In Clinton Hill, new development has too often appeared overnight, leaving residents feeling disconnected from decisions shaping their own neighborhoods. To address this, Clinton Hill Community Action launched the Development Watch Program in 2022, a community-centered effort designed to educate and empower residents throughout the development process.
Development Watch serves as a real-time civics lesson. By guiding residents through zoning processes, public meetings, and development proposals, the program helps community members understand their rights, their role, and their collective power. According to Housing Program Manager Nii Abladey Otu, Development Watch was born from years of resident frustration with unexpected construction and a desire for transparency, accountability, and community-led planning.
Since its launch, the program has helped secure several wins for the neighborhood. Residents have successfully opposed multifamily housing proposals in single-family zones, blocked the placement of a rehabilitation facility next to a liquor store, and encouraged developers to redesign projects to better fit community needs. Today, both the Zoning Board and Central Planning Board routinely ask developers whether they have engaged the community, a shift directly influenced by Development Watch’s presence.
One example of this collaborative approach is the development of the Voorhees Units, led by project developer Ty Griffith. Griffith entered the process with a stated commitment to community involvement. Through his partnership with CHCA and the support of South Ward Councilman Pat Council, he brought residents into the conversation early, working to ensure that the project reflected community priorities.
The Voorhees site, once known for dumping, chronic nuisance activity, and instability, has been transformed into a symbol of progress. Griffith’s leadership, combined with resident feedback and Development Watch advocacy, helped shape a housing development informed by community voices and built to address documented concerns about safety and site conditions.
The Voorhees Project stands as a reminder that developers and communities do not have to stand on opposite sides. When developers lead with transparency and openness, and when residents are invited to the table, neighborhoods can be rebuilt in ways that benefit everyone.
Residents who want to stay connected to the Development Watch process can reach out to Clinton Hill Community Action Housing Development Manager Nii Abladey at 201-228-0757 or housingdevelopment@
