NEWARK, New Jersey

Newark is the largest city in New Jersey, United States, and the county seat of urban Essex County. As of the 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 273,546, making it the largest municipality in New Jersey and the 64th largest city in the U.S. According to the US Census Bureau, the city's 2006 population estimate is 281,402, an increase of 2.9% from 2000.

It is located approximately five miles (8 km) west of Manhattan and two miles (3 km) north of Staten Island. Its location near the Atlantic Ocean on Newark Bay has helped make its port facility, Port Newark, the major container shipping port on Newark Bay and for New York Harbor. Together with Elizabeth, it is the home of Newark Liberty International Airport, which was the first major airport to serve the New York metropolitan area.

Newark was originally formed as a township on October 31, 1693, based on the Newark Tract, which was first purchased on July 11, 1667. Newark was granted a Royal Charter on April 27, 1713, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. During its time as a township, portions were taken to form Springfield Township (April 14, 1794), Caldwell Township (February 16, 1798, now known as Fairfield Township), Orange Township (November 27, 1806), Bloomfield Township (March 23, 1812) and Clinton Township (April 14, 1834, remainder reabsorbed by Newark on March 5, 1902). Newark was reincorporated as a city on April 11, 1836, replacing Newark Township, based on the results of a referendum passed on March 18, 1836. The previously independent Vailsburg borough was annexed by Newark on January 1, 1905.Newark is divided into five wards; North Ward, South Ward, West Ward, East Ward, and Central Ward.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark,_New_Jersey)

CENTRAL WARD

The proposed site for the multi-family, mixed use project utilizing shipping containers is located at the northern tip of Newark's Central Ward.

There are approximately 54,337 residents in the Central Ward. The Central Ward is currently known as "Science Park." This ward's ethnicity is predominately African-American and is known as the old Third Ward.

The Central Ward was once known as the Central Business District. Before the redistricting of the wards, the Central Ward held major department stores: Hayne & Co., Bamberger's (Macy's), S. Klein, Orbach's, Two Guys, and 3 B's.

This ward is also known for its many historical sites: the Krueger Mansion, Metropolitan Baptist Church, Abyssinian Baptist Church, and Eberhardt Hall, now a part of the NJIT campus, just to name a few.

In 1967, the Central Ward was the focal point of the social unrest of the period. The main destruction took place on Bergen Street between Clinton and Springfield Avenues.

In 1969, the New Community Corporation was developed in conjunction with the Queen of Angels Church. This corporation now has one of the largest day care centers, a senior housing facility, and a community housing facility in the Central Ward.

The Central Ward also houses the city's largest Olympic-size swimming pool at the John F. Kennedy Recreation Center.

In 1970, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey was developed on a 60-acre tract. Today it is the largest health sciences university in the nation. Directly across from the university is the first major supermarket developed in the Central Ward, Pathmark.

This Ward is the heart of the City of Newark. It holds four universities: Rutgers, Essex County College, NJIT, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, twenty-eight elementary schools, two police precincts, four firehouses, and one branch library.

(http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/residents/neighborhood_services/central_ward.php)