Triangle Park
NDCRC is currently working on the development of a world-class park located between Lafayette Street and Edison Place, in keeping with the City’s promise to provide recreational green space throughout New Jersey’s largest City. The development of Triangle Park will mark the first park development in the downtown area in 30 years. Triangle Park provides an opportunity to connect culture, education and commerce in a seamless manner for all.

 

In 2009, the NDCRC completed Championship Plaza on behalf of the New Jersey Devils. The 50,000sf retail space is located on Mulberry Street between Edison Place and Market Street. This beautiful green space was developed to provide entertainment, special programming and attract tourists in order to cultivate culture and commerce in the Newark Downtown area. The Plaza contains a 21ft. tall, monumental icon hockey player stature, conceived and created by a native New Jersey artist. This statue in conjunction with the plaza has garnered tourists from as far as Sweden, with the primary goal of viewing this unique statue.

This public/private space is owned by the Newark Housing Authority, and managed by the New Jersey Devils. The Plaza will host a variety of activities. On event days, it can be used for special programming related to large-scale productions taking place inside the arena. On non-event days, it can be used as park-like area for people to meet and congregate.

Click here to view a Visual Timeline of the current construction of Championship Plaza

In 2007, NDCRC completed the construction of the Prudential “The Rock” Arena, located between Lafayette Street and Edison Place. Arena development involved public infrastructure improvements, land acquisition, successful relocation of commercial tenants and construction. The Prudential Center opened its doors in October of 2007.

NDCRC’s team of experts in partnership with the Devils, succeeded in achieving their construction deadline on time. Thousands attended the grand opening with a performance by American rock group Bon Jovi. Since its opening, the Arena has attracted over 3 million visitors generating revenues for the City. Millions more are expected to attend the arena in 2010, with the addition of the Nets Basketball games, NCAA Tournament and concert performances. The Prudential Center received numerous awards for architecture and the quality of transportation access.

“The Rock” cost an estimated $400mm to build. The City of Newark contributed $220 million for construction. The New Jersey Devils provided the balance of the funds necessary to build the Prudential Center and had ultimate authority on the construction of the building. The Devils have a 30 year lease with the Newark Housing Authority.

NDCRC was responsible for providing construction management oversight of the Prudential Center on behalf of the City of Newark and the Newark Housing Authority. The Newark Housing Authority owns the Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils are the tenants.

Click here to view a Visual Timeline of the Prudential Center

A three-year road improvement project, known as the “Circulation Project” consists of the widening of Mulberry Street from Market Street on the North to Lafayette and Green Streets on the South and the straightening of Lafayette Street traversing along an East/West line from Broad Street to Route 21.

More than any other project, the Circulation Project proved the most challenging for NDCRC management. This construction was challenging for three reasons. First, project funding expired shortly after the project started, second, the necessary right of ways were not acquired before the project began and third the City’s Engineering Department did not have the capacity to execute the project. The NDCRC assumed control of the project in late 2006 and managed to complete it two weeks before the Prudential Center Grand Opening.

The Circulation project was originally funded by a State of New Jersey Department of Transportation grant that originated in 2004, but ran out of funds at the end of 2006, hence the need for the City of Newark to invest $34 million in the project that would not only help provide funding to complete the road work, but contribute to the surge of the future Downtown Core Redevelopment area.

Click here to view a Visual Timeline of the Roads Around the Arena