extension of the MAX
system in Portland, OR (1990s). More recent projects
have ranged from large cities such as Atlanta,
Milwaukee, Orlando, Rotterdam and Durbin, South
Africa, to smaller New Jersey communities such
as Dover, River Edge and Morristown. ANA has also
written several major transit-oriented redevelopment
plans, such as Newark's Mulberry Street Promenade
and Downtown Core Plan. The firm’s recent
project in Collingswood (a New Jersey designated
Transit Village) involved the creation of a transit-oriented
redevelopment plan which incorporated mixed-use
infill, new streetscapes and bicycle lanes, sidewalk
improvements, and “on-demand” transit/shared
parking decks. The “Heart of Collingswood”
project earned the firm a Smart Growth Award from
New Jersey Future in 2004.
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Downtown Collingswood redevelopment simulation
Source: www.nelessen.org
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The firm has pioneered and trademarked
the Visual Preference Survey™ (VPS) which allows
communities to participate in the creation of a physical
vision of their town or neighborhood. After participants
are shown various visions of their community, they indicate
which improvements they would most like to see. In conjunction
with the VPS™, their community design process
produces designs based on traditional development forms,
proportions and shapes. ANA urban design places a heavy
emphasis on mixed-use centers, compact design, walkability
and cyclability, proximity to transit and the creation
of parks, plazas and other civic spaces. ANA believes
that establishing integrated transportation systems
creates more vibrant, livable places while also balancing
the mobility needs and desires of all community members.
ANA’s work in transit-oriented
development has earned recognition from the New Jersey
Planning Officials, the NJ Office of Smart Growth and
the AIA of New Jersey. Some recent award-winning projects
include: the Jersey City Greenway Project and the Jersey
City University West Campus Redevelopment Plan.
The firm’s principal, Anton (Tony)
Nelessen, is a charter member of the Congress of New
Urbanism. He has more than 37 years of urban design
experience and has presented at many major conferences
around the world. He also serves as an Associate Professor
at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public
Policy, Rutgers University, in the Graduate Urban Planning
Program. He is the author of numerous publications including
a book, Visions for a New American Dream, published
by the American Planning Association (1999). Professor
Nelessen holds a professional degree in architecture
from the University of Minnesota and graduated from
the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
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