Joint PhD Program in Urban Systems

Colette Santasieri

Track
Urban Environment

E-Mail
santasieri@njit.edu

Work Position
Director of Strategic Initiatives, NJIT

Date passed dissertation proposal defense
December 8, 2009

Biography

Colette Santasieri currently serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives in NJIT’s Office of Research and Development where she is responsible for overseeing and conducting externally funded research, projects and programs in the areas of land use, transportation and environmental planning, and public policy.  Colette possesses extensive environmental planning and civil engineering experience in both the public and private sectors in the areas of transportation planning and design; environmental planning, permitting and NEPA compliance; capital programming; brownfields; port security; and land use planning. 

Colette holds a BS in Environmental Planning and Design from Cook College, Rutgers University, and an MS in Civil Engineering (Construction Management concentration) from NJIT.  

Title of the Dissertation

Port of Call or Port of Conflict: The Evolution of the Port of New York and New Jersey, Port-city Relationships, and Land Use Changes on the Newark Bay Waterfront

Dissertation Proposal Abstract

The evolution of seaports from pre-medieval to contemporary times has resulted in transformations not only of ports, but the port-city relationship as well.   Whereas seaports and their associated urban centers once enjoyed a close functional and spatial relationship, most ports in industrialized nations have moved away from central city locations and focus on global markets and connections, while urban centers focus on local issues and quality of life.  The waterfront, located within the port-city interface, is an area where former port and industrial properties are being redeveloped.  Ports competing in the global economy view the waterfront as not only an operational necessity but an area for expansion, transportation connections, and port related industry.  Conversely, city governments view the waterfront as an opportunity for economic regeneration, reimaging, and quality of life improvements.  Competition for waterfront property between ports and city governments is on the rise.  When such property is redeveloped for non-industrial land uses near a working port, conflicts may arise.

This research is a case study of the Port of New York and New Jersey and the redeveloping waterfronts of the cities of Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City and Bayonne, and the town of Kearny which lay on Newark Bay in New Jersey.  This research follows three main themes: the evolution of the Port of New York and New Jersey; the relationship between Port Newark/Elizabeth Marine Terminal (and its owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey) and the five Newark Bay municipalities; and existing, or the potential for, land use conflicts between Port Newark/Elizabeth Marine Terminal and redeveloping waterfronts on Newark Bay.