The Cary Edwards Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have an outstanding commitment to improving quality of life and promoting smart growth in New Jersey through sustainable land-use policy and practice. This year, New Jersey Future is honoring Peter Reinhart for his decades of service and commitment to fair and affordable housing and bridging the real estate development and smart growth agendas, and for his years of leadership on progressive land use policy and with the New Jersey Future Board of Trustees.

The winners will be honored at a virtual event on December 15 at 4pm.

Whitlock Mills, Jersey City

Reactivation and repurposing of a historic group of dormant industrial buildings to bring new mixed-income housing to a rapidly changing area of redevelopment

Primary Partners: RPM Development Group; City of Jersey City; New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency; Inglese Architecture + Engineering

A revolutionary citywide lead removal program recognized as a national model for its aggressive approach to removing lead from drinking water

Primary Partners: City of Newark; Newark Department of Water and Sewer; State of New Jersey; County of Essex; CDM Smith

A 23-story state-of-the-art mixed-use arts hub housing two theaters and rehearsal space for beloved local theater companies and university students

Primary Partners: New Brunswick Development Corporation; City of New Brunswick; County of Middlesex; Rutgers University; Pennrose; New Brunswick Parking Authority

Landmark redesign of a bustling historic corridor spanning 16 blocks in the city

Primary Partners: City of Hoboken; T&M Associates; Underground Utilities Corporation; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; North Hudson Sewerage Authority; Suez

Community-focused restoration of an abandoned historic icon creating new housing and retail

Primary Partners: Golden Towers Corp; Studio for Urban Architecture & Design (SUAD); City of Newark (Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission)

Innovative nonprofit-driven restoration of a sizable historic building creating affordable mixed-used workspace for local nonprofits and artists

Primary Partners: Isles, Inc.; Hamilton Township; New Jersey Community Capital; US Bancorp Community Development Corporation

Former Director of Kislack Real Estate Institute at Monmouth University

Presented each year at the New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards celebration to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving quality of life and promoting smart, sustainable growth in New Jersey; awarded to Peter Reinhart this year for his decades of service and commitment to fair and affordable housing and bridging real estate development and smart growth, and for his years of leadership on progressive land use policy and with the New Jersey Future Board of Trustees

Founded in 1987, New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes sensible growth, redevelopment and infrastructure investments to foster vibrant cities and towns, protect natural lands and waterways, enhance transportation choices, provide access to safe, affordable and aging-friendly neighborhoods and fuel a strong economy. The organization does this through original research, innovative policy development, coalition-building, advocacy, and hands-on strategic assistance. Embracing differences and advancing fairness is central to New Jersey Future’s mission and operations. To effectively advance its mission, New Jersey Future is firmly committed to pursue a culture of greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion through its programs, internal operations and external communications.

About the Smart Growth Awards

Since 2002, New Jersey Future has honored smart planning and development in New Jersey through the Smart Growth Awards. To date more than 100 plans and projects in every county and statewide have been honored. List and categorized map of winners.