In the fall 2011 semester, the Bloustein School commissioned The Raritan Borough Waterfront Redevelopment Studio, a graduate planning studio, to study the waterfront of Raritan Borough, New Jersey. The objective of the studio was to create a regenerative urban design plan for an underutilized portion of the Raritan Borough waterfront encompassing the 3/4-mile long Orlando Drive corridor. The studio was led by Princeton-based designer and planner Carlos Rodrigues, PP, AICP.
Ten students worked for three months to create a vision plan for the area, presenting their work to Raritan Borough officials and members of the public in early December, 2011. To ensure that the vision had “real-life” application, the studio worked closely with the Borough’s planner and engineer to craft concepts that would provide the basis for master plan and zoning amendments that could be adopted by the Borough. The Borough’s participation was funded by a grant from the Regional Center Partnership of Somerset County.