Disillusionment of Redevelopment: Red Bull Arena

 Colin Macfadyen

TEAM: Commercial Ecologies
SITE: Red Bull Redevelopment Area, Harrison, New Jersey
PROJECT: Disillusionment of Redevelopment: Red Bull Arena

My group worked to uncover the dynamics of commercial ecologies in Harrison, New Jersey. A major component of this research was the ongoing Redevelopment Plan that was originally spearheaded by the introduction of Red Bull Arena to the waterfront area. The Arena was intended to be a vital role in not only fostering an environment for a commercial area, but also to provide community oriented spaces (for events like graduations or regional youth soccer matches during).

Ultimately, there are many gaps in the relationship between Red Bull and the Town of Harrison. A sense of disillusionment comes not only in the non-participation of Red Bull, but in the formalization of the town plan itself. While conceptually the plan speaks to deeper needs of the community at large, its form is oriented towards wholesale development in the hand of a single developer.

I focus my observations on the area immediately surrounding Red Bull Arena. Fifteen years in development, there is little to show for it outside of the Arena itself — largely due to a stagnant economy. How can development proceed in an slow, iterative process based around outward development from a node? This node, unlike Red Bull Stadium, will be able to foster both commercial and community oriented enterprises. A theater, for instance, has the potential to show movies, historical films, host theatre groups, religious events, and provide childcare. This node could also be an empty space that is made to receive three important elements to the area: sports, wildlife, and water with the built environment attaching itself to the edges.

Finally, whether development is determinate or not (based completely on developers), there are available spaces, and potentialities for interim and temporary development to take place in the meantime. Furthermore, the surrounding area has potential for growth, and could even act as test sites for a new methodology. Ultimately, I hope to bring to light the promises made by the Redevelopment Plan (published in October 2003), and propose a rethinking of the development to come in the future.