The Box and Beyond

Cities are built from public and private pieces. Houses, offices, yards, and stores are generally private, and the diverse appearances of these places reflect their diverse ownership. At the same time, the spaces between these private places − streets, parks, sidewalks, and plazas − are public. The public and private pieces of a city depend on one another to look good and function well. This booklet looks at the most plentiful type of private structure in Newark, the small multifamily house, and how it connects with the public spaces of the City − streets, sidewalks, and transit systems. If we improve how these pieces fit together, we can make Newark a more beautiful and enjoyable place to live.

The practice of urban design concerns the shared living environment of the city. Planners and urban designers don’t design individual buildings, but try to create rules to improve the spaces shared by all buildings and residents. These rules often focus on the connections between public and private pieces of a city. All new rules must be approved by the city government through zoning laws, which are the local rules that all buildings must follow.

Especially in old cities like Newark, where the physical fabric of buildings and open spaces has evolved over centuries, good zoning laws preserve the special flavor of a place while allowing new buildings to help it evolve and shine. In this booklet, you will find the laws that Newark recently adopted to govern the design of two- and three-family infill houses – houses constructed in already built-up areas. You will find the story of how these laws were developed, and the thinking behind them. But, because the challenge of improving the urban design of a city cannot be ​“solved” once and for all, this booklet aims to provoke and support an ongoing discussion between Newarkers and their City government about how to improve Newark and its built environment.

All residents and city-users are qualified to serve as urban design advisors. We hope this booklet serves to spark the conversation.