Exploring Industurbia

Englewood, New Jersey

Outside of the urban boundaries, things historically progress in a seeping, rather than overflowing fashion. Unlimited by parcel size or locked into a street grid, a more relaxed low-rise format of architecture, reflected not only in the residential but in the industrial as well. Besides the expected structures clustered by railroad lines or interstate highways, you can small factories and warehouses, just beyond the single family houses, as one gets closer to those railroads or highways. They are a bit modest, and very well designed, as if to be a blend between the domestic and industrial. Industrial suburbia, which I call ‘industurbia.’

Not far from where I live, I explored on foot, an area of Englewood, New Jersey along the now nearly unused rail line, Proud single story structures with a nice post-WW2 modern sensibility. Light or reddish brown brick, some curved features, small lawn and garden areas, adequate parking are all features easily found.

Englewood, work in progress

I don’t see much traffic going in or out. I think they mostly are businesses that rely less on the railroad than in the past. A little further up in Tenafly, a long time hardware store just closed down. Benjamin Brothers was featured in a scene in the film ‘Garden State.’ A senior employee told me how it was situated near the tracks so they could simply move lumber from off the train about 100 feet away. And that helped build the burbs in the 1950s.

These reminders of a busier suburban past stand proudly in their worn uniforms, like old soldiers reminding us of the glory and the cause.