Economic shift from suburbs to cities

The technology boom of the 1990s has essentially uprooted the suburban office agglomeration of the 1980s that drew people to suburban New Jersey in the first place.

James W. Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, said in the 1980s, New Jersey was ranked as the fifth largest office market in the country.

“It’s no longer a key dynamic [to economic success],” he said. “Twenty-five to 35 years ago was the pre-Internet era, and now these office buildings are becoming obsolete.”

Atlanticville, January 28