Richard E. Polton

Richard E. Polton is a native of Paterson, NJ attended local schools and went on to study architecture, urban history and planning at Columbia University, the Rhode Island School of Design and MIT. He is a professional real estate analyst and consultant and has published numerous articles in the leading appraisal and planning professional publications on a topics related to urban redevelopment, affordable housing, charter schools and other topics. He is the author of a book on market analysis and valuation of affordable housing that is the industry standard. As a principal at Value Research Group, LLC www.valueresearch.com in Livingston, NJ, he conducts valuations, market studies, expert testimony and consulting advise to a wide variety of governmental agencies, not for profits and law firms.

His fascination with Paterson history has kept him busy when not at the office. Polton accidently came upon the story of Fred Wesley Wentworth, a Paterson architect, in 2006, while looking for Paterson memorabilia on eBay. He has spent the past six years researching and photographing the work of this largely forgotten architect. As Polton became involved in the research on Wentworth, he realized that the architect had designed the buildings that had shaped his family's history. The buildings where they were born, went to school, went to synagogue, were married, worked were all Wentworth designed. He has now completed a book on Wentworth's career. www.fredwesleywentworth.com

Polton lives in Glen Ridge, NJ, He is married to Bobbie Polton who has learned to tolerate his fascination with Paterson.