Newark: Real Estate, Development, News, & Politics

[block944]

Newark NJ will host the first and second round Eastern Regional games of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. This is being touted as a major win in the battle with the IZOD center… and it is. Not only is there a significant amount of prestige tied to the NCAA Tournament it is logistically much more challenging. The first and second rounds host the most teams, most games and most fans of any of the rounds of the NCAA. Even major playoff and championship games do not require the logistical support necessary for the NCAA.

[scrollhectic]

M & M breaks ground on $10M Newark mixed-use development

October 27, 2009 06:30PM By David Jones (http://therealdeal.com/looks/byq/David%20Jones)

http://s3.amazonaws.com/trd_three/images/132523/harmony_square_jumpin.jpg
From left: Newark Mayor Cory Booker at Harmony Square's groundbreaking, a rendering of phase I of the development at the corner of Third and Broad streets, and M & M Development founders Maria Yglesias and Maria Del Mar Lopez at groundbreaking


M & M Development and Newark Mayor Cory Booker led a groundbreaking ceremony today for Harmony Square, a $10.2 million development in the city's North Ward that combines market-rate condominiums with affordable housing.

The first condo phase and the rental phase are starting at the same time with a 2010 completion date.

The condo, called Condominiums@Harmony Square, will include two main developments, including 24 new condominium homes. The rental building, Apartments@Harmony Square, includes the rehabilitation of a 16-unit rental building with 10 units set aside for supportive housing, for domestic violence survivors and homeless residents looking for a stable residence.

Construction of the rest of the condos -- three new buildings with 21 condominium units and one duplex -- will kick off next year and finish a year later.

Developer Maria Yglesias, co-founder of M & M, said the project was converted into a mixed-use development from its original plan as a rental building, due to problems in the financing market.

"We had to reinvent the project," she said at the groundbreaking ceremony. "That is a very difficult thing to do."

The project, located at 103 Broad Street, was financed with a combination of public funds and private lender financing.

Additional financing comes from several state and local agencies, including $1.7 million from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

Units for low- to moderate-income residents will cost between $75,000 and $175,000 and market-rate units will start at $151,000.

Homebuyers will be eligible for 15-year tax abatements and buyers of the project's two duplex units will be eligible for five-year abatements.

The city of Newark has provided $250,000 for the rental component and the developer says it is exploring additional funding sources.

Yglesias says the company is hoping to line up funding for the final condo piece by the summer of 2010.

M & M has completed a number of developments in Newark, including Cathedral Homes in the city's Central Ward and Villa Esperanza, an affordable rental program in the city's South Ward.

[scrollhectic]

Branch Brook Commons Opens in North Ward By Betsy Kraat

NEWARK--Mayor Cory A. Booker and other dignitaries opened the Branch Brook Condominium, which is one of the largest residential condo opening in Newark in the last 30 years.

It is a new market-rate 36-residential unit development, at 887 Franklin Avenue, in Newark’s North Ward, at an afternoon ceremony today.

The project, close to Branch Brook Park and its Newark Light Rail station, was developed by the East Ward-based Lucky Realty Associates. Greg Comitto & Associates, of Warren Street, was the architectural firm, while Green Star Construction, based on McCarter Highway, was the construction company. All are long-time Newark businesses.

Branch Brook Condominiums will offer residents two-bedroom apartments with two full baths, as well as a gymnasium and private parking on a gated lot. It also has six commercial units on its ground floor. Apartments vary in size from 1,100 sf to 1,300 sf. The commercial units vary in size from 1,179 sf to 1,651 sf.

Despite a sluggish national economy, Newark remains one of the fastest-growing cities in the Northeastern United States, with market-rate and affordable housing development springing up in every neighborhood in the City. The project is also supporting the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s “Live Where You Work” program, which provides low-interest mortgages to homebuyers who work in and who are looking to purchase a home in Newark, which has partnered with the City of Newark to increase home ownership and Newark residency in the City’s work force.

Amy Jacobs, a former Manhattan resident who is purchasing a condo, was also enthusiastic about the new project. “I was really impressed by the size of condo and its close proximity to public transportation. It’s affordable and will greatly improve my quality of life,” she said.

The Booker administration has made the creation of affordable and low-income housing one of its highest priorities and has doubled production of affordable housing since taking office in July 2006. Through partnerships with such organizations as Episcopal Community Development, Project Live, Inc., New Community Corporation and philanthropists like musician Jon Bon Jovi, the City of Newark has renovated or created hundreds of affordable and low-income housing developments in every ward.

[newarkhiphop]

Branch Brook Commons Opens in North Ward By Betsy Kraat

NEWARK--Mayor Cory A. Booker and other dignitaries opened the Branch Brook Condominium, which is one of the largest residential condo opening in Newark in the last 30 years.

It is a new market-rate 36-residential unit development, at 887 Franklin Avenue, in Newark’s North Ward, at an afternoon ceremony today.

The project, close to Branch Brook Park and its Newark Light Rail station, was developed by the East Ward-based Lucky Realty Associates. Greg Comitto & Associates, of Warren Street, was the architectural firm, while Green Star Construction, based on McCarter Highway, was the construction company. All are long-time Newark businesses.

Branch Brook Condominiums will offer residents two-bedroom apartments with two full baths, as well as a gymnasium and private parking on a gated lot. It also has six commercial units on its ground floor. Apartments vary in size from 1,100 sf to 1,300 sf. The commercial units vary in size from 1,179 sf to 1,651 sf.

Despite a sluggish national economy, Newark remains one of the fastest-growing cities in the Northeastern United States, with market-rate and affordable housing development springing up in every neighborhood in the City. The project is also supporting the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s “Live Where You Work” program, which provides low-interest mortgages to homebuyers who work in and who are looking to purchase a home in Newark, which has partnered with the City of Newark to increase home ownership and Newark residency in the City’s work force.

Amy Jacobs, a former Manhattan resident who is purchasing a condo, was also enthusiastic about the new project. “I was really impressed by the size of condo and its close proximity to public transportation. It’s affordable and will greatly improve my quality of life,” she said.

The Booker administration has made the creation of affordable and low-income housing one of its highest priorities and has doubled production of affordable housing since taking office in July 2006. Through partnerships with such organizations as Episcopal Community Development, Project Live, Inc., New Community Corporation and philanthropists like musician Jon Bon Jovi, the City of Newark has renovated or created hundreds of affordable and low-income housing developments in every ward.

Thats a nice development close to the forest hill section, they asking for $1,150 /month

Also the nets coming to Newark short or long term is a good look, prucenter needs to get a larger variety , from now till April 2010 all the have is devil, Seton hall and miley cirus smh

[newarkhiphop]

anybody know what there building here

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=1002+broad+street+newark,nj&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=1002+Broad+St,+Newark,+NJ+07102&gl=us&ei=N1zqSu6IJ8GulAetgpyABQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CA0Q8gEwAA

its like 1000-1002 broad street

[block944]

Thats a nice development close to the forest hill section, they asking for $1,150 /month

Also the nets coming to Newark short or long term is a good look, prucenter needs to get a larger variety , from now till April 2010 all the have is devil, Seton hall and miley cirus smh


Exactly!! Miley cyrus showing up for 2-3 days is going to help the city more than the nets playing full season games here??

[Marv95]

Hannah Montana is not the only show in the place. WWE, Disney on Ice, Disney in General, American Idol, So you think you can Dance, David Foster, etc. Why should they give it all up for a lame duck franchise who can still bail in a couple of years? In 2012 the place would be emptier than it is now. Let's see...Devils, Pirates, maybe a couple of boxing/MMA events, that's it. Why should they give up these things that make more revenue for the place than the Nets do?

[arcman210]

Having the Nets brings more revenue in the long term. The Nets sell luxury suites, club seats, season tickets. Bringing the Nets to Newark will bring more corporate clients to Newark, just as the Devils are doing. Since moving to The Rock, the Devils attendance has increased on average by 3,000 fans a night. Nets attendance would surely increase from what they draw at the Izod Center.

One thing to note that isn't mentioned is that Izod Center and Prudential Center are run by two seperate concert and event promoters... Izod is a Live Nation Venue while Prudential Center is an AEG venue. The Prudential Center would continue to get all concerts and shows produced by AEG, such as Miley Cyrus. All Live Nation shows would continue to be at the Izod Center, while all the Prudential Center would lose would be family shows such as the circus.

This is a tremendous deal for Newark.

[newarkhiphop]

Hannah Montana is not the only show in the place. WWE, Disney on Ice, Disney in General, American Idol, So you think you can Dance, David Foster, etc. Why should they give it all up for a lame duck franchise who can still bail in a couple of years? In 2012 the place would be emptier than it is now. Let's see...Devils, Pirates, maybe a couple of boxing/MMA events, that's it. Why should they give up these things that make more revenue for the place than the Nets do?



No thats what am saying if they don't get the Nets full time they need to change the variety of the events a bit, the UFC and boxing is a great idea they have had boxing matches at the robert treat hotel don't see why it shouldn't be too hard to setup some mid level guys @ PC

As resident and student of Newark (Rutgers) ( i live 5min away from PC) i have only been to the stadium once and that was for some else graduation i think they need to do more events that target the younger college crowd (that aren't hockey fans) lol i personally would love to go there more often

[block944]

Any word on the lawsuit from Jersey city on this project?

We Fly High: Newark Heliport/Heliplex

February 25, 2008

Wow! We’re finally getting that “world-class and state-of-the-art heliplex facility!”

“This facility will provide civil aviation services to Fortune 500 employers in the City and throughout the state and surrounding region. The strategic location of this facility will encourage economic growth and increase employment opportunities in Newark.”
I don’t know about this “strategic location.” It is three miles away from Broad and Market Streets – Downtown:


View Larger Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=40.773782,-74.155226&daddr=Broad+Street+and+Market+Street,+Newark,+NJ&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=40.772612,-74.151707&sspn=0.03185,0.058365&ie=UTF8&ll=40.75623,-74.163036&spn=0.045511,0.072956&z=13&source=embed)

“This is an important project to bolster Newark’s plan to increase public safety and to help reinvigorate economic development in this community,” said Steven Trenk, Managing Director of Air Pegasus Helicopters, LLC. “I am proud that we are able to take the lead in a project that I know is right for the community, right for the Newark Police Department, and right for the City of Newark.”
Artist Rendering (click to enlarge): http://ironboundnewark.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/newark-police-heliport-heliplex.jpg (http://ironboundnewark.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/newark-police-heliport.jpg)
The Air Pegasus Metro Heliplex heliport will service the:

• Newark Police Department
• Other Law Enforcement Agencies
(at all levels of government)
• Air Ambulances
• Corporate and Charter Operators
• News Media
• Express Delivery Services
• Helicopters and Heliports
Facilities and Amenities include:

• Mechanic’s Office
• Parts Room
• Pilot Areas with Direct Access to the
• Hangar including Direct Visual Oversight
• Office Space
• Locker Rooms
• Pilots Lounge
• Sleep Room
• Exercise Room
• Full Bathroom and Shower Facilities
• Weather/Flight Planning Facilities
• Kitchen
• Conference Area
• Training Area

[block944]

nevermind:
Linden challenges plans for heliport in Kearny; lawsuit cites danger to Jersey City (http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/10/linden_challenges_plans_for_he.html)
By The Jersey Journal
October 10, 2009, 3:03PM
By STAR-LEDGER STAFF

A lawsuit filed by the operator of Linden Municipal Airport is taking aim at what the operator believes represents a threat to private helicopter travel in the metropolitan area. The lawsuit challenges a proposed heliport in the Hudson County town of Kearny, contending it would send low-flying helicopter traffic over densely populated Jersey City as the aircraft travel to and from New York City.

The lawsuit is filed in the aftermath of August's collision between a single-engine plane and a sightseeing helicopter over the Hudson River that killed nine people. Paul Dudley, director of the Linden airport, said he is afraid the helicopter route over Jersey City would risk an even deadlier crash that could threaten a federal shutdown of metropolitan airspace to all private helicopter traffic. "There is a potential to put the whole industry out of business here," Dudley said. "If we have another accident, the impetus to close down the airspace will be so great it will be insurmountable and we will all be shut down."

Jim Peters, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said he had no comment on what the agency might do under such a scenario.

The proposed heliport in Kearny would be on an industrial peninsula at the southern tip of the town in the River Terminal Development site on Central Avenue. The site is far removed from the residential western portion of Kearny and, Dudley said, town residents would be exposed to none of the noise and hazards of the helicopter traffic that residents of Jersey City would face. "Kearny is basically subjecting Jersey City to all of the negatives of this facility," said Dudley, whose lawsuit was filed on behalf of an elderly Jersey City resident. "Jersey City gets all of the pain, Kearny gets none of it."

Dudley also noted Kearny residents mounted a heated campaign last year against a now-scuttled proposal for a heliport in the North Ward of Newark, a location that would have brought helicopter traffic directly over the populated portion of Kearny.
William Sullivan and Thomas Cafferty, attorneys for the heliport, said approved FAA flight paths would be observed and they disputed the contentions in Dudley's lawsuit.

"This is a lawsuit brought by a competitor and we are going to aggressively oppose it," Cafferty said. The Linden is a general aviation facility owned by the city of Linden.

Jersey City officials declined to comment directly on the Kearny heliport proposal, but city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill issued a statement on behalf of Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. "In light of the recent tragedy over the Hudson River in which a sightseeing helicopter and a small plane collided and the current review by the FAA of how that airspace is to be regulated, it would be premature to comment," the mayor's statement said. "However, any added air traffic that could potentially put our residents and business community in harms way is something we would likely not endorse."

The August collision occurred at an altitude below 1,100 feet in unregulated air space where pilots fly under visual flight rules and rely on their own communications to avoid collisions.

The operators of the proposed Air Pegasus Metro Heliplex, as the Kearny facility would be known, have filed plans indicating pilots would observe flight paths over waterways and highway corridors that would skirt Jersey City and other populated areas. But, Dudley said, Kearny has no authority to enforce those flight paths.

The Kearny zoning board approved plans for the heliport in August, but Cafferty said there was no definite timetable for when the project would begin.

[Jspellma]

So you mean to tell me that the Heliport proposed for Newark is no longer in the works?

[Jspellma]

[QUOTE=block944;303128]Any word on the lawsuit from Jersey city on this project?

We Fly High: Newark Heliport/Heliplex

February 25, 2008

Wow! We’re finally getting that “world-class and state-of-the-art heliplex facility!”
“This facility will provide civil aviation services to Fortune 500 employers in the City and throughout the state and surrounding region. The strategic location of this facility will encourage economic growth and increase employment opportunities in Newark.”
I don’t know about this “strategic location.” It is three miles away from Broad and Market Streets – Downtown:


View Larger Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=40.773782,-74.155226&daddr=Broad+Street+and+Market+Street,+Newark,+NJ&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=40.772612,-74.151707&sspn=0.03185,0.058365&ie=UTF8&ll=40.75623,-74.163036&spn=0.045511,0.072956&z=13&source=embed)

“This is an important project to bolster Newark’s plan to increase public safety and to help reinvigorate economic development in this community,” said Steven Trenk, Managing Director of Air Pegasus Helicopters, LLC. “I am proud that we are able to take the lead in a project that I know is right for the community, right for the Newark Police Department, and right for the City of Newark.”
Artist Rendering (click to enlarge): http://ironboundnewark.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/newark-police-heliport-heliplex.jpg (http://ironboundnewark.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/newark-police-heliport.jpg)
The Air Pegasus Metro Heliplex heliport will service the:
• Newark Police Department
• Other Law Enforcement Agencies
(at all levels of government)
• Air Ambulances
• Corporate and Charter Operators
• News Media
• Express Delivery Services
• Helicopters and Heliports
Facilities and Amenities include:
• Mechanic’s Office
• Parts Room
• Pilot Areas with Direct Access to the
• Hangar including Direct Visual Oversight
• Office Space
• Locker Rooms
• Pilots Lounge
• Sleep Room
• Exercise Room
• Full Bathroom and Shower Facilities
• Weather/Flight Planning Facilities
• Kitchen
• Conference Area
• Training Area
["Wow! We’re finally getting that “world-class and state-of-the-art heliplex facility!”]

Are you saying this? Or did the journalist write this? Is it really coming because it will help Newark economically if we have this heliport. Every other major city has one!

[newarkdevil1]

anybody know what there building here

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=1002+broad+street+newark,nj&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=1002+Broad+St,+Newark,+NJ+07102&gl=us&ei=N1zqSu6IJ8GulAetgpyABQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CA0Q8gEwAA

its like 1000-1002 broad street



I am almost positive it's a Regan development project. Mixed use and they were going to build it Vanilla box and let people decide how they wanted the condo to look. I will find the link and repost it.

[scrollhectic]

So, does anyone know anything about when all the debris from the former Westinghouse will be removed? Is leaving the debris there part of the soil remediation process or did someone run out of money?

[scrollhectic]

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 29, 2009
Filed at 10:49 a.m. ET

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Loiterers and criminals on the nighttime streets of New Jersey's largest city have some company -- concerned citizens and government workers who are cruising neighborhoods in an effort to reduce crime.

Under Newark's ''Crime Caravan'' program, volunteer convoys have been rolling through the city's roughest neighborhoods a few nights each week since Sept. 29. More than 120 volunteers in 45 vehicles hit the streets Monday, breaking off into five groups, called ''packs.'' Each pack was led by an off-duty police officer in an unmarked car with flashing emergency lights.

It's about ''waving the flag'' and stressing that Newark is a city of laws again, according to Mayor Cory Booker (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/cory_booker/index.html?inline=nyt-per), who initiated the trial program to dampen crime this fall. Critics say the patrols are a political ploy by the mayor and could endanger the civilians who participate.

''The caravan gives people a sense of strength and security,'' said Booker, who is trying to fashion a national blueprint for renewal in a former icon for inner-city decay. ''They let criminals know we're taking the city back.''

The cash-strapped city pays nothing for the program, and supporters say it channels community angst about violence into a force multiplier for police. The packs look a lot like the multi-vehicle police impact teams -- known to locals as ''trains'' -- that are filled with heavily armed officers.

Civilian volunteers aren't allowed out of the vehicles, most of which are white vans paid for with charitable donations.

The program also helps Booker politically by harnessing the same popular angst over community violence as his opponents, who have been holding anti-violence protest rallies in key city intersections.

John Sharpe James -- son of former Mayor Sharpe James (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/j/sharpe_james/index.html?inline=nyt-per) -- is part of that movement. The former U.S. Army (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/a/us_army/index.html?inline=nyt-org) major views the caravan program as strictly a political ploy.

''I see no effect'' from them on street violence, James said.

Jack Calhoun, a law enforcement consultant for the National League of Cities, said the citizen patrols are a novel way to elevate civic activism -- instead of just relying on the police to do everything.

''Community fear is a big issue in crime-torn areas,'' said Calhoun, who manages the California Cities Gang Prevention Network.

Jeff Walker, a criminal justice professor at the University of Arkansas (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/university_of_arkansas/index.html?inline=nyt-org) at Little Rock, said the patrols advance two other law enforcement objectives by raising police visibility and disrupting the street drug trade by increasing ''search time,'' referring to the amount of time it takes an illegal drug user to find a dealer.

''Anything that increases search time is good because some people will just give up,'' Walker said. ''My only concern about the caravan is the potential for civilian injury once people on the street realize they're not trains.''

Both Calhoun and Walker said they were unaware of similar programs in other cities.

Monday's caravan left at 11 p.m. -- just hours after Newark's 58th homicide of the year -- and returned after three hours on patrol. The five packs didn't make any arrests, but they garnered plenty of attention. For organizers, that's the whole point.

''The goal is deterrence,'' Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Campos said.

People loitering on the street moved quickly when the packs rolled through Monday night.

Six teenage boys were prowling the streets of a Newark neighborhood at around 12:30 a.m. when Booker's pack pulled up beside them.
''Come on guys,'' said Booker, 40. ''It's way too late. Go home.''

Recognition quickly gave way to smiles.

''Hey, it's Cory Booker,'' said one teen.

''Go home,'' the mayor repeated, impatiently.

''We are, we are,'' a second teen replied, explaining that the group had encountered a similar pack minutes earlier.

''We don't want any trouble,'' a third teen said.

The caravan idea is similar to a tactic Booker used as a city councilman, when he parked a motor home in troubled neighborhoods to disrupt drug dealing. The caravan lets people join him.

Some civilian participants are looking to make a difference. Others just want to spend time with a popular mayor who has become a celebrity after appearing on NBC's (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/nbc_universal/index.html?inline=nyt-org) ''Tonight Show,'' HBO's (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/home_box_office_inc/index.html?inline=nyt-org) ''Real Time With Bill Maher' (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/bill_maher/index.html?inline=nyt-per)' and ''The Colbert Report'' on Comedy Central.

Joseph Gallant, 19, and two of his classmates from Rider University joined Monday's caravan after Booker mentioned the program at their school. The Newark native said he likes that the program provides motivated citizens with an outlet.

''You don't want a disconnect between citizens and police,'' Gallant said.
Booker hopes the caravan will help preserve the strides the city of 281,000 residents has already made in reducing shootings and killings. The number of Newark shooting victims fell 32 percent to 344 in 2008, from 503 in 2006. Homicides fell 36 percent during the same period to 67.

Newark is on pace for fewer shootings this year, but more homicides.
Booker took office in July 2006. He succeeded Sharpe James, who is in prison for his role in the cut-rate sale of city land to a former mistress.
The mayor said the big test for the caravan program will occur on Halloween (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/h/halloween/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) and ''Mischief Night,'' a night before Halloween long associated with vandalism.

''Those are the two nights we're going to roll hard,'' Booker said.

[scrollhectic]

anybody know what there building here

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=1002+broad+street+newark,nj&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=1002+Broad+St,+Newark,+NJ+07102&gl=us&ei=N1zqSu6IJ8GulAetgpyABQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CA0Q8gEwAA

its like 1000-1002 broad street


Packard Lofts (read below)

Luxury homes coming to Newark's Broad Street

By Chanta Jackson (http://connect.nj.com/user/chjackson/index.html)
February 12, 2009, 5:37AM

The economy is supposed to be slumping. Depending on who you talk to, now is supposed to be a bad time to expend millions of dollars in a city that isn't a sure thing yet.

Apparently the people in the luxury residence business have not been talking to those folks. Richardson Lofts is on the way, 1180 Raymond Blvd. is quite full and soon there will be another option right on Broad Street.

Then again, when your target audience is used to paying more than $2,000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, or $2,200 a month for a studio with a kitchenette on Wall Street, maybe it isn't hard to fill a building up. Especially when you offer more space than your Manhattan counterparts.

With this in mind, allow me to introduce you to the soon-to-be-built Packard Lofts, located at 1002-1008 Broad Street. East Kinney Street is the cross street, for those who follow the grid. For those who travel by landmarks, it's the white, three-story building down the street from Symphony Hall. It's also where Nathan's Famous hot dogs used to be.

And if you remember when the bulldogs were the mascot for Southside High School, it's the building that used to be a Buick dealership.

Now that we are all on the same page, let's plunge deeper into the city's latest high post-mixed-use residence. Currently the structure is two separate buildings, which will naturally be combined into 76,478 square feet of space.

You want more depth, don't you. Okay. We'll start on the ground floor.

The main entrance will be on Broad Street and the ground floor will house the lobby, as well as retail and commercial space. Anyone thinking about occupying the retail space will have the 7,152 square feet in the southwestern corner of the building available. That's the corner closest to the intersection of Broad Street and East Kinney Street.

An ideal occupant, at least in the eyes of the developers, is one that will cater to the residents who live above it, as well as the people who will work in the commercial space.

Now if you were thinking about claiming the 12,880 square feet of commercial space to possibly open another hot dog joint, or even sell alternative-fuel motor vehicles, forget it.

The U.S. General Services Administration, a branch of the federal government that provides, well, general service (feel free to look them up at www.gsa.gov (http://www.gsa.gov) ), is already lined up to move into the space. The men and women who support the operations of the federal district courts and the courthouse on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., will work there.

But the bell of this ball is the living space, housed on the second and third floors. A total of 56,446 square feet will be strategically spliced into 28 residential units, with an average of 1,150 square feet of living space per unit.

The plan is to sell them off as loft-style, live-work spaces with an open floor plan with bedroom enclosures. If executed, potential buyers will meet with the developer to discuss wall placement, colors, fixtures and whatever else isn't tied to the plumbing.

Most of the units will be one-bedroom designs. There may be four or five two-bedroom designs and even a couple with mezzanines, for those who want a private outdoor experience.

Residents who don't mind sharing the outdoors with their neighbors will have the chance on the roof of the building. Passive recreation is how some people would describe it. Food and drinks and anything else within the rules set by the developer will be allowed on the roof, assuming that they get around to setting rules for the roof.

If the plan to sell the units holds, owners will enjoy a 30-year tax-abatement, sponsored by the city of Newark. A parking plan has not been finalized, but one of the partners in the project owns the lot next to the building and spaces may be made available to residents.

Hard hats are in the middle of selective demolition, removing everything that will not be used in Packard Lofts. The commercial space should be up and running by the summer. The rest of the building is scheduled to open at the end of the year.

All of this will cost $11.4 million. The developer ponied up $5.4 million and the believers at Crown Bank offered $6 million in construction financing.
The price of admission has yet to be established, but residents in some of downtown Newark's newer apartments pay as much as $1,650 a month for a one-bedroom residence and $2,420 a month for two bedrooms.

So whether they rent the Packards or sell them, they won't be cheap. But at least you'll get a full kitchen.

[block944]

Wow I had no idea that what that building was

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Newark-City_NJ_07105_1110912422

http://p.rdcpix.com/v01/la62d3742-c20o.jpg

[newarkhiphop]

Wow I had no idea that what that building was

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Newark-City_NJ_07105_1110912422

http://p.rdcpix.com/v01/la62d3742-c20o.jpg

me neither , this place too

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Newark-City_NJ_07102_1113258389

always thought those were offices

[newarkdevil1]

I love that these buildings are getting restored and the owners are adding unique touches that separate them from the stock Condo buildings that go up.

[block944]

Report: Nets could remain in New Jersey if Brooklyn move falls through

By Dave D'Alessandro/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/ddalessa/index.html)

November 14, 2009, 8:15PM

http://media.nj.com/nets_impact/photo/mikhail-prokhorov-nets-44a881afd98b9e77_large.jpgMikhail Metzel/Associated PressIt is believed potential Nets owner Mikhail Prokorov might be inclined to buy the Nets and keep them in New Jersey if the price is right, according to the report.NOTEBOOK

MIAMI — The Nets have a safety net in Newark if the Brooklyn deal falls through, an unsourced ESPN.com report suggested Saturday.

The report stated that Mikhail Prokhorov is willing to buy the team at a reduced rate and keep it in New Jersey if the Atlantic Yards project cannot go forward, which directly contradicts what the team and the league have been saying since the Russian oligarch bid $200 million for a controlling share of the Nets in September.

Nets CEO Brett Yormark would not comment on the report, which others in the organization say originated from the league, and not the team.

Both Nets owner Bruce Ratner and NBA commissioner David Stern have stated recently that if Atlantic Yards doesn’t get under way, it’s a deal-breaker, and that Prokhorov will take his billions and go home. But that might have changed in the months since they made those assertions.

But one minority partner, who requested anonymity so he could speak candidly, said Saturday it is believed that Prokhorov “might be inclined to still buy and keep it in Jersey” if the price could be worked out.

Yormark would only say that the Jersey option will be moot as soon as the Nets take possession of the land in Brooklyn: “There are bulldozers on the site right now,” the CEO said here Saturday.
“There is preparatory activity, and we will commence construction in mid-December. We’re just as confident as ever that we’ll be in Brooklyn.”

That cannot happen until some eminent domain issues and bond sales go forward, however.





On a side note nets are 0-10 :X

[JCMAN320]

Yea thats what happen when you dump all your good players to clear cap space for hopes of landing Lebron, D-Wade etc.. next year; atleast the Knicks have one win even if it is their worst start in franchise history.

This is great news!!!!!

[block944]

Welcome to Newark International ... Shopping Mall?

Posted on November 16, 2009 at 11:43 am ET by Carl Unger (http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/bio.php?id=carlunger), SmarterTravel.com Staff
http://i.slimg.com/st/share_icons/email-icon.gif Email (http://www.smartertravel.com/php/mailfriend.php?itemid=3850130) http://i.slimg.com/st/share_icons/print-icon.gif Print (http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/welcome-to-newark-international-shopping-mall.html?id=3850130&media=print) http://i.slimg.com/st/share_icons/facebook-icon.gif Facebook (http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?pub=smartertravel&v=250&source=tbx-250&s=facebook&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartertravel.com%2Fblogs%2Ft oday-in-travel%2Fwelcome-to-newark-international-shopping-mall.html%3Fid%3D3850130&title=&content=) http://i.slimg.com/st/share_icons/twitter-icon.gif Twitter (http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?pub=smartertravel&v=250&source=tbx-250&s=twitter&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartertravel.com%2Fblogs%2Ft oday-in-travel%2Fwelcome-to-newark-international-shopping-mall.html%3Fid%3D3850130&title=&content=) http://i.slimg.com/st/share_icons/plus-icon.gif Share (http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/welcome-to-newark-international-shopping-mall.html?id=3850130#) http://i.slimg.com/st/share_icons/rss-icon.gif RSS (http://www.addthis.com/feed.php?pub=smartertravel&h1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartertravel.com%2Fxml%2Frss% 2Fdeals.php%3Fchannel%3Dtoday-in-travel&t1=)

http://i.slimg.com/sc/sl/photo/a/ai/airportdeparturegatesign-def.jpg
Anyone who's flown in the past 10 or 15 years has no doubt noticed the "mallification" of the world's airports, with retail stores and restaurants popping up in ever-greater abundance and sophistication. It's no longer uncommon to see high-end designer storefronts blur by as you sprint through the terminal to your flight.
As it turns out, these various retail outlets have not only become part of the airport experience, but, along with terminal services like parking, are also essential to the airports' bottom line.
Advertisement
http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/ta.st.com/news_and_advice_blogs_today_in_travel;tag=air;tag= airport_;ptag=air;sz=120x600,160x600,300x600,300x2 50,250x250;tile=3;ord=725169104;? (http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/ta.st.com/news_and_advice_blogs_today_in_travel;tag=air;tag= airport_;ptag=air;sz=120x600,160x600,300x600,300x2 50,250x250;tile=3;ord=725169104;?)
In 2008, non-aviation operating revenue at U.S. airports was $7.5 billion (http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-11-16-airportcheckin16_ST_N.htm), up 6.4 percent from 2007. That's as passenger volume fell 3.6 percent.
Breaking down that $7.5 billion shows that parking services is the biggest revenue generator, at $3 billion. Rental car operations kick in another $1.5 billion, while retail brings in $639 million and food and beverage services contribute $569 million.
As the travel sector continues to struggle and shrink, this expanding revenue base will come in handy.
Readers, do you shop at the airport? Or do you think the preponderance of retail and restaurants is an eyesore? Leave a comment below with your thoughts. Thanks!

[block944]

BRICK CITY REJUVENATION

Newark construction continues, and vagrants find new homes

CALVIN I OKWUEGO OBSERVER STAFF WRITER

Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Observations (http://www.rutgersobserver.com/news/2009/11/03/Observations/)


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Page 1 of 2 next > (http://www.rutgersobserver.com/news/2009/11/03/Observations/Brick.City.Rejuvenation-3821596-page2.shtml)


The restoration of Newark is underway. Forty years have passed since National guardsmen roamed the streets monitoring the movement of retaliates in the central ward.

State Troopers accompanied local enforcement to restore civil abidance.

Newark has been disserviced with corrupt politicians as well.

With the exception of Mayor Booker, former mayor's Addonizo, Gibson, and James were convicted on corruption charges.

Despite the historical stigmas of Newark, the city continues to move forward.

A population of about 282,000 and a multiplicity of ethnicities distinguish Newark as unique from neighboring cities.

Over the years, new developments have cropped up. Prudential arena, NJPAC, and Bears stadium have all attracted outsiders to come patronize events.

The destruction of housing projects paved the way for enterprises moving into Newark.

Prince Street projects, Brick Towers, and Stella Wright Homes, conventionally associated with high crime rates, were all things that hindered the development of lovely Newark.

"Newark showed a reduction in violent crime - a reduction that had Newark recognized as one of the top cities in America for violent crime reduction. But for me, it wasn't enough - I was not happy with our progress and, after 5 years of violent crime increases with a one-year incremental reduction.," said Mayor Booker in Newark Moving Forward 2008

The Utopian ideal of having zero crime is surreal. However, Newark is grappling with this reality.

Abandonment and homelessness were major issues plaguing Brick City.

Panhandlers and the urban nomads are reducing widely in all wards. The city is divided into five wards, North, Central, East, South, and West.

The downtown district is classified as the Central ward. Downtown-Newark has drastically changed since the development of major attractions.

An abundance of drugs dealers and panhandlers are no longer in eyesight on corners. Abandoned property has been filled," said Marcus Felson Author/ Professor of Criminal Justice.

The demolition of abandoned property and housing projects is the beginning of Newark's renaissance period.

People that reside in former abandonments are equipped to meet the demands of property ownership.

Individuals are no longer reliant on governmental aid such as welfare, social security, or disability. Rather, new classes of individuals have settled in Newark.

Lincoln Street Park Lofts have provided an image for new Newark.

The twenty-seven unit housing incorporates eight architectural style brownstones, twelve condominiums, and seven four story single family homes. People can now live comfortably where they work.

Outsiders should no longer feel threatened by the false stereotypes.

The Newark Housing Authority plans to develop affordable townhouses to accommodate those in need.

The south and west ward are the riskiest areas of Newark. South ward consists of Chancellor and Lyons Avenue, and Weequahic area Clinton and S. Orange avenues encompasses parts of the west ward.

Acoustic gunshot sensors have helped authorities in dealing with crime.

This technological advance has contributed to safer environments for these communities.

The Division of Planning and Community Development of Newark has proposed three major steps toward redevelopment of the south and west wards.

"1.) Establish an appropriate mix of land uses suitable for a vibrant neighborhood commercial area.

2.) Encourage the redevelopment of land to create development consistent with the surrounding neighborhood.

3.) Integrate new urban design standards for signage and building facades that prevent unattractive building changes from marring the revitalization of the neighborhood," noted The Division of Planning and Community of Newark.

The North and East ward are the predominately Hispanic speaking parts of Newark. Recently, the Branch Brook Condominiums a 36 unit infrastructure with a gymnasium, dual bath and bedroom, and gated parking lot opened in the North Ward.

The east ward diversity continues to contribute to the uniqueness of Newark.

Residential developments in all wards of Newark contribute to revitalization.

Richardson Loft's and Packard Loft's and affordable low income housing and the reduction of crime pave the way for a better Newark.

[tbal]

I saw some survey work for 1 Center Street taking place about a month ago. If Dranoff does in fact break ground next year as anticipated, once that 40+ story tower is about halfway done in 2011, heads are going to start turning when people pass through Newark.

Not even Jersey City has the density of Infrastructure seen in Newark. The only thing holding Newark back at this point is the stigma associated with it.

[JCMAN320]

I hear ya Tbal; but JC is denser than Newark. I agree that tower from what I heard is crazy. Do you know where I can get a rendering online?

[Marv95]

They are in this thread. Go on page 15 and 23.

Unless tbal or anyone else has anything different or knows something I don't...

[newarkdevil1]

This is the only othe graphic I could find
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/03/16/nyregion/16newark1.583.jpg

[block944]

This is the only othe graphic I could find
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/03/16/nyregion/16newark1.583.jpg


Don't hold you breath, Dranoff is taking a blood bath at the Victor lofts and Radio Lofts in Camden

We need sharpe james back at least he started some development, I haven't seen squat under booker except for a failing coffee house nobody goes to

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/20/nyregion/160-million-newark-plan-focuses-on-new-housing.html

[newarkhiphop]

This is the only othe graphic I could find
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/03/16/nyregion/16newark1.583.jpg

wait the address for this is 1 center st? right across from njpac
:(@ traffic is going to be :eek:


but it will be worth it, and they need to get the nets here

[Nexis4Jersey]

Any news on the Waterfront , i think that would be a great investment , also those nasty Factories north of I-280 should come down and be replaced with schools or shops and a park:)

[scrollhectic]

Any news on the Waterfront , i think that would be a great investment , also those nasty Factories north of I-280 should come down and be replaced with schools or shops and a park:)

Though I don't think the factories along Rt 21 north of 280 are attractive, many of them are functional factories that employ people and provide income to the city in the form of property tax.

What I think would be a better choice along that corridor would be big box retailers. That location is perfect for a Target, Staples, Daffy's, Costco, Best Buy, etc. On the west side of Rt 21, a bunch of smaller shops filled up new retail spaces in about a year. There's a furniture store, a pizza spot, a tattoo parlor, bagels, etc. That area is high visibility and gets lots of traffic both from city residents and commuters who work downtown. I know one large lot on the east side of Rt 21 is for sale, but all the other lots are occupied. If they did revamp that section, big box retailers would be the way to go, I think.

[block944]

Any news on the Waterfront , i think that would be a great investment , also those nasty Factories north of I-280 should come down and be replaced with schools or shops and a park:)


Check back in another 7-8 years as there is no money and credits are all frozen: http://newarksriver.wordpress.com/

All we have right now are designs just like 1 center st was designed in 2001 and now 8 years later we still have nothing.

[Marv95]

What I think would be a better choice along that corridor would be big box retailers. That location is perfect for a Target, Staples, Daffy's, Costco, Best Buy, etc. On the west side of Rt 21, a bunch of smaller shops filled up new retail spaces in about a year. There's a furniture store, a pizza spot, a tattoo parlor, bagels, etc. That area is high visibility and gets lots of traffic both from city residents and commuters who work downtown. I know one large lot on the east side of Rt 21 is for sale, but all the other lots are occupied. If they did revamp that section, big box retailers would be the way to go, I think.
Put a Cotsco on Springfield and Irvine Turner. Might as well coincide with the nearby Home Depot and Applebee's. Besides, they got one in East Harlem of all places...

[block944]

let see where they are 5 years from now
M & M breaks ground on $10M Newark mixed-use development

October 27, 2009 06:30PM By David Jones (http://therealdeal.com/looks/byq/David%20Jones)

http://s3.amazonaws.com/trd_three/images/132523/harmony_square_jumpin.jpg
From left: Newark Mayor Cory Booker at Harmony Square's groundbreaking, a rendering of phase I of the development at the corner of Third and Broad streets, and M & M Development founders Maria Yglesias and Maria Del Mar Lopez at groundbreaking


M & M Development and Newark Mayor Cory Booker led a groundbreaking ceremony today for Harmony Square, a $10.2 million development in the city's North Ward that combines market-rate condominiums with affordable housing.

The first condo phase and the rental phase are starting at the same time with a 2010 completion date.

The condo, called Condominiums@Harmony Square, will include two main developments, including 24 new condominium homes. The rental building, Apartments@Harmony Square, includes the rehabilitation of a 16-unit rental building with 10 units set aside for supportive housing, for domestic violence survivors and homeless residents looking for a stable residence.

Construction of the rest of the condos -- three new buildings with 21 condominium units and one duplex -- will kick off next year and finish a year later.

Developer Maria Yglesias, co-founder of M & M, said the project was converted into a mixed-use development from its original plan as a rental building, due to problems in the financing market.

"We had to reinvent the project," she said at the groundbreaking ceremony. "That is a very difficult thing to do."

The project, located at 103 Broad Street, was financed with a combination of public funds and private lender financing.

Additional financing comes from several state and local agencies, including $1.7 million from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

Units for low- to moderate-income residents will cost between $75,000 and $175,000 and market-rate units will start at $151,000.

Homebuyers will be eligible for 15-year tax abatements and buyers of the project's two duplex units will be eligible for five-year abatements.

The city of Newark has provided $250,000 for the rental component and the developer says it is exploring additional funding sources.

Yglesias says the company is hoping to line up funding for the final condo piece by the summer of 2010.

M & M has completed a number of developments in Newark, including Cathedral Homes in the city's Central Ward and Villa Esperanza, an affordable rental program in the city's South Ward. Tags: (http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/m-m-and-newark-mayor-cory-booker-break-ground-on-10m-newark-mixed-use-development-at-103-broad-street#) 103 broad street (http://therealdeal.com/tags/103-broad-street--9) Cory Booker (http://therealdeal.com/tags/cory-booker) Newark (http://therealdeal.com/tags/newark) apartments@harmony square (http://therealdeal.com/tags/apartments-harmony-square--9) condominiums@harmony square (http://therealdeal.com/tags/condominiums-harmony-square--9) m&m development (http://therealdeal.com/tags/m-m-development--9) maria yglesias (http://therealdeal.com/tags/maria-yglesias--9) north ward (http://therealdeal.com/tags/north-ward--9)

[Nexis4Jersey]

Thats interesting i hope they get one soon , imagine all the perks , more tourism , something to do on a Sunny day other then shop , relax , i think retail in Newark needs to be spread out, not crammed onto on corridor or ave. Put 2 big box chains there and another cross town , also i think Newark needs Another LRT line to run south along Broad Street and then to the Southern Neighborhoods across form the Airport & into Hillside. I think Newark needs to form a pack with surrounding cities and towns like Harrison should also be building a riverfront which i think they are. I think Newark needs a Convention Center and a Mall. I see alot great things coming to Newark in the coming 4 to 10 yrs :D

~Corey

[ASchwarz]

Put a Cotsco on Springfield and Irvine Turner. Might as well coincide with the nearby Home Depot and Applebee's. Besides, they got one in East Harlem of all places...

Are you kidding me? You are comparing Manhattan with Newark?

There is no place in Newark remotely comparable to the demographics of the Bronx, to say nothing of Manhattan.

Retailers in urban areas want density, density, density. Manhattan has 10 times the density of Springfield Ave. The Bronx has 5 times the density.

East Harlem is a very desirable neighborhood for retail nowadays. And it's next to the wealthiest urban neighborhood on the planet, the Upper East Side. The UES is also the densest urban neighborhood in North America.

Now I am not saying a Costco wouldn't work in Newark. I like Newark and think it's underserved for retail. Springfield Ave. has real potential, and will get some bigger retailers in the future. But I am also saying that the Manhattan market is not remotely comparable to that of Newark, and that success in NYC does not automatically mean success in Newark.

[scrollhectic]

Courtyard by Marriott at the Prudential Center

http://www.tuckerdevelopment.com/images/Persp-02%20M%20-%20400.jpg

Address: NE Corner of Broad & Lafayette Streets, Newark, New Jersey 07102
County: Essex
Description:
Located in Newark, New Jersey’s Central Business District, Courtyard by Marriott at the Prudential Center will consist of a 150-key hotel and approximately 15,000 square feet of ground floor retail and restaurant space adjacent to the newly constructed Prudential Center, which hosts more than 200 annual events. In close proximity to the intersection of Broad Street and Market Street, Newark’s primary intersection accommodating in excess of 50,000 vehicles per day, the development will provide for signage on the heavily-traveled Broad Street and accessibility to the Prudential Center.
Relevant Information:Total Square Feet:Approx. 15,000 s.f.Parking Spaces:Adjacent Parking StructureBuilding Condition:New

[scrollhectic]

Courtyard by Marriott at the Prudential Center

http://www.tuckerdevelopment.com/images/Persp-02%20M%20-%20400.jpg

Address: NE Corner of Broad & Lafayette Streets, Newark, New Jersey 07102


*SIGH* What an unattractive building. The new development is VERY much needed, but couldn't they make it attractive? And this is the heart of downtown, why is it a midrise?

[newarkhiphop]

let see where they are 5 years from now
M & M breaks ground on $10M Newark mixed-use development

October 27, 2009 06:30PM By David Jones (http://therealdeal.com/looks/byq/David%20Jones)

http://s3.amazonaws.com/trd_three/images/132523/harmony_square_jumpin.jpg
From left: Newark Mayor Cory Booker at Harmony Square's groundbreaking, a rendering of phase I of the development at the corner of Third and Broad streets, and M & M Development founders Maria Yglesias and Maria Del Mar Lopez at groundbreaking


M & M Development and Newark Mayor Cory Booker led a groundbreaking ceremony today for Harmony Square, a $10.2 million development in the city's North Ward that combines market-rate condominiums with affordable housing.

The first condo phase and the rental phase are starting at the same time with a 2010 completion date.

The condo, called Condominiums@Harmony Square, will include two main developments, including 24 new condominium homes. The rental building, Apartments@Harmony Square, includes the rehabilitation of a 16-unit rental building with 10 units set aside for supportive housing, for domestic violence survivors and homeless residents looking for a stable residence.

Construction of the rest of the condos -- three new buildings with 21 condominium units and one duplex -- will kick off next year and finish a year later.

Developer Maria Yglesias, co-founder of M & M, said the project was converted into a mixed-use development from its original plan as a rental building, due to problems in the financing market.

"We had to reinvent the project," she said at the groundbreaking ceremony. "That is a very difficult thing to do."

The project, located at 103 Broad Street, was financed with a combination of public funds and private lender financing.

Additional financing comes from several state and local agencies, including $1.7 million from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

Units for low- to moderate-income residents will cost between $75,000 and $175,000 and market-rate units will start at $151,000.

Homebuyers will be eligible for 15-year tax abatements and buyers of the project's two duplex units will be eligible for five-year abatements.

The city of Newark has provided $250,000 for the rental component and the developer says it is exploring additional funding sources.

Yglesias says the company is hoping to line up funding for the final condo piece by the summer of 2010.

M & M has completed a number of developments in Newark, including Cathedral Homes in the city's Central Ward and Villa Esperanza, an affordable rental program in the city's South Ward. Tags: (http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/m-m-and-newark-mayor-cory-booker-break-ground-on-10m-newark-mixed-use-development-at-103-broad-street#) 103 broad street (http://therealdeal.com/tags/103-broad-street--9) Cory Booker (http://therealdeal.com/tags/cory-booker) Newark (http://therealdeal.com/tags/newark) apartments@harmony square (http://therealdeal.com/tags/apartments-harmony-square--9) condominiums@harmony square (http://therealdeal.com/tags/condominiums-harmony-square--9) m&m development (http://therealdeal.com/tags/m-m-development--9) maria yglesias (http://therealdeal.com/tags/maria-yglesias--9) north ward (http://therealdeal.com/tags/north-ward--9)


Wow the prices for those are ridiculous, i live literally 4 blocks away and that area is horrible safety wise drug dealing/prostitution as well as a large project low rise housing close by

i dont see many ppl around this area wanting to pay 75k-115k in that area

[block944]

*SIGH* What an unattractive building. The new development is VERY much needed, but couldn't they make it attractive? And this is the heart of downtown, why is it a midrise?


Its already cancelled due to the down economy

[block944]

Wow the prices for those are ridiculous, i live literally 4 blocks away and that area is horrible safety wise drug dealing/prostitution as well as a large project low rise housing close by

i dont see many ppl around this area wanting to pay 75k-115k in that area


It'll won't happen, the high costs was needed to get the investors to buy in. 5 years from now it'll be just the same.

I'm negative now as all the projects I'm reading about have been on the drawing boards since 2001. If we couldn't build it during the boom times, there is no way its going to get built not during the recession and contraction of the economy.

[Marv95]

East Harlem is a very desirable neighborhood for retail nowadays. And it's next to the wealthiest urban neighborhood on the planet, the Upper East Side. The UES is also the densest urban neighborhood in North America.

Now I am not saying a Costco wouldn't work in Newark. I like Newark and think it's underserved for retail. Springfield Ave. has real potential, and will get some bigger retailers in the future. But I am also saying that the Manhattan market is not remotely comparable to that of Newark, and that success in NYC does not automatically mean success in Newark.

I agree with you on the density part and I didn't want to compare both places, but something like a Costco in a neighborhood like East Harlem is kinda odd at first glance, rather than putting it in Staten Island near the mall, in the Bronx by Bay Plaza, etc. Costco is a bulk item store. Manhattan apartments aren't really the biggest.

[Marv95]

*SIGH* What an unattractive building. The new development is VERY much needed, but couldn't they make it attractive? And this is the heart of downtown, why is it a midrise?
My guess is that it was scaled down due to the economic downturn...
And it's built on the wrong side of the arena in more ways than one. Won't the Rock loading docks get in the way?

[block944]

Opponents sue, seek to block construction of new arena

The Nets, with an 0-12 record, are having a tough time at home in New Jersey.
And things don't look too good regarding the prospects that they'll have a future home in New York City. The team is planning to relocate to Brooklyn, but legal issues have complicated the move.
Opponents of the Brooklyn arena planned for the Nets have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn a state agency's approval of the project, according to the Associated Press.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Manhattan state Supreme Court. It seeks to block a Sept. 17 move by the Empire State Development Corp. to approve a delayed construction plan for the 22-acre Atlantic Yards project.
Brett Yormark, the team's chief executive, had said in an interview that if groundbreaking did not begin by December 31, 2009 the entire project will be cancelled. In a recent interview with David Letterman, part-owner Jay-Z said that if legal hurdles were defeated groundbreaking would start around "early December."

[66nexus]

In Newark's defense, there are much larger cities with development on indefinite hold due to the economy.

It's not that the will and want isn't there...the money just isn't. If there was financing Cogswell may have had its pretty Military Park complex up and going. They were serious about theirs.

In these down times, one cannot expect much.

[block944]

In Newark's defense, there are much larger cities with development on indefinite hold due to the economy.

It's not that the will and want isn't there...the money just isn't. If there was financing Cogswell may have had its pretty Military Park complex up and going. They were serious about theirs.

In these down times, one cannot expect much.


You hit the nail on the head, all these ideas are great but nothing will come of it as the financing isn't there. Cogswell had a rough time getting 1180 ready in time and even when I was there a year later after the opening they were still doing work. I wonder when the bike room is coming or was it flushed. Seems like the only way development occured is with Sharpe Jame's crooked below market land deals as builders have less financial risk. With Booker wanting market rates for the land no builder is going to bite as the risk is to high for a falling economy.



Anyrate some folks bought a home near Halsey and setup a blog: http://brickcitylove.com/ with no parking I think they overpaid. Their car has already gotten broken into.. oh wells

[block944]

You hit the nail on the head, all these ideas are great but nothing will come of it as the financing isn't there. Cogswell had a rough time getting 1180 ready in time and even when I was there a year later after the opening they were still doing work. I wonder when the bike room is coming or was it flushed. Seems like the only way development occured is with Sharpe Jame's crooked below market land deals as builders have less financial risk. With Booker wanting market rates for the land no builder is going to bite as the risk is to high for a falling economy.



Anyrate some folks bought a home near Halsey and setup a blog: http://brickcitylove.com/ with no parking I think they overpaid. Their car has already gotten broken into.. oh wells



Just in case anyone thinks I'm bullshiting about 1180: http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2009/11/eleven80_symbol_of_newarks_ren.html


The whole momentum of rebuilding downtown newark is lost, had sharpe james won the lawsuit of of Mulberry commons downtown would look totally different instead now we have stranded isolated buildings that aren't generating income to cover the costs and are oddly placed. Stefan pryor touting 80 percent occupancy is because they give away free months and reduced rents to drag people in. Also once the seton hall dorm is built the occupancy rate will plummet as a large number of their residents are students. Also schools and the Prudential arena seems to be the only entity that has money and structure and organization to start/complete any projects so I strongly believe the dorms will be built. Pacard lofts and Richardsons loft will also be stranded as the mulberry commons redevelopment never happened. Richardson's loft was suppose to be open by now but are having the same problems and opening has been pushed to 2010 now until the contractors stop working for free or Richardsons finds revenue fast or more state aid.


Don't believe the hype about Dranoff and 2 Center either, he is on koolaid and saying the same thing about radio lofts in Camden which has been sitting there for 4 years now with no movement other than Dranoff saying the same thing about people wanting to move back to cities. Stern also gave 10 years to Sharpe James and got something out of it while with Cory Booker he is out the door and selling his undeveloped properties. Like the article says, under normal financing these projects don't make sense as the land owners want market rate which kills the bottom line. Only Sharpe James and his below market rate deals would work had he not been stupid about his mistress...


Oh and I can't believe Nets lost again 0-13



Eleven80, symbol of Newark's renaissance, is caught up in courtroom filings

By Philip Read/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/pread/index.html)

November 22, 2009, 7:16AM

In 2006, when the 35-story art deco landmark dubbed Eleven80 opened its luxury apartments in downtown Newark, a city trying desperately to recreate itself, there was a buzz as Manhattanites quickly moved in.
Now the buzz is in a courtroom as a symbol of Newark’s renaissance is in foreclosure proceedings, joining a wave of financial meltdowns with roots in an era of easy credit.
http://media.nj.com/ledgerlocal/photo/eleven-80-newarkjpgjpg-c31afb8c6fb003ea_large.jpgJerry McCrea/The Star LedgerEleven 80, Newark's first upscale rental development since 1961
"During the unprecedented credit bubble, there was widespread risk amnesia, market discipline was lost, and easy money flowed out the door," said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.
"Projects that had been impossible under rational credit standards quickly became possible. The bursting of this bubble has made many projects impossible again, and has exposed the excesses of those that got built."
In all, some 16 law firms are swirling around Eleven80, which was collateral for a $65 million loan that the lender says fell into default in the face of $6.7 million in construction liens.
Prudential weighed in, saying it had a $5 million mortgage on the tower, and Newark filed legal papers to protect $7.9 million in tax-exempt bonds it issued for the once empty office tower’s makeover.
In line, too, are the long line of contractors holding millions in unpaid bills for everything from fire-proof doors to the woodwork to the retrofit for the 8,000-square-foot health club.
"It’s a mess," said Audra Schwartz, one of the many attorneys representing companies with liens on Eleven80.
Foreclosing on Eleven80 is expected to be invisible to those who call the building home, but Camille Claudio, a 23-year-old Seton Hall Law student who has rented an apartment in Eleven80 for about 18 months, had some trepidation.
"I’m a little nervous," she said of the uncertainty.
Just months ago, Eleven80 — taking its name from its address at 1180 Raymond Boulevard — was being hailed for its views of Manhattan, 24-hour concierge, bowling alley and gourmet kitchens with granite counter tops. Rents for the 317 upscale apartments ranged from $1,650 for a one-bedroom to $2,420 for a two-bedroom and pulled in Manhattanites to what was Newark’s first luxury development in 4 decades.
Stefan Pryor, Newark’s deputy mayor for economic development, said Eleven80, with some 80 percent occupancy, is proof that high-quality apartments can attract people to the state’s largest city. What’s more, he said, state and federal stimulus dollars as well as residential tax credits are now in play. "They will put such projects on a strong financial footing," he said.
The fallout from the recession, however, has taken its toll, with plans for a 350-room hotel on Mulberry Street falling by the wayside, city officials said.
"That deal for that particular hotel is no longer advancing," Pryor said. "It was a victim of the economy."
The developer, though, hasn’t abandoned the idea.
"Edison Properties is continuing to pursue the development of a hotel within the downtown core," the company said in a statement. "We expect that the hospitality sector will return to economic feasibility as the nation emerges from the recent economic downturn."
So does Pryor. "There are two to three additional hotel deals that are in formulation. They’re in different stages of development. At least one of them, we predict, will emerge as a valid and viable plan," said Pryor, declining to name the developers. "The hospitality professionals tell us that Newark is under-hoteled."
Just two blocks from the Prudential Center, a conversion of a 1912 jewelry factory into 66 residential units, 80 percent of which are market rate, is nearing completion, he said.
A highly publicized deal to convert the city’s former Science High School on Rector Street into a residential high-rise, with 150 units, has just received historic review, Pryor said.
As for Eleven80, the showdown came when the lender, citing the construction liens as a violation of the mortgage agreement, issued warnings and then called the loan, demanding full payment. By April 7, the foreclosure action — U.S. Bank National Association v. 1180 Astro Renewal Investors LCC et al — was filed.
The foreclosure filing hasn’t rattled Carl Dranoff, a Philadelphian who next year intends to move forward with his own 300-unit luxury high-rise across from NJPAC.
"This is what I would call a blip on the radar screen," said Dranoff.
"The trend is the flight back to the city," he said. "People who are empty nesters, boomers and echo-boomers — the sons and daughters of boomers — they want to live in urban areas, and we are urban developers."
Stern, a pioneer developer in New Jersey’s largest city, has pumped $250 million into its rebirth — most of it in Eleven80. He also retains 744 Broad St., the city’s tallest high-rise, but his taste for Newark soured when another downtown Newark building, Two Center Street, won all the accolades in Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s State of the City address back in January. His vision for residential housing across from historic Military Park wasn’t even mentioned.
"I’ve given 10 years of my life to the city," Stern said. "Then, they’re off to the next guy."

[block944]

More on Dranoff over in Camden mind you the article was written in 2006 and completion date was suppose to be 2008 and now its 2010 and nothing has been done yet.


Philadelphia region housing starts are sagging, condo projects have stalled, and Camden is taking hits in the news again.
None of it dents developer Carl Dranoff’s optimism. He’s still forging full-speed into Camden, still bullish on building luxury loft condos in America’s poorest and most dangerous city.
This week, the state Economic Recovery Board, which doles out state aid to the distressed city, agreed to pay $1.9 million for environmental cleanup of the condo site to be known as the Radio Lofts, a former RCA Victor building just off the city’s waterfront near a spectacular view of Philadelphia.
The money was delayed but, combined with $2 million from the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, will cover environmental work needed to start the renovation, Dranoff said yesterday. He expects the Radio Lofts to be ready for occupancy in early 2008.
Dranoff, who renovated the waterfront Victor Building into luxury apartments in Camden, speaks with the same bouncy optimism as when he first envisioned that residential project - one of the first private investments in Camden’s waterfront renaissance. He’s still jaunty despite the state crackdown on the city’s finances, a corruption probe into one of the city’s major politicians, and law enforcement subpoenas that indicate a deepening investigation of city finances.
“Our enthusiasm and confidence never waned,” Dranoff said yesterday in a phone interview. “Persistence wins the race, and we’re persistent.
“I still believe Camden is the next hot neighborhood, a great place to invest.”



The market for luxury condos is dangerous: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20091101_The_word_on_condos__Ambiguous.html

People want deals not overpriced condos.

[Marv95]

"I’ve given 10 years of my life to the city," Stern said. "Then, they’re off to the next guy."
Yeah, 10 years of your life:rolleyes: yet the buildings on Broad Street along Military Park remain abandoned. You had your opportunity to do something with them when the market was good; just man up and take accountability for failures.

[newarkhiphop]

You hit the nail on the head, all these ideas are great but nothing will come of it as the financing isn't there. Cogswell had a rough time getting 1180 ready in time and even when I was there a year later after the opening they were still doing work. I wonder when the bike room is coming or was it flushed. Seems like the only way development occured is with Sharpe Jame's crooked below market land deals as builders have less financial risk. With Booker wanting market rates for the land no builder is going to bite as the risk is to high for a falling economy.



Anyrate some folks bought a home near Halsey and setup a blog: http://brickcitylove.com/ with no parking I think they overpaid. Their car has already gotten broken into.. oh wells

you lived there? how was it?

Ive read and heard mix reviews its a nice building and the apartments are nice looking but there were lot of issues

[scrollhectic]

Yeah, 10 years of your life:rolleyes: yet the buildings on Broad Street along Military Park remain abandoned. You had your opportunity to do something with them when the market was good; just man up and take accountability for failures.

I wasn't on the inside and privy to all the information surrounding their real estate transactions so i can't say anything definitively, but i remember reading that 1180 was an increadibly difficult project to finance. Marv, how can you expect them to secure financing for multiple, competing projects (both mixed use developments) within one block of each other at the same time? In real estate, lenders don't pony up additional monies until they see that your last project has stabilized. They had to wait for 1180 to stabilize and for that properity's financials to make sense before they could secure additional financing and evidently, the financials still don't make sense for that property.

Block is right, market rate does not work in Newark. What developer would be crazy enough to take all that risk? What's unfortunate, is that reduced pricing on property and land is a disservice to current residents who have to shoulder the weight of the city's tax base. But without the abatement, no one would come to Newark. NOONE. Jersey City just gave crazy tax abatement for that Wall Street company that decided to relocate thousands of workers to Jersey... And JC is much better poised to attract developers then Newark. Don't believe the hype, Newark is a very hard sell.

[block944]

you lived there? how was it?

Ive read and heard mix reviews its a nice building and the apartments are nice looking but there were lot of issues


It was fantastic, just some things weren't ready yet like the gym. The downside was you couldn't really walk around and do anything outside the building back then as most of the city shutdown after 7 and walking down broad st wasn't a smart thing to do. A lot of students were definately there as the place would be a ghost town on weekends.

[block944]

I wasn't on the inside and privy to all the information surrounding their real estate transactions so i can't say anything definitively, but i remember reading that 1180 was an increadibly difficult project to finance. Marv, how can you expect them to secure financing for multiple, competing projects (both mixed use developments) within one block of each other at the same time? In real estate, lenders don't pony up additional monies until they see that your last project has stabilized. They had to wait for 1180 to stabilize and for that properity's financials to make sense before they could secure additional financing and evidently, the financials still don't make sense for that property.

Block is right, market rate does not work in Newark. What developer would be crazy enough to take all that risk? What's unfortunate, is that reduced pricing on property and land is a disservice to current residents who have to shoulder the weight of the city's tax base. But without the abatement, no one would come to Newark. NOONE. Jersey City just gave crazy tax abatement for that Wall Street company that decided to relocate thousands of workers to Jersey... And JC is much better poised to attract developers then Newark. Don't believe the hype, Newark is a very hard sell.

That is the reality that I'm seeing, the only positive expansions are the schools and prudential arena. Everything else fell apart and now is a mismatch of failed and completed projects. Either we take the high and mighty road like booker which just gets us stagnate or we take the low road like James. I use to be all booker but now I'm coming around to see that yes the city would loose money upfront on low land deals but the long term Return on investment will be huge. The redevelopment of Springfield Ave with home depot would never happen under booker as much as i dislike sharpe james as a slimy weasel. The only changes I see are fixing state parks with state money and fixing the roads also with state money. The only 2 major influxes now is the work accross the river at Harrison and the Nets coming to Newark, otherwise what you see is what you are going to get.


And that Dranoff guy is nuts, his luxury apartments in downtown philadelphia are being auctioned off due to low interest

[Marv95]

My real beef isn't with Stern's lack of immediate development of those buildings, my beef is he could have torn 'em down and have some sort of foundation to build on in case there were some issues like financing or whatever. There are decrepit, and have no place for Downtown in late 2009. But I agree with you on tax abatements. The city used this to get offices moved in as well as 2 Center Street(I think).

PS Sharpe only got the NJPAC, The Rock and perhaps the light rail. Other than that was else has he done for downtown? Wasn't he against gentrification, which is an example of the Mulberry Street project?

[block944]

My real beef isn't with Stern's lack of immediate development of those buildings, my beef is he could have torn 'em down and have some sort of foundation to build on in case there were some issues like financing or whatever. There are decrepit, and have no place for Downtown in late 2009. But I agree with you on tax abatements. The city used this to get offices moved in as well as 2 Center Street(I think).

PS Sharpe only got the NJPAC, The Rock and perhaps the light rail. Other than that was else has he done for downtown? Wasn't he against gentrification, which is an example of the Mulberry Street project?




Bears stadium? Expansion of NJIT?(when I was there in 1993 they had prison bars on all the ground floor windows)? Springfield Ave (home depot, theatres, applebees)


Also the historical society won't let Stern tear it down, that is part of the problem with developing downtown Newark. The only way it can be done is eminent (sp?) domain but when sharpe james lost his use of it on Mulberry ave everything else went downhill.

Sharpe James was very much for gentrification downtown
Mulberry Ave: http://dailynewarker.com/blog/2007/07/mulberry-street-redevelopment-now-pretty-much-officially-dead/

http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=3733.&res=1280

"James hopes the Newark Redevelopment Corp. will soon overcome the last remnants of a six-month resistance by the Mulberry Street Coalition to the city's first ''comprehensive urban downtown neighborhood development,'' the 13-acre, $550 million Mulberry Street Redevelopment project featuring 2,000 market-rate condo units, whose architect Dean Marchetto asserts, ''This project could be New Jersey's poster child for smart growth. We think it could be the antidote to suburban sprawl.'' Local residents have mostly opposed the use of eminent domain against their properties, reports Star-Ledger writer Jeffrey C. Mays, quoting Newark Business Administrator Richard Monteilh, who says, ''We've made a huge effort to knock on every door. Everyone has been guaranteed that they'll get fair market value and then some.''"

[block944]

Click on projects and then Newark for what Downtown Newark was suppose to be in 2008 to synch up with Eleven80 and the Arena going live
http://dmarchitect.com/

Mulberry st promenade

Across the street on broad st, the Lincoln Park condos was suppose to go up but that went flush too and all the revitalized homes there are stranded or in foreclosure. Packard and richardsons loft are extensions to Mulberry st project but now they are stand alone with no anchors just like eleven80 and the arena.

The project would of started right behind the symphony hall which would of lead to its revitalization and ended at green st behind the parking lot next to the arena. That would of been the new middle/upper class downtown with a tax base of 6 million dollars compared to 139,000 thousand they get now. That would of funded further revitalization and schools instead of draining state taxes with abbott district funding.

Also those bayonne boxes across the street on 21 were built in anticipation of the project but now they are grafitti tagged every week as they are stranded as well and some are boarded up while others are in foreclosure. A lot of them are half built and abandoned as the builders know that its going to be hard to sell those homes now that the Promenade project has failed. All the gentrification downtown like the Link was built with the Mulberry Promenade in mind. With that project never being done all these other projects are mismatches and don't have much of a chance standing/survivng on their own. With the economy down now and the ruling against James to use Eminent Domain downtown is going to be a patchwork that collectively are going to fail as luxury condos won't be occupied by middle class when riff raff are running around right next to them.


If downtown is going to succeed another project like this is needed otherwise it will fail as there are no residents to support retail downtown. Hence why Booker glossed over any projects downtown and now is fixed on building an upper/middle class by NJPAC which is stupid as downtown will just rot some more. As well as having Dranoff in charge of the NJPAC towers is silly as he is just a kool aid drinking pumper whose properties either never complete or are auctioned off.

Downtown newark revitalization is dead, the financial mess of 1180 is all the proof I was waiting for and the arena's finances are just as screwed up as well.

[newarkhiphop]

There just needs to be better promotion and venues at what we do have in downtown i.e bear stadium,njpac,pru center

and the symphony hall which i just drove by about 30min ago that place needs a major makeover out side, something to make it stand out more and them across the street a nice cafe or a place for ppl to eat afterwords the only building thats is being occupied is the teachers union, them there is a papa johns and the last two buildings burned down during a big fire in the summer

[block944]

Preparing to Launch a $550 Million Makeover

By P, Shankar
Publication: NJBIZ (http://www.allbusiness.com/njbiz/41653-1.html)
Date: Monday, December 1 2003 (http://www.allbusiness.com/njbiz/20031201/3037843-1.html)



You are viewing page 1
HEADNOTE Newark
HEADNOTE One of the most ambitious neighborhood projects in Newark's history may soon get underway
For the past
http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/hvrs.ab.main/AMEX_SPONSORSHIP_2009;cid=1043356;sz=300x250;pos=b ottom;node=4973385;type=periodicalarticle;ind=;com psize=;tile=2;ord=3348223? (http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/hvrs.ab.main/AMEX_SPONSORSHIP_2009;cid=1043356;sz=300x250;pos=b ottom;node=4973385;type=periodicalarticle;ind=;com psize=;tile=2;ord=3348223?)
three years, Newark has failed spectacularly to get its proposed $355 million sports arena started. But another controversial project that dwarfs the arena has quietly-and swiftly-moved toward groundbreaking.Known as the Mulberry Street Promenade, the $550 million housing, retail and commercial space development would revitalize 13 acres spread over 10 blocks south of Newark's Penn Station. It features 2,000 condominiums, 180,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 2,500 off-street parking spaces between Mulberry Street and McCarter Highway.
Two weeks ago, Newark Mayor Sharpe James unveiled the project at a City Hall press conference. On hand was the project's prospective developer, Mulberry Urban Renewal, a joint venture of Metro Homes of Hoboken and Newark Redevelopment Corp.
Six months from now, construction could begin on the first phase of homes and retail space. "We could start with some 70 to 90 housing units," says Dean Geibel, managing principal at Mulberry Urban Renewal. Condominiums would cost about $225,000 each and be designed with state-of-the-art kitchens, home workspaces and expansive windows and terraces.
But first the Newark City Council must designate the project site an "area in need of development." This would spur the designation of Mulberry Urban Renewal as the project's developer and enable the city to condemn and acquire property on the roughly eight acres of the site Mulberry doesn't own.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 1Planners foresee vibrant street life in a section of downtown that is currently dominated by auto-body shops. The completed project would encompass 10 blocks between Mulberry Street and McCarter Highway just south of the city's Penn Station.


Among the occupants of those acres are some 20 small businesses, many of them auto-body shops, and 21 homes. A group of property owners known as the Mulberry Street Coalition opposes the Newark plan.
Under it, the city would appoint two appraisers to determine fair market values for the property to be acquired. This would include the cost of existing structures, which the developer would raze. Part of the site would be taken over by the state Department of Transportation (DoT), which plans to widen McCarter Highway.
The ambitious renewal plan began as a gleam in the eyes of Emile Ferina and Bruce Wishnia, principals at Newark Redevelopment. About a year ago, they acquired five acres along Mulberry that were mostly filled with parking lots.
Both men are Newark natives with experience in building townhouses and two- and three-family homes. That's what they initially planned for the site. But a succession of events caused them to raise their sights.
They first struck a partnership with Geibel, the president of Metro Homes, which has built some 1,000 houses in Hoboken and Jersey City. Meanwhile, Anton Nelessen, a professor of planning at Rutgers-Newark, was preparing a study of the city sponsored by the National Association of Realtors. In the study, which was prompted in part by plans for the sports arena, Nelessen identified a desirable mix of projects that included housing, streetscaping, retail space and open space.
The study led Ferina and Wishnia to expand the residential vision for their five-acre site into a grander 13-acre mixed-use concept. A series of handshakes later, the developers had aligned their project with Nelessen's plan, linked it to the DoT widening of McCarter Highway and secured the support of the mayor. James had good reason to back the project: It is expected to swell the site's tax revenue from $140,000 a year to about $6 million.
Meanwhile, Geibel has been meeting with occupants of the eight acres his team doesn't own in an effort to win their cooperation. He is offering each current owner-occupant a $40,000 credit toward the purchase of a new Mulberry Street Promenade home. Tenants who don't own their dwellings would get a $15,000 credit towards the purchase of a new home, or a relocation payment of $7,500.
HEADNOTE Newark
HEADNOTE One of the most ambitious neighborhood projects in Newark's history may soon get underway

For the past
http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/hvrs.ab.main/AMEX_SPONSORSHIP_2009;cid=1043356;sz=300x250;pos=b ottom;node=4973385;type=periodicalarticle;ind=;com psize=;tile=2;ord=3348223? (http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/hvrs.ab.main/AMEX_SPONSORSHIP_2009;cid=1043356;sz=300x250;pos=b ottom;node=4973385;type=periodicalarticle;ind=;com psize=;tile=2;ord=3348223?)
three years, Newark has failed spectacularly to get its proposed $355 million sports arena started. But another controversial project that dwarfs the arena has quietly-and swiftly-moved toward groundbreaking.Known as the Mulberry Street Promenade, the $550 million housing, retail and commercial space development would revitalize 13 acres spread over 10 blocks south of Newark's Penn Station. It features 2,000 condominiums, 180,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 2,500 off-street parking spaces between Mulberry Street and McCarter Highway.
Two weeks ago, Newark Mayor Sharpe James unveiled the project at a City Hall press conference. On hand was the project's prospective developer, Mulberry Urban Renewal, a joint venture of Metro Homes of Hoboken and Newark Redevelopment Corp.
Six months from now, construction could begin on the first phase of homes and retail space. "We could start with some 70 to 90 housing units," says Dean Geibel, managing principal at Mulberry Urban Renewal. Condominiums would cost about $225,000 each and be designed with state-of-the-art kitchens, home workspaces and expansive windows and terraces.
But first the Newark City Council must designate the project site an "area in need of development." This would spur the designation of Mulberry Urban Renewal as the project's developer and enable the city to condemn and acquire property on the roughly eight acres of the site Mulberry doesn't own.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 1Planners foresee vibrant street life in a section of downtown that is currently dominated by auto-body shops. The completed project would encompass 10 blocks between Mulberry Street and McCarter Highway just south of the city's Penn Station.
Among the occupants of those acres are some 20 small businesses, many of them auto-body shops, and 21 homes. A group of property owners known as the Mulberry Street Coalition opposes the Newark plan.
Under it, the city would appoint two appraisers to determine fair market values for the property to be acquired. This would include the cost of existing structures, which the developer would raze. Part of the site would be taken over by the state Department of Transportation (DoT), which plans to widen McCarter Highway.
The ambitious renewal plan began as a gleam in the eyes of Emile Ferina and Bruce Wishnia, principals at Newark Redevelopment. About a year ago, they acquired five acres along Mulberry that were mostly filled with parking lots.
Both men are Newark natives with experience in building townhouses and two- and three-family homes. That's what they initially planned for the site. But a succession of events caused them to raise their sights.
They first struck a partnership with Geibel, the president of Metro Homes, which has built some 1,000 houses in Hoboken and Jersey City. Meanwhile, Anton Nelessen, a professor of planning at Rutgers-Newark, was preparing a study of the city sponsored by the National Association of Realtors. In the study, which was prompted in part by plans for the sports arena, Nelessen identified a desirable mix of projects that included housing, streetscaping, retail space and open space.
The study led Ferina and Wishnia to expand the residential vision for their five-acre site into a grander 13-acre mixed-use concept. A series of handshakes later, the developers had aligned their project with Nelessen's plan, linked it to the DoT widening of McCarter Highway and secured the support of the mayor. James had good reason to back the project: It is expected to swell the site's tax revenue from $140,000 a year to about $6 million.
Meanwhile, Geibel has been meeting with occupants of the eight acres his team doesn't own in an effort to win their cooperation. He is offering each current owner-occupant a $40,000 credit toward the purchase of a new Mulberry Street Promenade home. Tenants who don't own their dwellings would get a $15,000 credit towards the purchase of a new home, or a relocation payment of $7,500.
In addition, commercial owner-occupants and their tenants would receive a 10% credit toward any property they bought at the project site, as long as it were used for purposes specified by the city's redevelopment plan.
Geibel says his goal is the same one that Nelessen outlined: to create a 24-7 downtown neighborhood where residents can live, work, dine and shop. "If people understood the project concept, we wouldn't have so much opposition," Geibel says. "Turning Newark around cannot be done on a piecemeal basis with housing projects of 50 units here and 50 units there."
SIDEBAR "Turning Newark around cannot be done on a piecemeal basis with housing projects of 50 units here and 50 there."
Dean Geibel
Managing principal, Mulberry Urban Renewal

[block944]

Newark Sets Out Plan for 'Urban Village'

By RONALD SMOTHERS

Published: Saturday, November 15, 2003



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City officials on Friday presented a $550 million redevelopment plan to include an ''urban village'' in a sagging section of the city's downtown, although the proposed arena for the Nets and the Devils that would be its northern anchor and premier attraction remains in limbo.
It was a clear effort by Mayor Sharpe James and other local officials to recover the lost momentum of revitalization that had been heavily tied to the planned $355 million arena. Plans for the arena have recently become mired in disputes within the group that owns the two teams, the YankeeNets. Some argue for building the arena, while others want the teams to remain at their current home at the Continental Airlines Arena, and still others talk of moving the teams to other localities.
Mr. James said the arena proposal was ''still very much alive.'' But he insisted that the planned 13-acre ''village,'' , which would include midrise and high-rise housing, parks and retail spaces stretching along Mulberry Street, could succeed on its own and solely on the basis of recent demand for moderately priced housing steps away from traditional urban amenities. The project would be just blocks from commuter lines and PATH trains and near a planned light-rail line.
''This is not predicated on the arena,'' the mayor said. ''This is predicated on the demand for housing in downtown areas.''
Echoing this view was Dean Geibel, the president of Metro Homes, one of the developers involved in the plan, called the Mulberry Street Promenade.
''It's getting quite expensive to live in Hoboken, and the land there is increasing in value,'' said Mr. Geibel, suggesting that the overflow from Hoboken and areas like Manhattan and Brooklyn would fuel demand for living in Newark. ''People who buy here early will in a year or two see real appreciation.''
The Newark business administrator, Richard Monteilh, said the proposed 2,000 housing units in the village would feature balconies, roof gardens and large windows, representing a departure from recent development projects in the city.
''Previous development was low density,'' he said. ''But we want to offer some different choices that will allow the city to grow its population.''
Newark's population had been in steep decline from the 1960's, when it had more than 400,000 residents, but its current population of 275,000 has been relatively stable in the last five years.
Mr. Geibel -- surrounded by brightly colored and stylized architects' renderings of the three- to six-story blocks of buildings with street-level retail space -- said a two bedroom unit would sell for about $225,000.
But the buildings would include starter units and small studios, all with underground parking garages and within walking distance of Newark Penn Station, he said.
The amenities proposed for the area are based on a nationwide survey conducted by a Rutgers University planning professor, Anton E. Nelessen, who was asked by the National Association of Realtors to determine the right mix of businesses, services, park areas and building heights that might attract people to urban areas.
Mr. Monteilh said the two- and three-family dwellings currently in the area bounded by McCarter Highway, Broad Street, Scott Street and Lafayette Street, as well as the smattering of small businesses there, returned only $139,000 in property taxes to the city last year.
The proposed development could result in properties that would bring the city $6 million a year in taxes, he said.
The plan still faces opposition from some residents who are unhappy with relocation plans and the initial discussion over what they might be offered for their property in the expected city condemnation process. And, the Newark City Council, citing similar concerns about displacement, was unanimous last spring in blocking Mayor James's initial steps to advance the proposal.
But on Friday, city officials were confident they could begin to seek the council's approval again starting next month and begin construction by next spring on five acres in the parcel already owned by the developers.
Completion of all stages is projected to take five years.
Photo: Mayor Sharpe James of Newark yesterday presented plans to build a new district of high-rise and midrise housing and shops aimed at recovering momentum for development now that a proposed arena is in limbo. (Photo by Timothy Ivy for The New York Times) Map of Newark highlighting proposed arena site: Newark's ''urban village'' will offer housing, parks and businesses.

[block944]

There just needs to be better promotion and venues at what we do have in downtown i.e bear stadium,njpac,pru center

and the symphony hall which i just drove by about 30min ago that place needs a major makeover out side, something to make it stand out more and them across the street a nice cafe or a place for ppl to eat afterwords the only building thats is being occupied is the teachers union, them there is a papa johns and the last two buildings burned down during a big fire in the summer


Wrong they need to build housing for upper/middle class people downtown otherwise all those venues will go to waste. After most devils games the fans high tail it out of there

[Marv95]

They high tail it outta there in 29 other arenas in the league.

[block944]

They high tail it outta there in 29 other arenas in the league.


not in philly...

[66nexus]

As far as the Mulberry project dying, you can thank the commercial properties along rt 21 that killed it in court.

I remain optimistic, as the recession slows, I do not think interest in Newark will go away. It's been like that for years (remember the Renaissance Mall?)

As long as Newark is what it is, there will be interest...you just need money to coincide with that interest.

[block944]

As far as the Mulberry project dying, you can thank the commercial properties along rt 21 that killed it in court.

I remain optimistic, as the recession slows, I do not think interest in Newark will go away. It's been like that for years (remember the Renaissance Mall?)

As long as Newark is what it is, there will be interest...you just need money to coincide with that interest.


The point being in boom times, building one off condos in Downtown newark doesn't work. Renaissance towers imploded and now eleven80 is in foreclosure so the math doesn't work.

[66nexus]

The point being in boom times, building one off condos in Downtown newark doesn't work. Renaissance towers imploded and now eleven80 is in foreclosure so the math doesn't work.

Problem with eleven80 is that it cost more to restore than the building was worth. The condos across from Gateway don't have that problem.

I think it would be easier to build in Newark as long as build credit isn't dry.

[block944]

Problem with eleven80 is that it cost more to restore than the building was worth. The condos across from Gateway don't have that problem.

I think it would be easier to build in Newark as long as build credit isn't dry.



"''What Renaissance Towers will do is open a rush of other residential condominiums in downtown Newark,'' said Alfred L. Faiella, executive director of the Newark Economic Development Corporation."

From 1986: http://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/04/business/about-real-estate-housing-set-for-newark-news-building.html

[newarkhiphop]

Wrong they need to build housing for upper/middle class people downtown otherwise all those venues will go to waste. After most devils games the fans high tail it out of there


All due respect your idea isn't realistic as far as upper and middle class people living in downtown newark. Not no time soon anyways. The city still has a big stigma attached to and apart from that comes the reality when it comes to violence, people usually like living a place were they can go out and about without worrying for there safety and newark isnt one of the place, not yet anyways.

Brining more and better venues along with places to eat like cafes and restaurants to the city along with security has a couple of benefits. It will get people used to coming to the city and feel comfortable staying for a bit afterwards. This will them spread by word of mouth "hey newark isn't that bad, that might be a place i would want to live". Also there is the economic benefits with people spending money.

Am a resident of Newark have been my whole life, currently in college and honestly i would not want to raise a family in the city, even though i turned out ok this city still has alot of issues, you could place blame on several areas but that would do nothing. All this construction and redevelopment is a step in the right direction ......

[Marv95]

Brining more and better venues along with places to eat like cafes and restaurants to the city along with security has a couple of benefits. It will get people used to coming to the city and feel comfortable staying for a bit afterwards. This will them spread by word of mouth "hey newark isn't that bad, that might be a place i would want to live". Also there is the economic benefits with people spending money.

There's no demand for more cafes, restaurants, etc. Why? because there's almost no one living downtown to use them. Even with Eleven80, Richardson Lofts(almost bordering the Ironbound), Clinton Lofts, Renaissance Towers, it isn't enough. You need more people--middle/upper class people--committed to living there to justify more retail opening or staying open late. And downtown doesn't have to appeal to families; you can appeal to singles by adding studios or 1BR's.

[block944]

All due respect your idea isn't realistic as far as upper and middle class people living in downtown newark. Not no time soon anyways. The city still has a big stigma attached to and apart from that comes the reality when it comes to violence, people usually like living a place were they can go out and about without worrying for there safety and newark isnt one of the place, not yet anyways.

Brining more and better venues along with places to eat like cafes and restaurants to the city along with security has a couple of benefits. It will get people used to coming to the city and feel comfortable staying for a bit afterwards. This will them spread by word of mouth "hey newark isn't that bad, that might be a place i would want to live". Also there is the economic benefits with people spending money.

Am a resident of Newark have been my whole life, currently in college and honestly i would not want to raise a family in the city, even though i turned out ok this city still has alot of issues, you could place blame on several areas but that would do nothing. All this construction and redevelopment is a step in the right direction ......


Its a chicken or the egg scenario, to me businesses won't survive unless people are there. To bring people there you have to build housing for middle class people at a reasonable price. If condos downtown went for sale at 250kish I'm fairly certain people would buy one. I know I would of. With Hanes not turning into lofts, is a major blow to that concept but what can we do now? People are leaving the state as the housing stock currently is unaffordable for the middle class. Since we can make so many homes for the lower class and section 8 why can't they do the same for middle class people with a certain income level or education??

I even wonder if the Nets moving here will make a difference as they are a shell of a team with their 0-13 record as Ratner destroyed their lineup. With NJIT and Rutgers looking to build more dorms, a major potential and pressure to build new condos is lost as well.

Already people are complaining: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIzHnyQuUpw

Dam had they put up Mulberry promenade, the city would of had a MAJOR tax base but small minded people ****ed it all up and so the city needs to be propped up the state. such a dam shame.

[block944]

WTF??
How the fyck can the courts rule that eminent domain can be used in Atlantic Yards today but not in newark?!?


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125907445356162357.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_new s

Builders Net Win in N.Y. Case

Court Says State Can Claim Land for Brooklyn Project; Game Is Back on for NBA Arena



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New York's highest court ruled that it is lawful for the state to seize private land for use by private developers, clearing a hurdle for a new basketball arena and marking a victory for local governments hoping to spur development.
http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-BB199_ATLANT_D_20091013165528.jpg Associated Press A New York Court ruled Tuesday that the state can seize property for the proposed Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, shown above in 2008.



Tuesday's 6-1 ruling by the New York State Court of Appeals allows the contentious $4.9 billion, 22-acre Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn to proceed. The project, being developed by Forest City Ratner Cos., could eventually include office towers and apartments as well as an arena for the NBA's New Jersey Nets.
The decision is a blow to private-property owners who have argued that they are defenseless in protecting their ownership rights once a government deems their land necessary for eminent domain, or the "public good." But it boosts developers and government entities in New York that have sought to boost local economies by offering incentives for private developers.
The court's decision echoes one handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005, when the justices found it was constitutional for a New London, Conn., economic-development corporation to seize private homes and businesses to build a research campus for Pfizer Inc. That decision, Kelo v. City of New London, Conn., set off a firestorm of protest, prompting many lawmakers around the country to amend laws to prevent governments from seizing private land in some cases. New York, however, didn't change its constitution.
In Tuesday's decision, the New York appeals-court judges ruled that the constitution allows the state entity to seize the downtown Brooklyn land to improve blighted conditions. The land owners had argued that the area was a stable neighborhood, and wasn't blighted.
Previously



Court Weighing Eminent Domain (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125547517033483565.html)



Stephen Moore discusses why he is opposed to the state of New York seizing private land for a basketball arena.


But the court ruled that if the definition of blight is to be changed in New York, it would be a matter for the legislature, not the courts.
The lone dissenter in the case, Judge Robert S. Smith, wrote: "It might be possible to debate whether a sports stadium open to the public is a 'public use' in the traditional sense, but the renting of commercial and residential space by a private developer clearly is not."
The ruling ends the constitutional challenges to the project. All have failed, including a case brought in federal court. Three legal challenges remain in state court, including one that contests the state's finding of blight and its environmental review of the land, said Matthew Brinckerhoff, the lawyer for a client who continues to live in a condominium on the site. "We lost and we're disappointed, but they don't have these properties and until they do the fight isn't over," he said.
The New York State Urban Development Corp. said in a statement: "With this major hurdle overcome, we can now move forward with development."
MaryAnne Gilmartin, executive vice president of Forest City Ratner, said, "We're pleased and excited to be heading toward the closing."
Still, the project's future remains in question. At $900 million, the arena, to be called the Barclays Center, would be among the most expensive ever built. Already, the scope of the entire Atlantic Yards project has narrowed for the near term in the face of the poor economy. Over the next five years, Forest City Ratner is planning to go forward with construction of the arena and as many as three rental-apartment buildings, the developer says. The rest of the project, including "Miss Brooklyn," the signature tower designed by Frank Gehry, is on hold due to market conditions.
The Ratner companies have tentatively secured an investment-grade rating for the roughly $600 million of bonds needed to finance the arena's construction, according to a statement released Tuesday by the state development corporation.
The Atlantic Yards project must issue its bonds and start construction by Dec. 31 to comply with a previous court ruling that limited the ability of privately owned sports teams to qualify for tax-exempt bonds to pay for arenas from which they will derive the bulk of the financial benefits.
Without the tax-exempt status, bankers working on the project say it won't move forward because the bond debt would be too expensive. The state corporation says it will issue the bonds by mid-December.
In addition, the developer still will need to issue $150 million of taxable bonds, which are less likely to prove attractive for investors in this market.
Bruce Ratner, chairman and chief executive of Forest City Ratner, also must close his deal to sell a stake in the team to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. Mr. Prokhorov offered to buy an 80% stake in the Nets for $200 million, and a 45% stake in the arena. The ownership deal awaits approval from at least 75% of National Basketball Association franchise owners.

[ryanov]

I wonder when the bike room is coming or was it flushed.

FYI, the bike room is open. I think I was the first (and last) person to get myself locked in it. :)

[ryanov]

you lived there? how was it?

Ive read and heard mix reviews its a nice building and the apartments are nice looking but there were lot of issues

I live there now. There are no particularly substantial problems with anything. I do not park, but I don't understand any particular reason that someone would need to and thus don't have a lot of sympathy.

[block944]

The meltdown continues, don't expect the njpac towers in the next 5-8 years.

to put this in prospective, this is the CORE area of downtown newark and the plans for it fell apart in 2007 which was 3 years ago and we are only NOW finding out about it. Nothing is going to happen downtown except for one off buildings that will have mediocore business. The curse of the mulberry promenade strikes again!



Broad St & Market St, Newark, NJ 07102
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=market+and+broad,newark,nj&sll=40.735389,-74.170085&sspn=0.004244,0.013733&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Broad+St+%26+Market+St,+Newark,+Essex,+New+J ersey+07102&ll=40.735917,-74.169817&spn=0.004244,0.013733&z=17&iwloc=A




Cogswell Realty sues developer over Newark venture gone sour

By Philip Read/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/pread/index.html)

November 27, 2009, 5:00AM

http://media.nj.com/business_impact/photo/cogswell-realtyjpg-9b0d41f085efbf0a_medium.jpgARISTIDE ECONOMOPOULOS/THE STAR-LEDGERArthur Stern, CEO of Cogswell Realty Group, talks about the company's future in Newark real-estate in this photo, taken Feb. 10, 2009.
It was supposed to be a meeting of the minds between developers to transform a city block in the shadow of "The Rock," Newark’s just opened sports arena that is home to the New Jersey Devils.
But now, Arthur Stern’s Cogswell Realty Group is suing over the demise of the ill-fated joint venture, accusing developer Hanini Group of breach of contract, fraud and "unjust enrichment."
The civil action says Newark-based Hanini Group recruited Cogswell by saying it had binding contracts on the properties, a key step to developing a mixed-use residential, hotel and retail complex.
To keep those options in full force, the lawsuit asserts, Hanini told Cogswell it immediately needed a $100,000 advance, to be returned in the event the joint venture collapsed.
When it did, in 2007, Cogswell demanded the return of the $100,000, something Hanini has "willfully and wrongfully" refused to do, the lawsuit asserts, leading to the allegation of "unjust enrichment."
Philip Neuer, Cogswell’s attorney in the civil action, filed Oct. 9 in state Superior Court in Newark, suggested a resolution might be forthcoming but said he had no comment on the legal action.
"There’s been no answer filed yet," Neuer said of the Hanini Group.
Samer Hanini of the Hanini Group had no comment.
The land in question is in Newark’s downtown core, bounded by Edison Place and Market, Broad and Mulberry streets.
That puts it shoulder to shoulder with the Prudential Center, the 18,500-seat arena nicknamed The Rock, which was considered a cornerstone of the city’s revitalization when it opened in October 2007 as a venue for everything from hockey to Bon Jovi concerts to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
The collapse of the joint venture pales in comparison to the plight of Cogswell’s Eleven80, the luxury residential high-rise in Newark that is now in default on a $65 million loan and embroiled in foreclosure proceedings.
And even that hasn’t shaken such Newark stakeholders as Carl Dranoff, a Philadelphian who next year intends to move forward with his own 300-unit luxury high-rise across from the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. "A blip on the radar screen," is how Dranoff labeled it.
In a draft agreement filed as an exhibit in the latest legal case, the investors estimated the need for $30 million to $50 million in equity, with Cogswell being the managing and leasing agent for the project. It also included a clause requiring the payment of a $2 million acquisition fee to the Hanini Group once the joint venture closed on the purchase of the parcels.
The plaintiff is seeking not only the return of the $100,000 but also unspecified punitive damages and reimbursement of legal fees. The pre-trial judge in the case is Paul Vichness.

[newarkdevil1]

Wow block, you were bitter before but I thought you were starting to sound optimistic recently...I see that was a lost cause. A couple of things I want to correct that I am seeing here.

The mulberry st complex failed in part because of James not booker. I noticed a quote taken from good old Al from the Newark EDC that was STOLEN, I REPEAT, STOLEN FROM THE CITY. There were a series of ridiculously dirty land deals that were stopped by the State courts (AY is a different story because NY laws on eminent domain are much less restrictive). Had James and his budies (which include many of the current land owners that are runing parking lots and not developing their lots) not been in such a rush to make their pay day, your project might have gotten off the ground.

As for the gloom and doom on the projects I think everyone is being a bit unrealistic. Large projects in NJ especially our cities require prevailing wage, union sign off and huge subsidies (read: complex handouts from our government). This subsidies will come because they are backed by people that will vote (read:unions) out politicians that don't back them. Newark will continue to develop but you will simply see hotels take a precedence to residential projects.

I can tell you that the State's laws on Eminent domain mean that the city can't even force people like Edison or Lopez to develop their parking lots, so expect that to take a loooooooooong time.

Lets not get all gloom and doom on Newark, projects in Manhattan being done by Ratner (ie owner of the Nets) had to be cut in half as well.

This turndown will hopefully force people like Cogswell to sell what they never should have purchased (ie the kislak building or half of halsey st). This city had rampant land speculation and that hurt local and micro development by people that would have been much more vested in their projects (small developers partnerned with local banks).

I don't feel even a scent of sympathy for Stern, he grabbed all he could and then cried when he realized he wasn't going to get a hand out to hold as much land as he took. Stern never should have taken over as much as he did and now he will be forced to sell at a discount which in turn will actually help Newark.

[newarkdevil1]

The meltdown continues, don't expect the njpac towers in the next 5-8 years.

to put this in prospective, this is the CORE area of downtown newark and the plans for it fell apart in 2007 which was 3 years ago and we are only NOW finding out about it. Nothing is going to happen downtown except for one off buildings that will have mediocore business. The curse of the mulberry promenade strikes again!



Broad St & Market St, Newark, NJ 07102
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=market+and+broad,newark,nj&sll=40.735389,-74.170085&sspn=0.004244,0.013733&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Broad+St+%26+Market+St,+Newark,+Essex,+New+J ersey+07102&ll=40.735917,-74.169817&spn=0.004244,0.013733&z=17&iwloc=A




Cogswell Realty sues developer over Newark venture gone sour

By Philip Read/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/pread/index.html)

November 27, 2009, 5:00AM

http://media.nj.com/business_impact/photo/cogswell-realtyjpg-9b0d41f085efbf0a_medium.jpgARISTIDE ECONOMOPOULOS/THE STAR-LEDGERArthur Stern, CEO of Cogswell Realty Group, talks about the company's future in Newark real-estate in this photo, taken Feb. 10, 2009.
It was supposed to be a meeting of the minds between developers to transform a city block in the shadow of "The Rock," Newark’s just opened sports arena that is home to the New Jersey Devils.
But now, Arthur Stern’s Cogswell Realty Group is suing over the demise of the ill-fated joint venture, accusing developer Hanini Group of breach of contract, fraud and "unjust enrichment."
The civil action says Newark-based Hanini Group recruited Cogswell by saying it had binding contracts on the properties, a key step to developing a mixed-use residential, hotel and retail complex.
To keep those options in full force, the lawsuit asserts, Hanini told Cogswell it immediately needed a $100,000 advance, to be returned in the event the joint venture collapsed.
When it did, in 2007, Cogswell demanded the return of the $100,000, something Hanini has "willfully and wrongfully" refused to do, the lawsuit asserts, leading to the allegation of "unjust enrichment."
Philip Neuer, Cogswell’s attorney in the civil action, filed Oct. 9 in state Superior Court in Newark, suggested a resolution might be forthcoming but said he had no comment on the legal action.
"There’s been no answer filed yet," Neuer said of the Hanini Group.
Samer Hanini of the Hanini Group had no comment.
The land in question is in Newark’s downtown core, bounded by Edison Place and Market, Broad and Mulberry streets.
That puts it shoulder to shoulder with the Prudential Center, the 18,500-seat arena nicknamed The Rock, which was considered a cornerstone of the city’s revitalization when it opened in October 2007 as a venue for everything from hockey to Bon Jovi concerts to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
The collapse of the joint venture pales in comparison to the plight of Cogswell’s Eleven80, the luxury residential high-rise in Newark that is now in default on a $65 million loan and embroiled in foreclosure proceedings.
And even that hasn’t shaken such Newark stakeholders as Carl Dranoff, a Philadelphian who next year intends to move forward with his own 300-unit luxury high-rise across from the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. "A blip on the radar screen," is how Dranoff labeled it.
In a draft agreement filed as an exhibit in the latest legal case, the investors estimated the need for $30 million to $50 million in equity, with Cogswell being the managing and leasing agent for the project. It also included a clause requiring the payment of a $2 million acquisition fee to the Hanini Group once the joint venture closed on the purchase of the parcels.
The plaintiff is seeking not only the return of the $100,000 but also unspecified punitive damages and reimbursement of legal fees. The pre-trial judge in the case is Paul Vichness.

This isn't nearly as terrible as it sounds. Hanini may have bitten off more than it could chew and may be forced to sell or offer more of an equity stake to settle the suit. Ultimately, the lots in question (first two buildings on left when walking from Mulberry towards Broad) will get developed faster than the surrounding parcels. Hanini actually develops their lots without taking subsidies and huge handouts and are local developers. They are the reason you have a bar like Brick City and they will continue to go after those types of projects.

[block944]

Wow block, you were bitter before but I thought you were starting to sound optimistic recently...I see that was a lost cause. A couple of things I want to correct that I am seeing here.

The mulberry st complex failed in part because of James not booker. I noticed a quote taken from good old Al from the Newark EDC that was STOLEN, I REPEAT, STOLEN FROM THE CITY. There were a series of ridiculously dirty land deals that were stopped by the State courts (AY is a different story because NY laws on eminent domain are much less restrictive). Had James and his budies (which include many of the current land owners that are runing parking lots and not developing their lots) not been in such a rush to make their pay day, your project might have gotten off the ground.

As for the gloom and doom on the projects I think everyone is being a bit unrealistic. Large projects in NJ especially our cities require prevailing wage, union sign off and huge subsidies (read: complex handouts from our government). This subsidies will come because they are backed by people that will vote (read:unions) out politicians that don't back them. Newark will continue to develop but you will simply see hotels take a precedence to residential projects.

I can tell you that the State's laws on Eminent domain mean that the city can't even force people like Edison or Lopez to develop their parking lots, so expect that to take a loooooooooong time.

Lets not get all gloom and doom on Newark, projects in Manhattan being done by Ratner (ie owner of the Nets) had to be cut in half as well.

This turndown will hopefully force people like Cogswell to sell what they never should have purchased (ie the kislak building or half of halsey st). This city had rampant land speculation and that hurt local and micro development by people that would have been much more vested in their projects (small developers partnerned with local banks).

I don't feel even a scent of sympathy for Stern, he grabbed all he could and then cried when he realized he wasn't going to get a hand out to hold as much land as he took. Stern never should have taken over as much as he did and now he will be forced to sell at a discount which in turn will actually help Newark.


I just post em as I find em :)

[newarkdevil1]

On a positive note, I was at a forum today hosted by the NRBP w/ UMDNJ, NJIT, Rutgers and Berkley. Rutgers was talking about how they are converting their old law school building to graduate dorms with Retail at the base and their plan for other dorms to abut the NJIT properties. Although it will take time it also seems that dranoff is working with SHU law so that he has his units prefilled or prenegotiated for his build out at center st. All in all, the colleges remain a sweet spot for the city as they continue to grow and increase enrollment.

[Marv95]

Although it will take time it also seems that dranoff is working with SHU law so that he has his units prefilled or prenegotiated for his build out at center st.
Could be a risky but intelligent decision.

[block944]

On a positive note, I was at a forum today hosted by the NRBP w/ UMDNJ, NJIT, Rutgers and Berkley. Rutgers was talking about how they are converting their old law school building to graduate dorms with Retail at the base and their plan for other dorms to abut the NJIT properties. Although it will take time it also seems that dranoff is working with SHU law so that he has his units prefilled or prenegotiated for his build out at center st. All in all, the colleges remain a sweet spot for the city as they continue to grow and increase enrollment.

any word on njit and the greekvillage/gateway project?


Wish someone shared that meeting here, I would of went:

http://regionalbiznjassoc.weblinkconnect.com/CWT/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=167




Any pdf/slides?

[block944]

Study says Newark is fifth-most expensive U.S. city for corporate headquarters

By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk (http://connect.nj.com/user/njoslcnd/index.html)

December 03, 2009, 6:47AM

http://media.nj.com/business_impact/photo/prudential-newarkjpg-c3b8a086e4cb9c46_medium.jpgWilliam Perlman/The Star-LedgerThe exterior of Prudential Financial Building in Newark, one of the major corporations with headquarters in Newark. Others are Verizon New Jersey, PSE&G, IDT Corp. and Horzion Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.NEWARK -- A study by a Princeton consulting firm says Newark is the fifth-most expensive city in the country (http://www.njbiz.com/article.asp?aID=79964) in which to operate a corporate headquarters, a report on NJBIZ.com said.
Newark, costs averaging $27.9 million per year, puts it behind New York, at $30.7 million, San Francisco at $29.3 million, Stamford, Conn., at $29 million, and San Jose, Calif., at $28.6 million, according to the report. The study factored in the cost of regulations and bureaucracy, but it did not consider intangibles that make the locations more favorable, like being close to a major market like New York, the report said. The study considered the cost of having 325 employees in a 70,000-square-foot building, the report said.

[newarkdevil1]

Well to be honest, I fealt like it was a bit of a promo film with the head of UMDNJ holding court. Overall, NJIT was somewhat quite about their plans givent they are the designated redeveloper. I spoke with some people in the know there and that is moving along. They are trying to do the MLK relocation w/o emminent domain but some of the frats may fight. As for the housing I am of a somewhat mixed opinion. I would rather see the schools commit to a 5-10 period of locked housing in the existing buildings like 1180, Clinton st Lofts, with commitments to a new SHU law campus building and maybe the old bank building at the end of edison and broad. With residential hurting it would be a commitment to shore up those projects with tennatns and then potential phase out as residential returned.

[block944]

Well to be honest, I fealt like it was a bit of a promo film with the head of UMDNJ holding court. Overall, NJIT was somewhat quite about their plans givent they are the designated redeveloper. I spoke with some people in the know there and that is moving along. They are trying to do the MLK relocation w/o emminent domain but some of the frats may fight. As for the housing I am of a somewhat mixed opinion. I would rather see the schools commit to a 5-10 period of locked housing in the existing buildings like 1180, Clinton st Lofts, with commitments to a new SHU law campus building and maybe the old bank building at the end of edison and broad. With residential hurting it would be a commitment to shore up those projects with tennatns and then potential phase out as residential returned.

Whats umdnj have planned? I try to have a lot of hope that the university heights area will gentrify but I get emails like this daily so who knows

http://mail.google.com/a/njit.edu/images/cleardot.gifDirector of Public Safety


show details 7:06 PM (1 hour ago)

At about 4:30 PM on December 3, 2009, a Rutgers student was robbed at knife point in the alleyway between Campbell Hall and the Central High School building. The suspect is described as Hispanic male, 5’10-5’11”, thin build, wide nose, pronounced cheek bones, with a “five o’clock shadow,” wearing a track suit that is light blue with white stripes, and a yellow and black head rag. The victim fought with the suspect and sustained minor cuts. The suspect was last seen fleeing on foot toward MLK from the alleyway.

The robbery is being investigated by the NJIT Department of Public Safety and the surrounding police departments have been notified.
Remember to plan the safest route to your destination. Choose well-lighted, busy pathways and streets and avoid alleyways or “short cuts” through isolated areas.

[block944]

Study says Newark is fifth-most expensive U.S. city for corporate headquarters

By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk (http://connect.nj.com/user/njoslcnd/index.html)

December 03, 2009, 6:47AM

http://media.nj.com/business_impact/photo/prudential-newarkjpg-c3b8a086e4cb9c46_medium.jpgWilliam Perlman/The Star-LedgerThe exterior of Prudential Financial Building in Newark, one of the major corporations with headquarters in Newark. Others are Verizon New Jersey, PSE&G, IDT Corp. and Horzion Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.NEWARK -- A study by a Princeton consulting firm says Newark is the fifth-most expensive city in the country (http://www.njbiz.com/article.asp?aID=79964) in which to operate a corporate headquarters, a report on NJBIZ.com said.
Newark, costs averaging $27.9 million per year, puts it behind New York, at $30.7 million, San Francisco at $29.3 million, Stamford, Conn., at $29 million, and San Jose, Calif., at $28.6 million, according to the report. The study factored in the cost of regulations and bureaucracy, but it did not consider intangibles that make the locations more favorable, like being close to a major market like New York, the report said. The study considered the cost of having 325 employees in a 70,000-square-foot building, the report said.





I'm not the only one getting annoyed: http://www.newarkspeaks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10008



Look at what Harrison has going on: http://www.advancerealtygroup.com/harrison_riverbend/index.htm its everything we wished newark could be


Phase I of vertical construction at the Riverbend District is scheduled to begin in 2010 and will feature more than 800,000 square feet of retail space, including an anchor grocery and retailers, a 16-screen cinema and notable restaurants; a 175-room hotel and a 350-room, full service hotel with 25,000 square feet of conference space; a wellness center; corporate and boutique office space; and approximately 1,900 for sale and rental residential units.


Phase 1 will be done in 2012.........

[newarkdevil1]

Block, those developments will go up just as fast as the hotel and one center st get built because they will depend on financing. Newark teaches us all that fancy architectural drawings mean nothing. Heck even that stadium they built used taxpayer dollars.

As for Newarkspeaks I don't even bother reading it anymore because it's prior admin cronies bitching about how it was better in the james days. Personally, the whole office space argument is lost as no one seems to realize you can build and rent class A in the burbs at 15 dollars per square ft vs the 45 it would take to build it in Newark.

[Marv95]

Got this from NJDevs.com. It is actually a good idea that was posted; why this wasn't thought of during the first year of the Pru Center I'll never know...
http://www.cordish.com/

In fact, why can't AEG do the same thing for downtown like they are about to do for Edmonton? The company manages the arena for pete's sake. http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/edmonton-oilers/story.html?id=2299154&add_feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fscript s%2FSP6Atom.aspx%3Fid%3D898337

[block944]

Block, those developments will go up just as fast as the hotel and one center st get built because they will depend on financing. Newark teaches us all that fancy architectural drawings mean nothing. Heck even that stadium they built used taxpayer dollars.

As for Newarkspeaks I don't even bother reading it anymore because it's prior admin cronies bitching about how it was better in the james days. Personally, the whole office space argument is lost as no one seems to realize you can build and rent class A in the burbs at 15 dollars per square ft vs the 45 it would take to build it in Newark.

True, but Harrison seems to have a comprehensive plan that is going off like clock work where certain dependencies are met before the next project/phase are built. Newark just seems like misfired projects that are desperate to complete and end up looking like patch work.

[block944]

Got this from NJDevs.com. It is actually a good idea that was posted; why this wasn't thought of during the first year of the Pru Center I'll never know...
http://www.cordish.com/

In fact, why can't AEG do the same thing for downtown like they are about to do for Edmonton? The company manages the arena for pete's sake. http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/edmonton-oilers/story.html?id=2299154&add_feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fscript s%2FSP6Atom.aspx%3Fid%3D898337



Not to beat a dead horse but thats exactly what the Mulberry Promenade was suppose to be but James couldn't seize the land from home owners and they would not sell at a reasonable price so the project was scrapped. Getting the land and mom/pop dollars stores around the arena is the hard part and crooked james lost. Which in that case mean honest hollywood booker doesn't have a chance unless he gives the owners all a large payout for their properties which is not going to happen in this falling economy.

[block944]

Another nail in the coffin for nets to Newark:

December 01, 2009
Nets arena bonds squeak through
Another shoe drops for the Atlantic Yards arena project: Bond rating agency Moody's has given an investment-grade rating (http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/nets-arena-wins-needed-bond-rating-mostly) to the bonds for the Nets' planned Brooklyn arena. It looks like Nets owner Bruce Ratner paid a high price for the rating, though, cutting the amount of tax-free bonds from $600 million to $500 million, and accepting a rating of Baa3, Moody's lowest level above junk bonds (http://www.bondtalk.com/global.cfm?S=rultra&SS=education2&LID=3).
The next question is what this means for the bonds' interest rate, and the team's bottom line — each added percentage point of new interest will cost the Nets owners $5 million a year — something that could be answered when the Empire State Development Corporation makes its initial bond offering, as soon as tomorrow. The lowered amount of bonds also means a growing funding gap that must be filled by Ratner and his soon-to-be partner Mikhail Prokhorov: already at $100 million or so (http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2009/11/arena-bonds-authorized-underwriter.html), it's now looking closer to $300 million. Prokhorov is a pretty rich guy (http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/10/billionaires-2009-richest-people_Mikhail-Prokhorov_JW8Z.html), and clearly he stands to get lots of intangible publicity benefits from entering the NBA owner's club, but you still have to wonder how much cash he (or Ratner) will be willing to throw at this deal before the investment starts to look like a money pit.
If nothing else, this could get interesting once the inevitable cost overruns (http://www.fieldofschemes.com/news/archives/2006/11/3082_how_is_newark_l.html) show up. The ESDC has said it has "no expectation (http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2009/11/arena-bonds-authorized-underwriter.html)" of issuing additional public bonds for the project, but admitt

[66nexus]

Got this from NJDevs.com. It is actually a good idea that was posted; why this wasn't thought of during the first year of the Pru Center I'll never know...
http://www.cordish.com/

In fact, why can't AEG do the same thing for downtown like they are about to do for Edmonton? The company manages the arena for pete's sake. http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/edmonton-oilers/story.html?id=2299154&add_feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fscript s%2FSP6Atom.aspx%3Fid%3D898337

I was reading the same thread before on njdevs. Pretty good points but there are some defining differences.

AC has proven yearly visitation numbers. I think they didn't know how well the Rock would do in the beginning so there wasn't a big drive to create retail options. (Old Navy, NY&Co etc. I suppose that's why they opted to go the hotel/office route).

BUT, with that being said, who is to say it would never work? If you had told me just 15 years ago that there would even be an arena in Newark I would've laughed.

[newarkdevil1]

Not to beat a dead horse but thats exactly what the Mulberry Promenade was suppose to be but James couldn't seize the land from home owners and they would not sell at a reasonable price so the project was scrapped. Getting the land and mom/pop dollars stores around the arena is the hard part and crooked james lost. Which in that case mean honest hollywood booker doesn't have a chance unless he gives the owners all a large payout for their properties which is not going to happen in this falling economy.

Listen it's easier to criticize Booker with all that's wrong with Newark but soo much of this is intrinsic to large governments. Newark like most cities has jobs handed out by politicians and just gigantic inefficiencies that are protected by unions and politicos. You should see the crap I have to go through for permits and other projects I have. Booker gets roughed up in Newark but he will remain popular and a potential future governor candidate or senator and I have no issues with that. As for Newark it's EXTREMELY difficult to get a large project off the ground like everyone is showing here. NJ has a history of dirty politics so it's hard for me to not support those property owners that didn't want to sell to politically connected James cronies. That area will develop but I just don't see those surface lots going away anytime soon, too profitable for people that are well connected at local and state government levels.

[block944]

MEMORANDUM To: NJIT Faculty, Staff and Students From: Robert A. Altenkirch Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 RE: Gateway Project Update I am pleased to announce that the Gateway Project is now moving into a new phase, one of execution. Following Central Planning Board and Municipal Council approval of the Gateway Plan and Council designation of NJIT as Redeveloper for the properties located within the Gateway Project, the City of Newark and NJIT entered into a Redevelopment Agreement. NJIT now has the rights and responsibilities to redevelop the properties within the Gateway Project and, importantly, access to financial benefits provided by various government and development entities to support execution of the Project. On December 4, 2009, NJIT entered into a Development Agreement with Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. (JLL) as previously provided as part of the terms in the Request for Qualifications by which JLL was selected to develop the Plan. The Development Agreement details the schedule of payments from JLL to NJIT that repays the cash advance NJIT put forward to support development of the Plan. The first payment was received on signing of the Development Agreement.

Additionally, JLL has established a joint venture partnership (JV) with a private equity investment and asset management company with interests in a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate, including major urban office buildings, shopping centers and undeveloped land. The JV will be responsible for execution of the Development Agreement with JLL. The Project is planned in three Phases, the first of which entails development of the first phase of a multi-level, structured parking facility on the St. Michael’s parking lot on MLK between James and Orange Sts. for use by St. Michael’s and NJIT and development of the first phase of the Greek Village on the NJIT parking lot bounded by Warren and Colden Sts. and Raymond Blvd. The three Phases are planned over a ten year period.

We will keep you posted on significant Project developments as they occur. Reaching this point in the Project is a significant milestone representing movement to enhancement of the neighborhood next to campus for the benefit of the community and NJIT.

Thanks,

Bob

================

The ONLY entity that gets it right in Newark is NJIT, I'm proud of them.

http://gateway.njit.edu/about/index.php

[newarkdevil1]

I happen to like their long term approach and their provost says all the right things. I just wonder about at 10 year time frame as it seems very aggressive but I would love to be wrong. Is NJIT the only repository of info on it, I couldn't find anything with Jones Lasalle.

[block944]

I happen to like their long term approach and their provost says all the right things. I just wonder about at 10 year time frame as it seems very aggressive but I would love to be wrong. Is NJIT the only repository of info on it, I couldn't find anything with Jones Lasalle.

Even before the housing/construction boom Rutgers newark, Umdnj and NJIT have been very progressive in expanding/revitalizing the local area.

[block944]

Having read through the newarkspeaks forum, it looks like a bunch of crooked politicians annoyed that they are out of power in newark. I had no idea, screw them as they WERE part of the problem


Looks like they finally figured it out too: http://newarkspeaks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10026


I can't believe Sharpe James son is running for mayor and wearing the below shirt around while Ras Baraka was holding up traffic with his stupid protests. Ras Baraka should work on HIS failing schools first.


http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/4043/johnso.jpg

http://www.newarkspeaks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1991&stc=1&d=1249616901

[block944]

Oh god just let the nets go to brooklyn, the new clause for keeping the nets in prudential is that they can't pay a lot in salaries to the team. Hello!! They are in last place and need talent which means a higher pay otherwise nobody is going to go see them! At this point NJ should just make their own team. Already less than 5000 people are going to the devils games: http://www.njdevs.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=52496 and they owe back rent! Also that Brick City coffee is going to shut down as I drop my wife off at Penn station every day its empty with the staff sitting around


Possible Truce Between New Jersey Arenas Could Come at a Cost to Fans



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By KEN BELSON (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/ken_belson/index.html?inline=nyt-per) and DAVID M. HALBFINGER (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/h/david_m_halbfinger/index.html?inline=nyt-per)
Published: December 9, 2009
New Jersey sports and music fans could soon have to pay a surcharge to see Devils (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/hockey/nationalhockeyleague/newjerseydevils/index.html?inline=nyt-org) and Nets games and concerts. A complex deal is being brokered to end a landlord-tenant dispute as well as a price war between the arenas at the Meadowlands and in Newark, according to multiple people involved in the negotiations.
The two arenas, the aging Izod Center at the Meadowlands and the Prudential Center in downtown Newark, have been undercutting each other to attract bands and other acts since the Prudential Center opened in 2007, state officials say.
To end the fight, Jerold L. Zaro, Gov. Jon S. Corzine (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/jon_s_corzine/index.html?inline=nyt-per)’s economics czar, has brokered a deal to move the Nets (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/probasketball/nationalbasketballassociation/newjerseynets/index.html?inline=nyt-org) to the Prudential Center, cementing the privately run building as the dominant indoor sports venue in New Jersey. It would in turn cede many of its nonsports events — rock concerts and family shows like the Ice Capades — to the Izod Center, which would become an entertainment hub.
To avoid undercutting each other, the arenas would form a 50-50 venture, called Jersey Presents, that would schedule events and share revenue from them.
A new ticket surcharge of $1 for sports and $3 for other events would go into a fund that would be split between the arenas’ owners using a complicated formula. The surcharge, which will look like a tax but is being called a user fee, may require legislation in Trenton.
Jeffrey Vanderbeek, who owns the Devils and manages the Prudential Center, would be assured of an additional 40 dates or more from the Nets, which helps the arena that he leases from the Newark Housing Authority.
Vanderbeek declined to comment for this article.
The Nets, who have been losing tens of millions of dollars a year, would avoid paying a $7.5 million penalty to the Izod Center for breaking their lease to move to Newark. They would also pay a significantly lower per-game rental fee, and earn a share of suite revenue they generate at the Prudential Center. The Devils and the Nets would also sell ticket packages together. New Jersey officials, who hold out hope that the move to Newark’s gleaming arena could help keep the Nets from moving to Brooklyn in 2012, said a performance clause in the proposed deal would require that the team spend minimum amounts on player salaries and marketing as long as they remain at the Prudential Center.
Some of the revenue from the ticket surcharges would be used to end a standoff between the Devils and Newark, which have withheld rent and parking payments to each other. Newark would immediately receive two years of back rent, or about $4 million. The Devils would be paid $350,000 a year over 10 years and, depending on how much the ticket surcharge reaps, could be paid up to $2.7 million more annually to settle disputes with Newark over parking revenues.
The financially strapped New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/n/new_jersey_sports_and_exposition_authority/index.html?inline=nyt-org) would lose an anchor tenant for its Izod Center but would gain more lucrative concerts and other shows, as well as a portion of the ticket surcharges. Revenue-sharing details on parking have yet to be ironed out.
Zaro said businesses around the Izod Center in Bergen County would benefit because concertgoers tend to dine out more before and after events than sports fans.
“We hope the deal would lead to synergies between the two arenas,” he said. “When this deal closes, all these disputes will vaporize.”
One wild card is the governor-elect, Christopher Christie (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/christopher_j_christie/index.html?inline=nyt-per), a Republican. Zaro, a friend of Christie’s, said that he had not yet discussed his plan in depth with Christie’s team. (As it happens, Christie’s inauguration party will take place at the Prudential Center on Jan. 19.)
Christie’s spokeswoman, Maria Comella, said he had been briefed to some extent on the talks but was not ready to take a position, except on a ticket tax. “Under Governor-elect Christie, that’s not going to happen,” she said.
The arenas and teams can add a surcharge to their ticket prices without approval from lawmakers, although the money would then be taxable. But the State Senate president, Richard J. Codey (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/richard_j_codey/index.html?inline=nyt-per), said that he hoped to pass a ticket surcharge before Christie takes office, and that the difference between a tax and the surcharge was meaningless.
“You can call it whatever you want, but a tax is a tax is a tax,” he said.
Already, Bergen County lawmakers have raised objections. The deal, they say, would amount to a bailout of the Prudential Center, the Devils and the Nets at the expense of their district and the Sports and Exposition Authority, the state entity that runs Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack in addition to the Izod Center.
Christopher Eilert, chief of staff for State Senator Paul A. Sarlo, a Democrat whose district includes the Izod Center, said Sarlo “is not going to support any agreement that jeopardizes economic development or jobs in Bergen County, or leaves taxpayers on the hook for debt payments for the sports complex.”
James Cassella, the mayor of East Rutherford, where the sports complex is located, said the agreement amounts to a subsidy for Newark.
“What jumps out at me is that Newark is looking to Bergen County to bail them out, because that’s what this boils down to,” he said.
Carl Goldberg, the chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, disputed those claims. He said the departure of the Nets would allow the Izod Center to book more entertainment acts, generating more revenue and ending a costly tug-of-war with the Prudential Center.
“This allows both facilities to operate in an economically viable model,” Goldberg said. “The joint-venture approach makes sense.”
Barry Baum, a spokesman for the Nets, said the team would make a decision on whether to move to Newark later this month, after it finishes the paperwork on the financing of the arena it plans to build in Brooklyn.
The Nets face a Dec. 31 deadline to give notice that they intend to leave the Izod Center next year, but people involved say that could be waived. The terms of the deal have largely been settled, but lawyers are still working on the papers, they said.

[Marv95]

^^^How can all this occur with AEG now being a straight booking promoter for the Devils?

[arcman210]

The only people supporting the Izod Center are Bergen County politicians. Fans hate it and it shows by dismal attendance (not just now because of the bad team... even when the Nets and Devils were on top, they still couldn't sell out playoff games and concerts and family shows have trouble selling out too). I doubt Christie signs off on this, as it raises a new tax and promotes more wasteful spending.

Izod Center will lose the Nets no matter where they go in the next few years and there is zero chance it ever gains a tenant again. Not one ounce of sense in keeping two arenas open 8 miles apart in NJ, with another just 5 miles away in NYC. Not to mention the proximity to arenas in Philadelphia and Long Island, and potentially Brooklyn.

[66nexus]

Waitwaitwaitwait...slow down. I couldn't help but notice young Sharpe's T-shirt.

"Booker is a snitch, his tip led to Sharpe James' investigation"

So, even though his father was using city money, he's knocking Booker for (quote on quote) snitching???

Isn't that one of the defining elements of keeping Newark down, because people don't want to 'snitch'? That's why you'll have some neighborhoods stay the way they are b/c no one wants to 'snitch'.

So, regardless if your father was indeed a crook, you're only mad b/c the current mayor ratted him out? Sorry, but snitching in NJ politics equals one thing: integrity.

And he's running for mayor?:o:):D:D:Dbwahahahahah

[newarkdevil1]

I have always found newark speaks to be very political and very south ward oriented and therefor attract the James crowd. I know the officer that was suspended over the hole post fiasco a couple of years ago and I have always fealt that sort of hurt the board.

As for the Arena deal its a big political mess jsut like the NJSEA. That org should do nothing more than regulate orginzations that run casinos, large arenas/convention centers. Instead they opperate them and run them like all other inifficent stupid government entitities.

[newarkdevil1]

Waitwaitwaitwait...slow down. I couldn't help but notice young Sharpe's T-shirt.

"Booker is a snitch, his tip led to Sharpe James' investigation"

So, even though his father was using city money, he's knocking Booker for (quote on quote) snitching???

Isn't that one of the defining elements of keeping Newark down, because people don't want to 'snitch'? That's why you'll have some neighborhoods stay the way they are b/c no one wants to 'snitch'.

So, regardless if your father was indeed a crook, you're only mad b/c the current mayor ratted him out? Sorry, but snitching in NJ politics equals one thing: integrity.

And he's running for mayor?:o:):D:D:Dbwahahahahah

That T-shirt speaks volumes about how insulated the fomer James camp is. I can not believe someone would use that expression given the problems with witness intimidation that have occured in Essex county. I am actually sickened by it.

[block944]

That T-shirt speaks volumes about how insulated the fomer James camp is. I can not believe someone would use that expression given the problems with witness intimidation that have occured in Essex county. I am actually sickened by it.


I was stunned when I saw that, the whole James crew are a bunch of thugs that don't want any changes and want the money to roll in like before. I never donated money to a politician but I am going to for Booker

[newarkdevil1]

Seriously though Block, it's amazing how little power the people in charge actually have. Everyone from the police to the EMTs have a union that stops any attempts at change. I don't like to rant about unions but places like city hall are what causes those reputations. I have heard McCarthy speak and he has been sued by them and had constant fights with their union.

I am convinced those in politics have never had to run anything of their own and would have no idea how to actually make money legitimately.

[scrollhectic]

By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/dgiambus/index.html)

December 09, 2009, 7:32PM

NEWARK -- A new fence and some freshly cut grass outside an empty apartment complex in Newark’s South Ward are small signs of progress at the site, but they actually herald the end of a major lawsuit and the resolution of a 20-year-old battle over affordable housing in Newark.

Last month the housing authority agreed to pay embattled Newark developer Tony Gomes $2.4 million to relinquish any further claims on the site, allowing for the completion of 56 units of affordable housing off of Elizabeth Avenue.

http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/unfinished-town-homes-newark-housing-authorityjpg-1c6b523944d5f8e1_large.jpg
George McNish/The Star-LedgerAvenue and Vanderpool Street. The politically connected developer Tony Gomes who is handling the project is behind schedule.


After constructing nearly 1600 units in developments such as Betty Shabazz Apartments, Serenity Court and Oscar Miles Village, the South Ward units would fulfill the requirements of a 1989 suit filed in U.S. District Court that required the agency to replace 1777 units of low-income housing demolished with the Columbus Homes.

In order to get the parties to agree in the latest legal battle, the court called on the services of a key figure in Newark’s history of affordable housing.

"An awful lot had to be done and it was only because of the work of the special master," said U.S. District Court Judge Dickinson Debevoise.

The "special master" was Gustave Heningburg, a long-time tenant organizer who played a key role in the Stella Wright rent strike of the 1970’s. Debevoise first appointed Heningburg to act as special master for the original suit during the 1990’s. When Gomes sued the housing authority in 2006 for payment, Heningburg, 79, was once again tapped by Debevoise to help broker a deal.

"He was the special master who shepherded all of the independent parties to an agreement and that’s not an easy thing to do," Debevoise said. "Frankly I was amazed that this settlement actually went through."

Gomes began building the units in 2004. Two years later he handed the keys to the housing authority but officials refused to accept them, citing numerous problems with construction.

"There were many issues," said Tory Gunsolley, chief administrative officer at the Newark Housing Authority and referenced, "page after page of real defects and possible defects."

Among those defects were support beams that did not go all the way up to the roof, fire partitions that had holes or did not reach the ceiling, and incomplete records regarding the quality of concrete used in the building’s foundation, according to Gunsolley.

Gomes claimed that the buildings were ready to be occupied and when the authority refused to accept them, he took the agency to court.

"I had my architects and my engineers testing everything," Gomes said. Since opening his Newark construction business in 1981, Gomes insisted, "this is the first time the quality and speed of my jobs has been called into question." Gomes went through several law firms and says he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. He claims that the deal, for which he was supposed to be paid about $8 million, has cost him millions instead.

The 56 units remain unoccupied while the authority’s waiting list bears over ten thousand names waiting for placement. But after years of legal wrangling the settlement bought Gomes out of the project, paid Millennium bank $6.75 million after it seized the property, and cleared the way for the housing authority to make the repairs needed and open the housing.

According to special master Heningburg, getting the parties to move forward was a painful process.

"I cannot tell you how many meetings I have held," Heningburg said.

"Without the kind of relationship I had with the judge and all the principals, including Tony Gomes, I’m not sure this thing would have ever come to closure."

Heningburg agreed with the housing authority’s view that the apartments were poorly built.

"I went through the units very carefully," Heningburg said. "They’re beautiful, as long you don’t look behind the wall."

Now with Gomes out of the project, housing authority officials say they have to assess how much money and time will be required to bring the units up to code so they can be occupied as quickly as possible. Executive director Keith Kinard--who inherited the Gomes suit from his predecessor--said that the deal wasn’t perfect but that he was eager to move on.

"Its been a source of frustration because this was supposed to be completed and delivered in June of 2006," Kinard said but added, "I am extremely pleased because we need these units."

[scrollhectic]

By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/dgiambus/index.html)

December 09, 2009, 7:32PM

NEWARK

http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/unfinished-town-homes-newark-housing-authorityjpg-1c6b523944d5f8e1_large.jpg
George McNish/The Star-LedgerAvenue and Vanderpool Street. The politically connected developer Tony Gomes who is handling the project is behind schedule.



.....Sssoooo, we're paying for below standard, faulty construction, paying to bring them up to code and then moving people in?!? WTF? Newark is so corrupt! Unbelievable!

[scrollhectic]

December 06, 2009 5:59 AM
Starts ambitious low-income projects to aid its own in downturn.

By Miriam Kreinin Souccar (http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=55)


The Actors Fund, a human services organization that helps people who work in the performing arts and entertainment industries, is planning to build hundreds of low-income housing units in urban centers across the country over the next few years.

The Manhattan-based nonprofit is launching the Actors Fund Housing Development Corp. to help it accomplish this task. The corporation's first project, a 160-unit building in Newark, N.J., is still in the planning stages and is expected to be announced next month. The Actors Fund is looking for real estate sites in New York City and Los Angeles as well. The projects will include low-income housing, assisted-living and nursing-home facilities.

“Dancers, actors, and singers have median incomes that are well below $25,000, and only a small percentage of them work full time,” says Scott Weiner, chairman of the new development corporation and senior vice president and general counsel for Petra Solar, an energy company.

“[Launching the corporation] will extend our reach and effectiveness in a very vital area for our community—providing safe, affordable housing for those in need.”

Operating housing facilities is not new to the Actors Fund, which has a $26 million annual operating budget.

It currently runs the Aurora, a building with a health clinic on West 57th Street for people living with AIDS, seniors, and professionals earning less than $35,000 a year. It also runs a nursing home in Englewood, N.J., for retired members of the entertainment industry, and it recently opened a low-income housing facility for performing artists in downtown Brooklyn with Common Ground, a nonprofit.

[block944]

.....Sssoooo, we're paying for below standard, faulty construction, paying to bring them up to code and then moving people in?!? WTF? Newark is so corrupt! Unbelievable!

Thats what I don't get about low income housing, 56 units for ten thousand people? Building these things are a huge waste of time in that case. Instead these guys should move some place else where the economics work out and you don't need section 8 housing. Instead these places will turn into slums in 10-20 years if the residents stays economically depressed.

[block944]

Nets in Newark are being setup for failure. Residents aren't going to care that they are here if they know they are leaving in 1-2 seasons and if the team won't fund pulling talent they will just be in last place again and Newark won't care except for 1 -2 bozos stopping into Brick City coffee for an espresso to stay awake during the game. Stupid.











Nets Could See $1M Per-Game Guarantee With Pru Center Move

By Don Muret (%20dmuret@sportsbusinessjournal.com), Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
The Nets could receive a $1M-a-game guarantee based on their payroll and staffing levels as part of a proposal by the state and the Devils that would temporarily move the NBA team to Prudential Center in Newark, officials involved in the negotiations said. The proposal would allow the Nets to break their current lease at Izod Center in East Rutherford and move to Prudential Center for two years, starting with the '10-11 season. The Nets and N.Y. officials are working on closing their deal to build Barclays Center, the club's long-delayed Brooklyn arena project, with the goal of opening the building during the '11-12 season. Tentative terms of the two-year relocation call for the Nets to receive a seven-figure sum for each of their 41 home games at Prudential Center the next two seasons. "There are some moving parts, but that figure is not wildly off base," said Jerold Zaro, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's economics czar and who is part of those talks. "It will be advantageous to the Nets," Zaro said. "They will do better financially in Newark than at Izod, with a number of incentives involving rent, moving expenses, revenue sharing, and sponsorships and concessions." In return, the Nets have assured the state and the Devils that they would put a competitive product on the court by adhering to certain benchmarks agreed to by the three parties, Zaro said.
QUALITY CONTROL: The Nets would be required to spend an established percentage of the NBA salary cap for player payroll, in addition to maintaining consistent staffing levels in sales and marketing, ticketing and sponsorships. The Nets have 60 people working on the business side, team officials said. Nets Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Brett Yormark, the team's rep at the bargaining table, declined to talk about the deal as it pertains to the salary cap. This year's NBA cap is $57.7M. "The Devils wanted to know the Nets would have a good product and spend on talent. It's a formulaic procedure where we use the salary cap as a base," Zaro said. "If the Nets don't do that, there are certain 'clawbacks,' where we take the guarantee off the table or reduce the incentives in a pro-rata fashion." NBA officials did not return e-mails for comment but the league is aware of the team's potential move to Newark, Nets officials said. The Nets began the year with an 18-game losing streak and currently have a 2-20 record. For the deal to make fiscal sense for the state and the Devils, those two entities need to be assured the Nets are "going to put five guys out there that can dribble on the court," Zaro said.
JOINT BOOKING VENTURE: The deal also includes forming a joint venture called Jersey Presents that would book concerts and family shows at both New Jersey arenas and equally share that revenue. With the Nets' pending move to Newark, the loss of 41 dates would free up Izod Center to gain more special events from January to June, Zaro said. Once an agreement is reached, it would need the approval of the governor. Corzine, a Democrat, will leave office January 19 and be replaced by Republican Chris Christie. A story in Thursday's N.Y. Times indicated it is unclear whether Christie would support the agreement.

[66nexus]

That T-shirt speaks volumes about how insulated the fomer James camp is. I can not believe someone would use that expression given the problems with witness intimidation that have occured in Essex county. I am actually sickened by it.

And on Broad/Market at that!!

[newarkhiphop]

If the nets did come to the Pru center, how many of you would actually go?

[stache]

but then I'm not a sports fan.

[arcman210]

If the nets did come to the Pru center, how many of you would actually go?

I went to one Devils game at the then Brendan Byrne Arena, and never went back in a span of 15 years (I'm a Rangers fan so I don't like going to Devils games :p). However I've been to two Devils games (neither against the Rangers) at the Prudential Center, simply because its easier to access (I've driven and parked at the arena both times) and I get more enjoyment for my dollars spent at the Rock because of the better food and environment in the arena. Plus I know a few nice restaurants in Newark and Bloomfield to head to before or after the game.

Though I'm not a big basketball fan, if the Nets move to Newark (permanently) I will surely attend a game ever now and again.

[block944]

I went to one Devils game at the then Brendan Byrne Arena, and never went back in a span of 15 years (I'm a Rangers fan so I don't like going to Devils games :p). However I've been to two Devils games (neither against the Rangers) at the Prudential Center, simply because its easier to access (I've driven and parked at the arena both times) and I get more enjoyment for my dollars spent at the Rock because of the better food and environment in the arena. Plus I know a few nice restaurants in Newark and Bloomfield to head to before or after the game.

Though I'm not a big basketball fan, if the Nets move to Newark (permanently) I will surely attend a game ever now and again.


Even if they are in last place and lose every game?

[JCMAN320]

They are having a bad season; Ratner got rid of all the talent. They had 6 succseful years and I'm sure they'll be back. I'd go to games; I was at the Rock last night unfortuantely teh Devs took the Panthers too lightly and lost 4-2 but were still second in Eastern Conference with 43pts and 21-8-1 record.

[Marv95]

If they got their brain cells functioning and move there permanently, I'd go to a few per year regardless of their record. I've been to NHL, NFL and MLB games so I wanna do NBA without having to go to MSG, Wachovia or the Dump off 16W.

[newarkdevil1]

I just don't know how I feel about the nets coming. The Nets are the polar opposite of the Devils with everything from poor management to a lack of commitment to any home. I think the part that hurts the most is that if they do finally get over to Brooklyn it all but guarantees that NJ will never have professional basketball.

[arcman210]

I just don't know how I feel about the nets coming. The Nets are the polar opposite of the Devils with everything from poor management to a lack of commitment to any home. I think the part that hurts the most is that if they do finally get over to Brooklyn it all but guarantees that NJ will never have professional basketball.

If the Nets do move to Newark permanently, it wont be Ratner's ownership and management anymore.

However, if the Nets do indeed make it to Brooklyn but stop in Newark for a couple of years (as is being mentioned now), there is the chance (*note I said chance) that for those two seasons they play better, market the team well. This could be a showcase for NJ that the state could support an NBA team in the Prudential Center, providing the opportunity for either an expansion or relocation. Teams in all sports rely a lot on strong TV markets (and New York has four regional sports networks). The region has had three total NHL teams for 25+ years now, it can work with 3 NBA teams. But we'll cross that bridge when (and if) we get to it.

[block944]

Cornel West joins Newark Collegiate Academy, city officials at ribbon-cutting for new facility

By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/dgiambus/index.html)

December 15, 2009, 7:01PM

NEWARK -- After years of borrowing classroom space and at times operating without desks and chairs, the students of Newark Collegiate Academy cut the ribbon on their new school today, and were welcomed by one of the country’s most influential thinkers.
"You are representing not just the academy, not just Newark, not just America," Cornel West said today to a roomful of students, teachers, and policy makers. "You are representing the best of the human spirit."
http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/newark-collegiate-cademy-facility-broad-streetjpg-78fa100bcca81d9c_large.jpgAmanda Brown/The Star-LedgerThe Newark Collegiate Academy has opened a new facility on Broad Street in Newark.
West, a best-selling author and professor of African American studies at Princeton, joined Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Robert Treat Academy founder Stephen Adubato Sr., and a host of charter school officials to officially open the academy’s new high school facility at 909 Broad St. where students began the academic year in August.
"The revolution that’s going on is a revolution in our schools," Booker said today, and told students that they were "on the front lines" of a battle for academic achievement in Newark, where schools have struggled for decades. "Your teachers, your principals recognize your beauty and they recognize your brilliance."
The academy is one of four TEAM schools throughout Newark that operate under the banner of the Knowledge is Power Program, a nationwide organization of charter schools. Since the school’s inception in 2007, TEAM students have performed above district and state averages on language and math proficiency tests, despite what administrators describe as difficult circumstances.
http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/cornel-west-newark-collegiate-academyjpg-f9705a0136445b35_medium.jpgAmanda Brown/The Star-LedgerCornel West, author and Princeton professor, greets Newark Collegiate Academy students before the start of the opening ceremonies of the new facility on Broad Street in Newark."Our school’s origins were as humble as any I can think of in Newark," said academy principal Nathan Smalley, adding that when they first opened in 2007, the high school shared space with TEAM’s middle school and were without chairs and desks for several weeks. A deal brokered by Booker won the students space in the Newark Vocational School, which they occupied for over a year.
Charter schools are given funding for pupils by the state, but no funding is given for facilities, which is often the biggest challenge facing charters. Thanks to financing help from Prudential and City National Bank, the school finally secured its own facility. Building owner Ron Beit renovated the facility to accommodate the school. Students and teachers say it has brought a renewed sense of purpose to the school.
"We were on the top floor of a public school. We had half of a hallway," said Spanish teacher Ilyan Nunez. "Now we’re in our own home."
The school occupies the second through fifth floors and overlooks Newark City Hall. It features two science labs, customized classrooms, and a college admissions counseling center.
Students today said the new facility makes academic life more enjoyable.
"There’s much more school spirit just in terms of having your own building," said junior Natasia Harp, 17. She said the school recently hosted a party for students that featured several major Newark disc jockeys and said she was looking forward to an upcoming talent show. Students also gave rave reviews for Cornel West’s talk.
"I feel as though he gave me inspiration," said Briana West, 15, after students gave West a standing ovation, following his remarks.
West spoke at length, culling themes from Plato to Sly Stone and stressed the importance of self worth and service. He cited author Philip Roth and jazz singer Sarah Vaughan as examples of the talent that Newark has produced and spurred students to strive for similar heights.
"The challenge with young brothers and sisters is that you have too many echoes in your generation and not enough voices," West said. "When you walk out of here you’re not going to be a copy, you’re going to be an original."

[66nexus]

Looks like Harrison is going forward with their side of the river. While it may enhance the 'overall' Newark river appearance, the Newark side still lags behind. Given Harrison's size, should this be ultimately successful there could be a spillover effect. Starting not downtown, but the Ironbound.


By Alyson Grala (http://www.globest.com/cgi-bin/udt/im.author.contact.view?client_id=globest&story_id=182652&title=Roads%2C%20Utilities%20Underway%20at%20Advan ce%26%23146%3Bs%20Riverbend%20District&author=Alyson%20Grala&address=http%3A//www.globest.com/news/1558%5F1558/newjersey/182652%2D1.html&summary=HARRISON%2C%20NJ%2DPhase%20I%20Infrastruct ure%20is%20on%20track%20for%20completion%20by%20th e%20opening%20of%20the%20Red%20Bull%20Arena%20in%2 0spring%202010.)

http://www.globest.com/newspics/nej_riverbend-district.jpg
Riverbend District
HARRISON, NJ-At a time when many developers are postponing progress at their developments, Bedminster-based Advance Realty is moving ahead with construction at the Riverbend District, one of the largest brownfields mixed-use, redevelopment transit districts underway in New Jersey.

Phase I infrastructure work at the Riverbend District is already more than 50% complete. Construction and engineering firm Carson & Roberts is responsible for all site horizontal infrastructure work at the project and is on track to complete the installation of underground utilities, sidewalks, roadways, streetlights and traffic signals in time for the opening of Red Bull Arena in spring 2010.
"Carson & Roberts will take the Riverbend District one step closer to completion with horizontal infrastructure work that supports the transformation of this previously derelict site into a vital mixed-use, urban district," Advance Realty’s senior vice president and COO Kevin Tartaglione tells GlobeSt.com.

Phase I of vertical construction at the Riverbend District is scheduled to begin in 2010 and will feature more than 800,000 square feet of retail space, including an anchor grocery and retailers, a 16-screen cinema and restaurants; a 175-room hotel and a 350-room, full service hotel with 25,000 square feet of conference space; a wellness center; corporate and boutique office space; and approximately 1,900 for-sale and rental residential units.
"The redevelopment of this significant property into a vibrant, mixed-use destination is of critical importance to the town of Harrison in meeting its goals of enhanced economic development and improved quality of life for all residents," Harrison Mayor Raymond McDonough said in a statement.

According to Tartaglione, Advance is working closely with Harrison on the 80-acre site. "One of the burdens developers face is that older cities usually carried most of the infrastructure such as power and telephone lines above grade, but nearly all redevelopment projects require the power and telephone connectivity below grade," says Tartaglione. Unfortunately, he adds, developers are being asked to cover the costs of moving infrastructure underground despite the fact it will ultimately benefit the utility company. Tartaglione would like to see the state place more of this cost burden on the utility.

For the Harrison project, the cost of moving poles below grade is between $3 and $5 million, with overall infrastructure in the $30 million range. "We have some private and public funding," Tartaglione relates, the latter of which will go toward the Red Bull Stadium, which is located adjacent to the Riverbend site. As a transit-oriented community, the Riverbend District is near New Jersey Transit, Amtrak and an onsite PATH station that should stand to benefit from a $180-million renovation program to improve service.
In Morristown, meanwhile, utilities in the street date back 150 years in some cases, says Stephen Santola, executive vice president and general counsel at Woodmont Properties, which is working on the redevelopment of the former Epstein’s Department Store here, as well as the 36-condominium Residences at Vail Mansion and the recently completed Highlands at Morristown Station. In the case of the former project, he says, "When we set out to improve the water utility, the idea was not to just get enough water to our building but to create enough capacity in the system to help promote redevelopment in other areas of the downtown off of the water main system." All told, Woodmont did almost $3 million in offsite improvements at the Epstein’s rehabilitation site, including significant storm water improvements and installations, water mains and sanitary sewer improvements.

Another common concern when it comes to aging infrastructure is the water pipes. "Pipes that weren’t treated and lined will begin to build up an interior from the calcium and the water and rust," Parsippany-based Santola explains. The result: a four-inch water line can reduce in diameter to as little as three inches. "Now you’re getting even less capacity through that line than was originally planned. In some of our projects we run a camera into the sewer line to determine capacity," he adds. Clearly, these costs can add up quickly, a fact that is off-putting to many developers. "The development community has pitched in quite a bit already," affirms Tom Michnewicz, vice president of development at Somerset Development in Lakewood, which is currently working on the Wesmont Station in Wood-Ridge, a 70-acre brownfields redevelopment that will include a New Jersey Transit station. "The infrastructure requirements, especially on larger projects, are really a heavy lift. We try to encourage the local municipality as well as the counties and the state to pitch in." Government entities, he adds, have the ability to float bonds, and there are many creative ways of funding infrastructure through tax increment financing or fund bond issues.


http://www.globest.com/news/1558_1558/newjersey/182652-1.html

taken from Globest.com

[Marv95]

Besides infrastructure improvements it's still gonna take some time for Phase 1 to fully get on track. And even if/when it does, you people forget that part of Harrison is literally a wasteland. There's nothing there. So it has an easier foundation to build on, rather than a bunch of owner-occupied abandoned buildings and parking lots.

[66nexus]

How can one forget? That arena looks like it's in the middle of nothing. For starters, I wish Newark would just hire me and I would plant trees along its riverfront myself.

[block944]

Besides infrastructure improvements it's still gonna take some time for Phase 1 to fully get on track. And even if/when it does, you people forget that part of Harrison is literally a wasteland. There's nothing there. So it has an easier foundation to build on, rather than a bunch of owner-occupied abandoned buildings and parking lots.


Yup that is why that city will be the next hot spot unlike rahway or jersey city. The area surround the "wasteland" area of Harrison isn't the hood either so that place will be nice. In JC or Rahway, you are stuck in a certain area and can't go anywhere outside of it as its really rough

[block944]

Deal to move NJ Nets from Meadowlands to Newark's Prudential Center falls apart

Deal to move NJ Nets from Meadowlands to Newark's Prudential Center falls apart

By Ted Sherman/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/thsherma/index.html)

December 16, 2009, 4:06PM

NEWARK -- A deal to bring the Nets to the state’s largest city (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/prudental_centers_gets_new_jer.html) has all but collapsed.
"I don’t know that it’s dead, but from what I’m hearing, any sort of activity ... will have to await the next administration," conceded Jerold L. Zaro, who had been working to broker the deal on behalf of the Corzine administration.
http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/pru-centerjpg-5d19237f11839c70_large.jpgJohn Munson/The Star-LedgerAerial scene of the Prudential Center in Newark
Nets officials, though, say still remain interested in an agreement that could yet bring them to Newark until a planned new arena in Brooklyn is built.
Under a proposal that has been on the table since just before the gubernatorial election, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the New Jersey Devils were to enter into a joint venture partnership aimed at ending the ongoing battle of the arenas they operate -- the Izod Center in the Meadowlands and the Prudential Center in Newark. Through the partnership, called Jersey Presents, both sides were looking to work together to book and operate events, sharing the revenues.
The agreement would have allowed the Nets to break their lease at Izod with the sports authority, allowing the struggling NBA team to move to the more modern Prudential Center, which would showcase sporting events. The Nets would share the building with the Devils, at least temporarily, until the team moves as planned to the $1 billion Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn by 2012.
Most non-sporting events, such as the lucrative concerts and family shows now are at the heart of a competitive tug-of-war between Izod and Prudential, would in turn go to the Meadowlands arena, which would become primarily an entertainment venue.
Even after Gov. Jon Corzine lost the election to Republican Chris Christie in November, the deal still seemed on track as late as a few days ago — when Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) introduced an "arena truce bill" that would enable the Sports Authority to enter in the agreement, and authorize a new surcharge of up to $3 for Izod and Prudential Center events.
But today, it was clear the agreement had come apart.
"We are told that at this moment that the Sports and Exposition Authority is not moving ahead at this time," said Zaro. "And without the cooperation of the Sports Authority to release their tenant, the Nets would have a difficult time to make the move (to Newark)."
Sports authority officials did not immediately return calls for comment.
The Nets, meanwhile, say they have not given up hope that some kind of accord may yet be reached, despite the collapse of the deal.
"We continue to be encouraged about the prospect of making an interim move to the Pru Center," said Brett Yormark, the president and chief executive of Nets Sports and Entertainment.
Yormark said the organization, which just sold $511 million worth of bonds to help finance the controversial new sports arena in Brooklyn (http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2009/12/bonds_for_brooklyn_arena_proje.html), continues to believe an interim move to Newark would be good for New Jersey fans. He added that it would also give future fans from Brooklyn and Manhattan "the chance to get to know us now, given the access to mass transit" near the Prudential Center in Newark.
Nets officials said no decision on what the team might do will be made until its master closing for the Barclays Center next week. While they would not discuss what those options might include, even if the Sports Authority pulls out of the deal and holds the Nets to their lease, the team could still opt on its own to pay the $7.5 million penalty for walking away early, and move the Newark anyway.

[block944]

Another lawsuit thrown out, the nets to Brooklyn is on a fast track now!

http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2009/12/judge-deferring-to-mta-version-of-case.html


What fykin shame, with the bonds sold and the nets owners now having to pay 7.5 million to move the team temporarily to newark it makes no business sense to do so. They are better off staying put and moving in 2 years as they aren't going to have any fans from the same state that they are running away from

[newarkdevil1]

Personally Block,

I neither want or need the Nets ni Newark and hope the fail miserably in Brooklyn. I am so sick and tired of being spoken of as NY's wasteland and don't need a hapeless underinvested team coming down and taking dates and then passing the buck onto Newark as being an underperforming market. I would prefer the Nets suffer in the Meadowlands next to that boondogle Mall and then ship off to Brooklyn. I am all for searching for another Bankrupt NBA team to come to Newark instead and let the Nets be the NBA's version of the Islanders.

[Nexis4Jersey]

I doubt they will be successful , and that project is going to ruin a great part of Brooklyn and kick out families, and at what price a new Arena?

Newark is under invested for although , i contacted some Chinese Friends who owns some businesses over there and told them about Newark , now there interested. I showed them all the neighborhoods good and bad, they thought it was interesting that it hasn't been invested in alot. I also told them the City has Changed form Corrupt times to a safer investment. They said that if they move some of there business to the US , they'll choose Newark over New York City. I also managed to get my Czech Friend who owns a factory to look into moving some of the Workforce to US , and look into Newark Investment. Overall They both said they'll spread the word around about Newark. I see a Bright Future ahead for Newark , Elizabeth , Bayonne ,maybe one day they will be = to Jersey City's Development projects:D

~Corey

[newarkdevil1]

Well If the city has done one thing well with BCDC it's turn their attention international as an alternative or entry point to the US or the NY Metro Market. I have seen their work with the Portuguese, Germans and Italy recently and I know that they have been working so connections with Poland as well. Ultimatly, Newark and NJ have to Leverage their assets to find their best deal.

[block944]

1180 SHUTTLE IS NO MORE!

I was driving down market st at 9:10pm and the 1180 van was totaled and surrounded by EMS and police on Mulberry St. Seems it was hit head on by a sedan, i saw passengers being pulled away in the ambulances. Wow I never would of pictured that happening!

[stache]

I hope everyone pulls through ok. :(

[newarkdevil1]

Well at least that means everyone gets a new van. Hope all the passengers are okay.

[Marv95]

Hope everyone's okay but I dunno if a shuttle van was really needed.

Were the roads slick? Did anyone from Eleven80 who used the van had any issues with poor drivers?

[block944]

Hope everyone's okay but I dunno if a shuttle van was really needed.

Were the roads slick? Did anyone from Eleven80 who used the van had any issues with poor drivers?
The eleven 80 van was in the proper lane heading towards the arena next to the TD Bank on Mulberry st and a dark sedan was making a left turn from market st. onto Mulberry. The sedan was driving in the wrong lane for some reason from making a short left hand turn instead of a wide one and ended up hitting the shuttle van head on. stupid drivers it wouldn't suprise me if the sedan driver was on the cell phone or texting.

[Marv95]

I am reconsidering getting a moped/scooter/whatever let alone a car. Typical Jerseyans can't drive for crap.

[newarkdevil1]

Well driving in newark seems like a sport. I wish they would crack down on the careless driving but then again the police seem to think red lights are optional as well.

[block944]

Well driving in newark seems like a sport. I wish they would crack down on the careless driving but then again the police seem to think red lights are optional as well.


EXACTLY!! I don't get it Some of the decent ones at least flash their sirens before running a red light and turn it off once they cross but most just stop and look around and then drive right through and then park illegally to get donuts/coffee from the Dunkin Donuts on market st.. jokers.

[block944]

Planned Newark contract to former councilwoman's company raises legal questions

By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/dgiambus/index.html)

December 22, 2009, 6:40PM

http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/gayle-chaneyfield-jenkinsjpg-aca253ec7be5f028_medium.jpgJennifer Brown/The Star-LedgerFormer Newark City Council member Gayle Chaneyfield-Jenkins in this April 2008 file photo.NEWARK -- A controversial contract set to be awarded to a company run by former city councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield-Jenkins is raising the ire of some Newark City Council members as well as questions of legality among city officials.
The contract calls for $350,000 to be awarded to two firms — Jericho Group LLC and Newwork LLC — to provide “project services such as analysis of proposed development investment projects” to the city council. According to memos between city offices, the contract was initially introduced by members of the council and not Mayor Cory Booker — a practice ruled illegal by the state Supreme Court in 2005.
A Dec. 16 memo written by Adam Zipkin, chief of staff for the city’s Department of Economic and Housing Development, said City Clerk Robert Marasco — on behalf of the council — asked the department for “technical assistance in drafting the resolution and contract,” but said his department “was not involved in either the solicitation or selection process.”
Marasco wrote a memo the next day saying the proposal had been delivered to the council without mayoral approval.
Since bid requests went out without the administration’s endorsement, the contract was technically originated by the council, a practice ruled illegal in 2005 when then-Mayor Sharpe James sued the council for entering into contracts without his approval.
UNANIMOUS RULING
The unanimous ruling, written by Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto states, “the City Council cannot initiate contracts even if those contracts relate to the City Council’s legislative, investigative or auditing responsibilities.”
But someone initiated the contract, according to Chaneyfield-Jenkins.
“It was put forth as a request for proposal by the city council,” Chaneyfield-Jenkins said yesterday outside the municipal conference room where the council members were deliberating in executive session. Chaneyfield-Jenkins did not say if she was aware of the law prohibiting such a request, though she occupied an at-large seat at the time the 2005 suit was decided.
Executive session minutes are unavailable to the public until contracts are resolved, but according to various council members, the contract is being pushed by Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell, West Ward Councilman Ron Rice, and South Ward Councilman Oscar James II. James, Bell, and Rice did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
At a council meeting last week, Marasco warned members that the paperwork prepared by the economic development department was not only missing administration signatures, but it did not certify where the funds would be coming from and contained factual inaccuracies.
EXPLANATIONS SOUGHT
James objected to Marasco’s warnings and drafted a memo asking for an explanation of the inaccuracies.
The resolution was prepared by the economic development department and states that the Jericho Group had “not made any reportable contributions to a political or candidate committee in the City of Newark in the previous one year.”
Campaign disclosure forms filled out by Chaneyfield-Jenkins and submitted to the city show that her company had donated close to $4,000 to council members and the Booker Team since January. Since November of 2008 she had donated $900 to Oscar James, making him the biggest individual recipient of Jericho funds in Newark.
raising concerns.
Opponents of the contract said today that not only was the proposal potentially illegal but it did not make fiscal sense. “This is not the time for the city to spend that amount of money on consultants,” said East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador — a sentiment echoed by his North Ward colleague, Anibal Ramos.
“At a time when you probably had a lot more development activity you may look to have somebody advise the council on these matters,” Ramos said yesterday. “But I don’t think, during these times, we need to spend this money.”
Council president Mildred Crump has also expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal and at-large Councilman Donald Payne has indicated he may abstain.
Booker has not taken a firm position on the proposal. Business administrator Michelle Thomas recently said her first priority in filling a $2 million budget gap left by state shortfalls would be to cut down on unnecessary consulting contracts.
Jericho is run by Chaneyfield-Jenkins, who lost her council seat in 2006. The company reported annual earnings of $69,000 last year. It is unclear how much of the $350,000 contract will go to her company and how much will go to Newwork.
The contract vote was deferred until the council’s next meeting on Jan. 6.

[block944]

http://www.newworking.com/img/btn_portfolio_pre.jpg (http://www.newworking.com/portfolio/pf_d_005.asp) http://www.newworking.com/img/btn_portfolio_nxt_disable.jpg http://www.newworking.com/img/line_grey.gif http://www.newworking.com/img/pf_lincolnPk_title_new.gif Project Description

The Lincoln Park Lofts Development project is an innovative residential community emerging in the center of Newark’s historical Lincoln Park neighborhood: soon to become an exciting arts and entertainment enclave. The three-building complex is comprised of 27 units of live/work housing consisting of 7 four-story single family townhouses, an 8-unit brownstone inspired townhouse complex and a 12-unit condominium building featuring loft apartments and ground floor retail space. Design features include terra cotta and cultured stone and a rooftop floor-to-ceiling glass wrapped studio space for work or entertainment. There will be 25 on-site parking spaces for residents and their guests.

Newwork is the design architect and planner for the project. Inspired by the existing designs of the neighborhood’s historic buildings, Newwork has incorporated details that show reverence for the majestic brownstones that line the periphery of the Park.

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Perspective Rendering
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Elevation Rendering
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Logo Design
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Site Plan
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Site Condition
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[block944]

http://www.newworking.com/img/pf_james_s_title_new.gif Project Description

The James Street Historic District is a national historic district representing a rare Newark neighborhood. It is composed of a mixture of intact brownstones, intimate neighborhood streets, historic landmarks and parks and adjacent thriving cultural and educational institutions including Rutgers University Newark campus, NJIT, and the Newark Museum. At the edge of the district is the Broad Street Station which connects commuters to New York City and is the site of the new light rail providing transport downtown.

Newwork has developed the Master Plan for the revitalization of The James Street Historic District and has worked in collaboration with the Gale Company's Urban Solutions team to maximize the real estate potential of the district. The Plan delineates several major development clusters that address specific contextual solutions. These clusters include a mixed-use residential and commercial complex, a new renaissance school and a series of urban streetscapes and public green spaces that create coherence between the neighborhood assets ultimately producing a rich, urban living experience.

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Master Plan
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Site Documentation
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Program Summary
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Mood Collage / Powerpoint Presentation
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[block944]

http://www.lincolnparkvillage.com/


DEAD??

[block944]

http://newarkvsrutgers.org/

NEWARK VS. RUTGERS
A Community Response to the Hostile Takeover of Our Neighborhood
NEWS (http://newarkvsrutgers.blogspot.com/) RESOURCES (http://newarkvsrutgers.org/resources.html)
HOME (http://newarkvsrutgers.org/index.html)
CONTACT (zeminzhang23@yahoo.com)
http://newarkvsrutgers.org/downtown%20newark.jpg
Welcome to the Historic James Street Commons The Historic James Street Commons Neighborhood Association has prepared an analysis of the impact of Rutgers Newark's recent development plans. If the plans move ahead as the University presented, significant public interests will be at great risk.


The first historic district of the city and the only remaining large residential community in downtown Newark will be destroyed.
The highly acclaimed Downtown Revitalization will further lose its human face as business interests engulf it.
The University's ambition of growing into a residential college will be at risk, while its limited resources would be diverted into a questionable business partnership.
Significant public resources (i.e., land assets and funding) will be wasted during the state's worst fiscal crisis, while the university's "parking shortage" will only be exacerbated.
The traffic congestion and air pollution at one of the city's busiest corners will further worsen.

We call for public discussions, fiscal accountability and transparency, and a reexamination of this project by the University's leadership.

[scrollhectic]

http://newarkvsrutgers.org/

NEWARK VS. RUTGERS
A Community Response to the Hostile Takeover of Our Neighborhood
NEWS (http://newarkvsrutgers.blogspot.com/) RESOURCES (http://newarkvsrutgers.org/resources.html)
HOME (http://newarkvsrutgers.org/index.html)
CONTACT (zeminzhang23@yahoo.com)
http://newarkvsrutgers.org/downtown%20newark.jpg
Welcome to the Historic James Street Commons The Historic James Street Commons Neighborhood Association has prepared an analysis of the impact of Rutgers Newark's recent development plans. If the plans move ahead as the University presented, significant public interests will be at great risk.

PLEASE!!! More fear of change. It keeps holding Newark back. Can someone honestly tell me that aside from one and half, maybe two blocks, that area isn't blighted? Whoever think it isn't needs to desperately get out of Newark and explore other parts of this country... or even this state!

[66nexus]

^Couldn't agree with you more scroll,

imagine rt 21 and mulberry right now if the community didn't block Mulberry St. Promenade

[newarkhiphop]

PLEASE!!! More fear of change. It keeps holding Newark back. Can someone honestly tell me that aside from one and half, maybe two blocks, that area isn't blighted? Whoever think it isn't needs to desperately get out of Newark and explore other parts of this country... or even this state!



So true, i remember reading in the star ledger , there excuse for not wanting to tear down some of those houses, they need to let go of this idea of newark as a renaissance old city. They need to follow Rutgers lead , i mean look at new Brunswick that city is beautiful and booming almost entirely because of the campus over there

Traffic is horrible here, espeically when rush hour hits @ 5pm i feel sorry for ppl that commute here,

21= bumper to bumper
downtown= bumper to bumper
22 west/east= dead stop

[stache]

After walking through this area a few months ago I realized it had much to offer on a visual level. It's not realistic to expect a 'carcentric' experience in such a dense urban area.

[block944]

Zemin Zhang is the problem

[scrollhectic]

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER


Monday, December 21st 2009, 10:08 PM


http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/12/22/gal_art11.jpg Bill Denver
Rupert Ravens, director of Rupert Ravens Contemporary in Newark, in front of the 96-foot-long work "Capturing America" by Bernard Williams.



Salomon Anaya (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Salomon+Anaya) moved to Newark (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Newark) from Los Angeles (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Los+Angeles) in September 2008, renting a building downtown where he opened a gallery called Submerged Art.


“I thought downtown Newark resembled downtown L.A. before it was what it is now,” said Anaya, 34. “We used to have derelicts and craziness on the streets, but that all changed.”


It’s beginning to change in Newark, too.


As the supply of large studio and exhibition spaces in New York City (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+York+City) has dwindled, artists and art galleries have turned to Newark in growing numbers.


Artists are discovering that Newark is just a short PATH train ride from the arts center of the world and still offers raw industrial space at much lower prices.


When the Newark Arts Council (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Newark+Arts+Council) started its Open Doors (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Open+Doors+Software+Inc.) Artists’ Studios tour in 2002, there were about 12 galleries in the city. Now there are about 20, most of them in the downtown area, and hundreds of artists are working and living in Newark, according to Council Executive Director Linwood Oglesby.


Artist Daniel Brophy pays just $500 a month to split a 2,000-square-foot downtown working and living space with another artist.


“I wanted to be close to New York City,” said Brophy (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Daniel+Brophy), 25, who moved to Newark from Rahway (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Rahway) in October 2008 and has a day job as an art installer at the Newark Museum (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/The+Newark+Museum).


Hiroshi Kumagai (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Hiroshi+Kumagai), 36, pays $200 a month for a spacious studio in Gallery Aferro, one of six such studios the gallery rents to artists.


Aferro can afford to rent space at low rates because it pays no rent for its 20,000-square-foot building, thanks to developer RBH Management.


RBH also gave curator Rupert Ravens his 30,000-square-foot, three-floor space for free, creating the largest commercial fine-arts gallery under one roof in North America (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/North+America), according to Ravens.


“We’re about being the cutting edge of contemporary art, and it’s easier for us to do that from Newark because all of our costs are lower,” Ravens said.


The developer also gets something out of the deal — an improved neighborhood where art is accessible to residents. Openings at the gallery draw between 600 and 1,000 people, many from the community, Ravens said.


“It’s really livening up the entire block,” he said. “We have kids on the street who wander in and they’re amazed.”


Sculptor Gae Savannah has occupied a studio on the third floor of the Ravens gallery for about nine months, after 15 years of living and working in the East Village (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/East+Village+(Manhattan)).


“I like that Newark is way more multicultural,” she said.


The big spaces let artists think big, Savannah (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Savannah) added. “You can think out of the commercial box, so it’s not thinking about sculpture as an art product, but thinking about sculpture as so big that you can dive into it.”


Other Newark galleries are making a go of it as nonprofits. Redsaw Gallery closed in January and reopened last May as a foundation called the Index Art Center (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Index+Art+Center) that focuses on emerging artists. It is applying for nonprofit status, according to Director Lowell Craig (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Lowell+Craig).


The focus of nonprofit Lincoln Park (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Lincoln+Park) gallery City Without Walls is to show “how art can help develop a community,” said Executive Director Ben Goldman (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Ben+Goldman).


One of several longtime nonprofit galleries in Newark, it recently led a citywide student street-mural project.


But, despite the art scene’s growing visibility, galleries and artists said sales are slow.


“We don’t really have collectors that come here and spend the money that they do in New York (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+York),” Craig said.


Artist Victoria Hanks, who moved to a Lincoln Park work-live loft six years ago when “the arts scene was really starting to germinate,” has found “it’s tough to get people to come out from the city and other places.

“When they do, they’re very impressed, but Newark still has a stigma."


kangel@nydailynews.com

[block944]

Christie to ride on anti-crime patrol in Newark

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS • December 30, 2009


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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The concerned citizens, government workers and off-duty police officers who patrol the streets of Newark to help reduce nighttime crime will have company on their next outing: New Jersey Gov.-elect Chris Christie.





Christie plans to join Newark Mayor Cory Booker and others on Wednesday night's "Crime Caravan" patrol.
The patrols are active every weekend and several nights during the week, trying to disrupt crime patterns in some of the roughest neighborhoods of the city.
Christie and Booker will meet at a firehouse in Newark's Central Ward.
Booker, who started the program in September, says it empowers law-abiding citizens. Critics says it's a political ploy that's done little to reduce violence in the state's largest city.

[block944]

The fotos show the renovation of an old manufacturing facility in the Ironbound into dignified loft apartments, nearing completion last August. The ribbon-cutting was during late October's Open Doors 2009 arts whirl. Andrew Wu, one of the principals in creating The Button Factory Lofts (http://www.buttonfactorylofts.com/), invited me to see how his group has taken a bit of Newark's past and recycled it into a bit of Newark's future. Development like this, which honors our history and shows how new uses respectful of the past can add character that new construction would not have, is precisely the kind of thing Newark and other old cities need.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OSetRjJI/AAAAAAAAS_o/UAXHv1r-hmM/s800/ButnFacA.jpg

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The designers have taken great care to vary key features to appeal to different tastes. Altho most units have some features in common, such as exposed beams, wood columns, and ductwork, for a modern take on condo living, the kitchens and bathrooms seem all to be a little different.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OTI6mCII/AAAAAAAAS_0/mMB5UUkuyIg/s800/ButnFacD.jpg

Most of these pix appear in the order I took them as I wandered thru the building, so I'm not going to try to rearrange most for thematic unity, tho the fotos about access and safety features are grouped together.





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Half-bath.





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I don't know why the ceiling of this unit is different from the others, finished rather than with exposed beams. But it does have exposed sprinkler pipes.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OTw3C4dI/AAAAAAAATAA/Nf1pyFs1RbU/s800/ButnFacG.jpg


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Workers were finishing up this tiled common courtyard the day I was there.





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At present, the only building in this view is the Prudential Center. In the future, there are supposed to be office towers and a hotel around a new Triangle Park. If you see an interference pattern in this foto (or some others), it is the effect of a screen (to keep out insects) built into the window.





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This floor is different from the others. Perhaps the hardwood boards had not been laid down yet.





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There is an elevator, and you can see fire-detection devices and/or alarms in the hallway.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OZl6hXvI/AAAAAAAATBQ/RVWxBEQOb6Y/s800/ButnFacN.jpg

There's also a stairwell, with metal steps.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OZTeZHRI/AAAAAAAATBM/NbY3NB7yQss/s800/ButnFacO.jpg

This unit has a fire exit, marked by the red doors.





http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OZIVMM9I/AAAAAAAATBI/EbCa7zDem0s/s800/ButnFacQ.jpg

Access for guests and deliveries is controlled by intercom.





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I saw this water heater in one unit and dare to assume that each condo has its own water heater, adjustable by the owner.

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http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OV2RXyFI/AAAAAAAATAY/Gew3igTHLyU/s800/ButnFacM.jpg


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In this and some other pictures, the floors are dull, showing their natural appearance before application of a stain or sealant.





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Within and near the Button Factory, you are keenly aware of why Newark is called "Brick City".





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Modern air-conditioning units contrast with historic brick on the roof.





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Even Hamilton Street, which the Button Factory fronts on, is brick-paved.





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The very large brick building beyond the tracks is the Central Graphic Arts Building. I don't know if it is currently in use or is available for, and amenable to, conversion to residential lofts, artists studios, a temporary new site for the Newark Museum, or what. And of course the two tallest buildings in Newark, whose tops are seen above the Graphic Arts Building, are also brick.





http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OW8m25HI/AAAAAAAATAo/7h-RNYvvPD4/s800/ButnFacY.jpg

Even much of the Prudential Center is brick. In this foto, you can see a concrete structure that used to be a railroad bridge, I think, that some people have suggested be used for a pedestrian bridge from Penn Station, one of the platforms for which is in the foreground, to Triangle Park and thence PruCenter. The street to its left is a continuation of Hamilton Street, which is interrupted by the railroad tracks and McCarter Highway.





http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OWt2EOxI/AAAAAAAATAk/LPJnL0u-8pA/s800/ButnFacZ.jpg

The Button Factory is 2½ blocks from the Raymond Plaza East entrance to Newark Penn Station, with its Amtrak, NJTransit, and PATH trains for people who work in Manhattan; and street passageways under the elevated tracks allow people who work in Downtown Newark to walk there without impediment. Indeed, in bad weather, the enclosed skyways allow you to walk from Raymond Plaza East all the way to Mulberry Street safe from rain, snow, cold, and heat. By the way, the horns of trains are quite loud on New Jersey Railroad Avenue, which runs between the Button Factory and the tracks, but the windows in the Button Factory cut the sound down remarkably well.






http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OX-a4HNI/AAAAAAAATA0/MIZbu1XSF8U/s800/ButnFacAA.jpg

[newarkdevil1]

It's so nice to see these buildings preserved and the original street kept. Soo many of the streets still have the brick and pavers underneath and I would love to have them exposed.

[block944]

It's so nice to see these buildings preserved and the original street kept. Soo many of the streets still have the brick and pavers underneath and I would love to have them exposed.

speaking of which when i first came here all the streets on 21 and raymond had bricks at the crossing. Now they have been replaced with fake brick top that is glued to the street

[block944]

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OX-a4HNI/AAAAAAAATA0/MIZbu1XSF8U/s800/ButnFacAA.jpg


Anyone know how that bridge was originally used? It seems like its a bridge to no where with no way to get on it. I saw plans to redevelop it into a the "link" not sure how that is going

[66nexus]

block,

aren't those pics from L. Craig Schoonmakers 'newark usa' site?

[Newarkguy]

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OX-a4HNI/AAAAAAAATA0/MIZbu1XSF8U/s800/ButnFacAA.jpg


Anyone know how that bridge was originally used? It seems like its a bridge to no where with no way to get on it. I saw plans to redevelop it into a the "link" not sure how that is going The rail line crossed the ironbound on massive 2 track beveled warren truss bridges. The Newark terminal was where the newark arena now stands. The massive yellow graphic arts building was the CNJ's Newark railroad freighthouse. Newark industry activity was that big!!It should be preserved! not torn and replaced with tiny stupid 2 story museums or other stupid anti dense urban newark non visionary ideas. See the gangster comedy movie "wiseguys" The Bridges over ferry street and ironbound are in the movie over and over. I think Danny Di Vito is a Trainfan/Railbuff.

[Newarkguy]

:mad:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1fvo5fiLmcM/Sy9OX-a4HNI/AAAAAAAATA0/MIZbu1XSF8U/s800/ButnFacAA.jpg


Anyone know how that bridge was originally used? It seems like its a bridge to no where with no way to get on it. I saw plans to redevelop it into a the "link" not sure how that is going In Jersey City (a city that ALWAYS looks forward) The CNJ tracks were preserved and is today the Hudson bergen light rail line. Imagine that,the HBLR going to Newark arena with a station in the arena. Unfortunately mayor James allowed Conrail to rip up the tracks in Newark,clear and bulldoze the embankments removing the dirt and earth that raised the railroad above street level. Thats why the bridge over Penn Station empties into thin air. The brige still has 3 tracks on it.

[block944]

:mad: In Jersey City (a city that ALWAYS looks forward) The CNJ tracks were preserved and is today the Hudson bergen light rail line. Imagine that,the HBLR going to Newark arena with a station in the arena. Unfortunately mayor James allowed Conrail to rip up the tracks in Newark,clear and bulldoze the embankments removing the dirt and earth that raised the railroad above street level. Thats why the bridge over Penn Station empties into thin air. The brige still has 3 tracks on it.

Now it makes sense!

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll314/PruRock07/cnj_BroadtStStation.jpg





http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll314/PruRock07/PrudentialCenterMarch25th2008vsPeng.jpg



Remnants of demolished CRRNJ Newark Bay Bridge, Bayonne New Jersey





http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gif




http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gif
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2719614679_7b830e3d9d.jpg http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif

The Central Railroad of New Jersey constructed a four track railroad bridge that consisted of four main lift spans, opening in 1926, replacing an outdated two track span built in 1901. The bridge connected Elizabethport and Bayonne at the southern end of Newark Bay. The designer of this bridge was J.A.L. Waddell. On September 15, 1958, a commuter train plunged off the south span which had been opened for marine traffic, killing 48 people, including former New York Yankees second baseman Snuffy Stirnweiss. In 1966 the French freighter S.S. Washington collided with the north east lift span, rendering two tracks unusable. When the Aldene Plan went into effect in May of 1967 the only passenger service on the bridge was the Bayonne-Cranford shuttle, known commonly as the "Scoot". The last freight train crossed the bridge in 1976 just prior to the formation of Conrail, and the last passenger train left Bayonne's Eighth Street Station on August 6, 1978. Despite Bayonne's efforts to save the bridge, demolition of the central lift spans began in July 1980 after the Coast Guard declared the structure a navigational hazard to ships. The trestle and approaches were removed in 1987-1988 when it became apparent that a replacement span was no longer feasible [Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRRNJ_Newark_Bay_Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRRNJ_Newark_Bay_Bridge)]

[66nexus]

They saved the train-station facade, why would you guys want to keep the tracks? (especially after many terminations in JC were ripped up for waterfront development?)

Newark nor Elizabeth port would not have seen the type of commercial sea traffic growth had that line stayed in place.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Is there any word on the Newark - Elizabeth Light Rail ? I think it would benefit the area south the CBD , which seems to be slowly turning around.:)

[stache]

Last I heard the plan was put in the deep freeze.

[Marv95]

Yep the project has been halted, which is pathetic but kinda makes since with the Go28 Bus route. What I don't get is them finding money to waste on some stupid tunnel that only benefits NYC but can't help out their own cities/state with a project like this.. Typical NJ and typical NJT.

[stache]

I understand what you're saying but in all fairness, the new tunnel will mainly benefit NJ citizens' commutes.

[newarkdevil1]

Well I just have to add a point in regards to those tracks. It was a rather large development deal resulting in the building of houses throughout the Ironbound down to the East Ironbound and the rec center on the boarder of the Balentine complex. One of the major players in the deal were the owners of Iberia who purchases the track real estate then subdiveded it and sold it to home developers. If you go onto google maps you can actually tell how the tracks cut strait through the Ironbound to the Area between the rec complex and East Ferry. I have to find some old photos but the line split and one part goes towards the Sherman Williams paint factory and the other towards the scrap yard. BTW, I didn't know the "wiseguy" story but wonder now if it factors into the stories I have heard about the old Vesuvio and that gang.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Well the Tunnel will allow other Rail projects around NJ & PA to begin , like the Lackawanna Line to Scranton , or the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Rail Network , or the Raritan Valley line Extension to Easton-Bethlehem-Allentown. Also the restoring of SEPTA West Trenton Connection , as a cheaper Alternate form Newark Penn to Philly. So it will benefit the Region. I think all the Light Rail Projects NJT has planned will defiantly happen this decade , its just a matter of time.

~Corey

[block944]

Newark Mayor Cory Booker shovels resident's driveway after Twitter request

By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk (http://connect.nj.com/user/njoslcnd/index.html)

January 04, 2010, 4:12PM

http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/cory-booker-twitterjpg-5cd0cca6352136c4_large.jpgRobert Sciarrino/The Star-LedgerNewark Mayor Cory Booker checks his Twitter feed at the mayor's office in this May 2009 file photo.
NEWARK -- Newark Mayor Cory Booker personally helped a 65-year-old city resident shovel snow from his driveway (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/04/cory-booker-shovels-snow_n_410445.html) after someone asked for his help on Twitter, according to a report at HuffingtonPost.com
Ravie Ravie (@BixSixxRaven) tweeted Booker (@CoryBooker (http://twitter.com/Corybooker)) that her father needed help shoveling his driveway, according to the report. The mayor tweeted back, "I will do it myself where does he live?"
Followers of Booker's feed also volunteered to help with shoveling, the report said.

Previous coverage:

[Newarkguy]

They saved the train-station facade, why would you guys want to keep the tracks? (especially after many terminations in JC were ripped up for waterfront development?)

Newark nor Elizabeth port would not have seen the type of commercial sea traffic growth had that line stayed in place. The CNJ line that ended at broad street Newark was the NEWARK BRANCH OF Central Railroad of NJ. It crossed over the ironbound, crossed Ferry st twice,at the west entry to Downneck-ironbound to the east end of ferry at the Ballantine beer complex(hence the term iron-bound). from there it croses over Avenue P crossed over Doremus avenue on a concrete arch bridge (demolished,but ruins remain) tracks were lowered to cross Doremus avenue at grade to serve local port industry beside the new Essex county jail. It crossed the passaic river on a swing bridge thats gone,but the turntable and side approach bridges are still standing. Afterward,crossed south Kearny to cross the Hackensack river(this bridge is totally gone) concrete supports remain over the river. Now we're in Jersey city and the line comes to life as the HUDSON BERGEN LIGHT RAIL! NOW...The 4 track double span over the Newark bay carried the 4 track CNJ main line from liberty state park to Bayonne, and over the bay to just south of where JERSEY GARDENS MALL/ AMC LOEWS CINEPLEX 20 is located. It then continues west as a busy NS/CSX trailer to train intermodal yard. It then crosses US routes 1-9. West of there, its a 4 track weed choked abandoned railroad untill downtown Elizabeth, over N.Broad st but also under the Elizabeth midtown station of the northeast corridor. Here you find the beautifully restored CNJ Elizabeth station(now a museum?) Here, only one track remains and goes west to aldene junction, where the railroad comes back to life as the RARITAN LINE. hope this helped.

[66nexus]

The CNJ line that ended at broad street Newark was the NEWARK BRANCH OF Central Railroad of NJ. It crossed over the ironbound, crossed Ferry st twice,at the west entry to Downneck-ironbound to the east end of ferry at the Ballantine beer complex(hence the term iron-bound). from there it croses over Avenue P crossed over Doremus avenue on a concrete arch bridge (demolished,but ruins remain) tracks were lowered to cross Doremus avenue at grade to serve local port industry beside the new Essex county jail. It crossed the passaic river on a swing bridge thats gone,but the turntable and side approach bridges are still standing. Afterward,crossed south Kearny to cross the Hackensack river(this bridge is totally gone) concrete supports remain over the river. Now we're in Jersey city and the line comes to life as the HUDSON BERGEN LIGHT RAIL! NOW...The 4 track double span over the Newark bay carried the 4 track CNJ main line from liberty state park to Bayonne, and over the bay to just south of where JERSEY GARDENS MALL/ AMC LOEWS CINEPLEX 20 is located. It then continues west as a busy NS/CSX trailer to train intermodal yard. It then crosses US routes 1-9. West of there, its a 4 track weed choked abandoned railroad untill downtown Elizabeth, over N.Broad st but also under the Elizabeth midtown station of the northeast corridor. Here you find the beautifully restored CNJ Elizabeth station(now a museum?) Here, only one track remains and goes west to aldene junction, where the railroad comes back to life as the RARITAN LINE. hope this helped.

You're listing a bunch of info that doesn't apply to my post. I was referring to tracks being ripped not being a bad thing b/c they saved the train station facade.

I said nothing of a massive bridge:confused::confused: or otherwise.

See block's original post on the matter.

[Newarkguy]

Is there any word on the Newark - Elizabeth Light Rail ? I think it would benefit the area south the CBD , which seems to be slowly turning around.:)
New Jersey basically does not believe its urban future is in Newark. There is an unmentioned but obvious belief among suburban,wealthy,New Jerseans, and especially middle and upper class developers that Newark,s political and racial enviroment is hostile to life(economic life as in free interprise,middle class persuit of happyness, and wealthy lifestyle) In fact I,ve lived here all my life and constantly debate neighbors who hate and want to leave newark, yet go to city hall and organize the ghetto (by ghetto I mean those who refuse to lift themselves up and want to keep the Newark down so they can maintain their cheap government freeloading existence.)to oppose any redevelopment that may improve property values or attract a white person!! The mantra during the James-Booker race says it all.....James accused Booker of being a gay jew and working with jews to repopulate the city!! That Booker would turn Newark into a Hispanic jewish white city at the expense of Blacks. James would lie about "hundreds" of requests from suburbans to buy into the townhouses along rt 280 but Sharpe James was proud to say basically...No, honkies, these are PUBLIC HOUSING,Besides now that I have fixed Newark, ya,ll want to move back? "I oppose Gentrification" that I quote.Sharpe James depended on the desperate jealousies of Newark's poor to get reelected. Only when he decided demographics were against him and decided to perforce retire(under investigation by feds) that he decided to fight for Mulberry street promenade and major classy redevelopments.The fact that Newark as NEVER seen a building taller that 32 stories in over 50 years, while JC now as 30, 40 ,50 story towers makes it obvious where the business growth is, New Jerseys new downtown. I heard of the Newark elizabeth rail link-NERL long before I ever heard of the Hudson bergen light rail,yet HBLR was started instead. To add insult to injury, all Newark got was a 6 block extension so small and diminutive, they had to violate the city subway,s history by renaming it Newark Light rail.All this to give the impression that the Newark subway job was big time! Since then, HBLR got a 2-3 mile extension with preliminary work to add another 10 miles up the so called river line. Im sorry to say, but we are not wall street west, Jersey city is. We now have a Mayor friendly to private interprise in Booker, but the economy has gone to hell. We have missed the real estate boat!! Newark....a dollar short....a day late....Now I understand the saying!

[Newarkguy]

You're listing a bunch of info that doesn't apply to my post. I was referring to tracks being ripped not being a bad thing b/c they saved the train station facade.

I said nothing of a massive bridge:confused::confused: or otherwise.

See block's original post on the matter.
I didnt quote you. I believe you said Newark Elizabeth port would not have as much commercial sea /marine traffic had the line stayed in place. The Ironbound line was NOT that line. maybe youre thinking about the long gone bridge whose pictures (concrete remnants)are on page 94. thats all. You didnt say massive bridge,I was merely describing it, but I know what the bridge looked like from photos.

[Nexis4Jersey]

New Jersey basically does not believe its urban future is in Newark. There is an unmentioned but obvious belief among suburban,wealthy,New Jerseans, and especially middle and upper class developers that Newark,s political and racial enviroment is hostile to life(economic life as in free interprise,middle class persuit of happyness, and wealthy lifestyle) In fact I,ve lived here all my life and constantly debate neighbors who hate and want to leave newark, yet go to city hall and organize the ghetto (by ghetto I mean those who refuse to lift themselves up and want to keep the Newark down so they can maintain their cheap government freeloading existence.)to oppose any redevelopment that may improve property values or attract a white person!! The mantra during the James-Booker race says it all.....James accused Booker of being a gay jew and working with jews to repopulate the city!! That Booker would turn Newark into a Hispanic jewish white city at the expense of Blacks. James would lie about "hundreds" of requests from suburbans to buy into the townhouses along rt 280 but Sharpe James was proud to say basically...No, honkies, these are PUBLIC HOUSING,Besides now that I have fixed Newark, ya,ll want to move back? "I oppose Gentrification" that I quote.Sharpe James depended on the desperate jealousies of Newark's poor to get reelected. Only when he decided demographics were against him and decided to perforce retire(under investigation by feds) that he decided to fight for Mulberry street promenade and major classy redevelopments.The fact that Newark as NEVER seen a building taller that 32 stories in over 50 years, while JC now as 30, 40 ,50 story towers makes it obvious where the business growth is, New Jerseys new downtown. I heard of the Newark elizabeth rail link-NERL long before I ever heard of the Hudson bergen light rail,yet HBLR was started instead. To add insult to injury, all Newark got was a 6 block extension so small and diminutive, they had to violate the city subway,s history by renaming it Newark Light rail.All this to give the impression that the Newark subway job was big time! Since then, HBLR got a 2-3 mile extension with preliminary work to add another 10 miles up the so called river line. Im sorry to say, but we are not wall street west, Jersey city is. We now have a Mayor friendly to private interprise in Booker, but the economy has gone to hell. We have missed the real estate boat!! Newark....a dollar short....a day late....Now I understand the saying!

I haven't given up in Newark Urban Renewal , and i'm form wealthy suburbs. I beleave over the next 2-5 years Newark will rise up again , into a steaming Metropolis. No matter how bad you think it will always be. Newark has something that many cities in the US don't. You have the Best Public Transit & Ethic Diversity in the region. Even though Jersey City steals your thunder for now , many people will begin to pear through the cracks to see the hidden gem of Newark. By 2020 i think Newark will have a nice skyline full of mid-rises like Jersey City.

~Corey

[66nexus]

I didnt quote you. I believe you said Newark Elizabeth port would not have as much commercial sea /marine traffic had the line stayed in place. The Ironbound line was NOT that line. maybe youre thinking about the long gone bridge whose pictures (concrete remnants)are on page 94. thats all. You didnt say massive bridge,I was merely describing it, but I know what the bridge looked like from photos.

You did quote me lol

I wasn't talking about simply the Ironbound line, I was talking about CNJ in its entirety (how the tracks now seem to stop at Newark Penn I do not see as a bad thing. Some folks seemed to be suggesting that they should've stayed in place.)

CNJ's lines included the bridge I believe you're referring to, and I do believe that would've stumped port growth. I can only assume you thought I was talking about the IronB line, and that line only.

[Newarkguy]

You did quote me lol

I wasn't talking about simply the Ironbound line, I was talking about CNJ in its entirety (how the tracks now seem to stop at Newark Penn I do not see as a bad thing. Some folks seemed to be suggesting that they should've stayed in place.)

CNJ's lines included the bridge I believe you're referring to, and I do believe that would've stumped port growth. I can only assume you thought I was talking about the IronB line, and that line only. My bad. Thats what I did. I misread your post. :Doops.:D

[newarkdevil1]

CNJs line being taken out isn't the real crime compared to how many light rail lines that were removed. NY solve the congestion problem by going underground, NJ solved it by building highways and expanding west...I just get frustrated when I think of all the places that had these rails that were ripped out.

[Nexis4Jersey]

They will come back , slowly in 10 years we should have 80% of our network back.

[Newarkguy]

CNJs line being taken out isn't the real crime compared to how many light rail lines that were removed. NY solve the congestion problem by going underground, NJ solved it by building highways and expanding west...I just get frustrated when I think of all the places that had these rails that were ripped out. Newark had over a hundred miles equivalent of streetlines. All originating at Public Service Terminal via the cedar st. subway.Trolleys rolled on all major arteries such as Blooomfield,Springfield avenues, Broadway-Broad, Market and so on. they even rolled on narrow city streets as they do now in Philly. Newark streets with buried/paved over tracks tend to be perfectly flat and level from curb to curb,while regular streets have that hump in the middle to force water to the side curbs and sewers.The Newark city subway had a Warren branch line extension at waren and raymond blvd, another at Orange street(remnant track remains beside the station), at Bloomfield ave station, another ramp went up to Bloomfield avenue west to montclair. The utility and light poles along Bloomfield avenue today between branch brook park and the Bloomfield/belleville line at 13th street are the original steel overhead trolley wire support poles. they are a rusty silver , carry 4 wires on insulators and some even have a point on top with a wire and glass insulator. In the 1940's-60's,General motors,Standard oil, and Firestone teamed up to convince cities and state governments that electric trolleys were inneficient and buses were better. Of course GM built the buses,FIRESTONE provided the tires,and Standard oil(amoco) provided the fueling network!!!! These three companies were charged in congress with conspiracy to monopolize public transportation,found guilty, and fined......get your calculators.......1dollar!!!!!!!!! yes,$1.00! Big oil already lobbied congress.

[newarkdevil1]

I just die when I think about the old trolleys all taken out. I can't stand the buss, it's like carpooling with 50 people I never wanted to know. I would love for them to expand the path, Light rail and re-use the abandoned lines throughout the city but I jsut don't see it happening.

[block944]

I just die when I think about the old trolleys all taken out. I can't stand the buss, it's like carpooling with 50 people I never wanted to know. I would love for them to expand the path, Light rail and re-use the abandoned lines throughout the city but I jsut don't see it happening.


Agreed all the buses are jam packed like the 21 and 34

[newarkdevil1]

I didn't vote for Obama but I have to admit that was the one thing I had been hoping for, transportation (specifically rail) projects. I just think with the collapse of the auto industry we are just waaaaaay to in bed with big oil and auto to change.

[block944]

the semi-short fix is hybrid and plug in cars like the GM Volt or the Nissan Leaf due to hit stores next year. Otherwise brand new rail projects would cost way to much and take to long to see any return on investment except for the new lines from Jersey to NY. Only because of the enormous number of riders. All the other lines can't generate that kind of use hence no new rail lines.

[newarkdevil1]

Block,

I think another part of the problem is that the original trolley cars were put in to accomdate a population that was already there. Now it seems that Light rails are built to encourage development and therefor opperate much differently.

[66nexus]

My bad. Thats what I did. I misread your post. :Doops.:D

Lol:)

[Nexis4Jersey]

Theres a big plot of open land near the Courthouse , is there any plans to build a Mall there? Or plans to build a Mall anywhere in Newark, which is the only NJ largest city without one.

[66nexus]

Theres a big plot of open land near the Courthouse , is there any plans to build a Mall there? Or plans to build a Mall anywhere in Newark, which is the only NJ largest city without one.

the Renaissance mall is the closest thing Newark had but that project didn't go anywhere.

I definitely don't think Newark will be getting a mall. Sure, it's the largest city in NJ...but when you have two sizable malls immediately east and south, and two more malls going west, it's purpose defeating.

Personally, I believe only in NJ will two malls the size of Newport and Jersey Gardens (and Livingston/Short Hills...Menlo/Woodbridge) actually can work being that close together.

But I've been wrong before...

[newarkdevil1]

Retail in general in Newark depeonds on proving the model first. it's been problematic that most stores come in independently and therefor fail (NY&co and Old Navy). First I think you will see a strip mall or big box as close as they can get it to a highway (allowing for maximization of retail opportunities). Don't hold your breath waiting for developments around the Courthouse most of that area is more valuable as parking to the owners than development. Most hopes would center on Mullberry by the PAC and then around the colleges. You will seen big box retail on the 280 corrider before you see it by city hall.

[Nexis4Jersey]

hmmmmm, A big mall in Newark can work, even though Jersey Gardens is nearby, its only accessible by bus or car. If you built it in Newark in the right area, it would be really accessible & work.

[Marv95]

even though Jersey Gardens is nearby, its only accessible by bus or car.

The same can be said if you put one in this city. There's no room downtown for one(although something similar to the Underground in Atlanta or Crystal City could work), there's nowhere off the NCS to put one.

And that land is on Springfield Ave from Jones St. to Society Hill which is already discussed in this thread. Apparently Tucker Development is in on it. Maybe.

[block944]

Newark's on the move

New and longtime locals see surge in energy, culture, housing

BY Karen Angel (http://www.nydailynews.com/authors/Karen%20Angel)
Daily News Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 12th 2010, 6:47 PM

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/01/13/alg_sarah_potter.jpg Bill Denver
Sarah Potter, 29, of East Rutherford, N.J., outside the Brick City Bar & Grill in downtown Newark.

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After 22 years in the East Village (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/East+Village+%28Manhattan%29), yoga instructor Joni Wellness (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Joni+Wellness) pulled up stakes two years ago and moved to Newark (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Newark), settling in an emerging area called the Lincoln Park (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Lincoln+Park) Coast Cultural District.
The new "urban eco-village" - four blocks surrounding Lincoln Park, complete with an organic community garden - was created by a nonprofit developer bent on bringing culture and green housing to the city.
"There are a lot of things happening in Newark," said Wellness, 52.
Those things will add up to a better quality of life, say longtime residents and newcomers alike.
The city has seen a burst in upscale new housing and plans for more, fueled by a residential tax credit passed last July that covers as much as 20% of developers' project costs.
Since 2007, more than 1,500 condominiums and market rate and luxury rental units have been approved by the city, according to its economic and housing development office.
The two-year-old Prudential Center (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Prudential+Center) - home to the NHL's New Jersey Devils (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+Jersey+Devils) - has brought a steady stream of visitors to the downtown area, and new restaurants and bars have sprung up to accommodate them.
Kimberlee Williams (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Kimberlee+Williams) moved her marketing firm FEMWORKS from her home in Montclair to the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District in January 2007. Last summer, she moved into a "really, really nice" $1,100, two-bedroom apartment near her office.
"There's such a vibrant energy of hope and change that wasn't present before," said Williams, 36. "In terms of housing and nightlife, there are so many more options in the city now than there were five years ago."
Sculptor Jerry Gant, a lifelong Newark resident, will move this month from his apartment downtown to a newly renovated one in Lincoln Park.
"The thing about Lincoln Park is after the business hours, there's still a thriving community here," said Gant (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Jerry+Gant), 48.
In the downtown area, big changes also are underway. Residential projects in various stages include what will be Newark's tallest building, a $200 million, 40-story tower with 20,000 square feet of retail space adjacent to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+Jersey+Performing+Arts+Center); a $90 million, 25-story luxury condo building backed by NBA (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/National+Basketball+Association) star - and Newark native - Shaquille O'Neal (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Shaquille+O%27Neal), and three high-end loft conversions.
Among the half-dozen new restaurants and lounges that have opened on the heels of the Prudential Center are Brick City Bar & Grill and The Spot Lounge.
"There's more entertainment options," said correction officer and lifelong Newark resident Lakeem Williams (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Lakeem+Williams), 29, who was having dinner with three friends at Brick City on a recent Saturday. "Before, you didn't have much to do."
kangel@nydailynews.com



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/01/12/2010-01-12_newarks_on_the_move.html#ixzz0cRpWjgZo

[block944]

http://www.colleoniapartments.com/maps.html


http://crawfordstreetpartners.com/index/?page_id=12

[block944]

http://www.lincolnparkvillage.com/

[block944]

Wow is this true? If so.. what a piece of garbage. What his wife going to shoot the cops?


They lead by example in Newark
Newark top cop’s ticket is upheld after Palisades Police ticket him
Newark’s top cop suffered another loss in his nearly three-year court dispute over a traffic ticket when an appeals panel upheld his conviction Wednesday.


Police Director Garry McCarthy was fined $230 for obstruction of traffic after a February 2005 incident in which he was involved in a scuffle with two Palisades Interstate Parkway police officers


His wife, Regina, received a similar penalty after being convicted of making unreasonable noise by yelling at the officers.


Bergen County Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Roma handed the McCarthys their second defeat last year by upholding the convictions in a stinging 12-page opinion. A three-judge panel on Wednesday agreed with Roma.


“I think they made the right decision,� said Douglas F. Doyle, the prosecutor who handled the McCarthys’ case. “[The judges] found there was substantial credible evidence.�


McCarthy’s attorney, Jeffrey Steinfeld, said he was disappointed.


“The violations are not supported by the testimony,� he said. “We were not able to get anyone to address what we thought were significant issues.�
Garry McCarthy did not reply Wednesday to a request for comment.
The incident started when two PIP officers ticketed the McCarthys’ 19-year-old daughter, Kyla, for parking in a handicap spot at a rest area on the parkway.
The teen then asked one of the officers, Thomas Rossi, to speak to her father, whom she had called on her cellphone. Rossi refused, even after he was told McCarthy was a deputy police commissioner in the NYPD at the time.
Kyla McCarthy then drove off while her parents, who were on the parkway, headed for the rest area. Garry McCarthy then parked his Ford Explorer next to Rossi’s patrol car, got out and began arguing with Rossi and his partner. Prosecutors said his car blocked the exit lane and forced other drivers to back up.
Regina McCarthy stayed in the Explorer and hurled obscenities at the officers, prosecutors said.

As the argument got heated, Rossi and his partner disarmed Garry McCarthy and placed him in handcuffs. They also handcuffed his wife after she grabbed her husband’s gun from their patrol car, prosecutors said. One of the McCarthys’ arguments was that the charges were propped up by the testimony of Rossi, whose credibility had once been questioned in another appeals court ruling.
But the panel ruled that even without the testimony of Rossi or his partner, there is sufficient evidence that McCarthy blocked the exit lane.
“I think the judge did a very good job,� said Sgt. Walter Siri of the Palisades Interstate Park Police. “[Rossi's] credibility stands. It was supported by the other witnesses.�
Defense attorneys also argued that Regina McCarthy couldn’t be charged with “making unreasonable noise� under a “vague� law that was meant to prohibit loud music and other disturbances. Penalizing speech as unreasonable noise infringes on free speech, they said.
The judges disagreed.
“The circumstances under which the defendant’s wife shouted profanities at the police officers was likely to escalate the confrontation to a breach of the peace and thus clearly removes her ’speech’ from constitutional protection,� they wrote.
Steinfeld said he is not yet sure whether the McCarthys wish to pursue further appeals.
“This is a very distinguished and highly decorated police official,� he said. “I don’t think this case was ever about the penalty, but the way he was treated. I think it was a point of principle for him.�

[newarkdevil1]

I remeber this one because it came up during his interviews for the NPD job. I think this is unfortunate because I happen to like McCarthy and honestly don't blame him for the majority of the problems that NPD has. That being said, it's the sense of entitlement that this behavior shows that has been pervasive throughout the NPD and caused tons of problems.

[block944]

Newark's downtown facades shed 'tacky' look with new sign rules

By Philip Read/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/pread/index.html)

January 17, 2010, 10:00AM

NEWARK -- The sign proclaiming "Footaction, The Street Starts Here" once boldly reached two stories high at Newark’s historic "Four Corners," where Broad and Market streets meet, obscuring most of the classic brick and mortar beneath.
Those screaming multistory vinyl signs are now gone. The new sign, for the new tenant — the Bank of America — is considerably more subdued.
http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/newark-downtown-facadejpg-d086923d2e6bf0d4_large.jpgAristide Economopoulos/The Star-LedgerThe exterior of 825 Broad Street, right, which was restored. Stores that have a sign as part of its facade that is goes to the second story are grandfathered in but will not be able to replace or change them. David Abramson, chair of newark landmark & historic preservation commission, likes what Bank of America did while working with his commission. Prior the sign of Footaction obscured most of the brick and mortar beneath at the corner of the historic Broad and Market street intersection. Now, the signs of its successor, The Bank of America, are considerably more subdued.
Nearly a decade after the birth of the "Four Corners Historic District," and just months after new detailed rules governing signs and facades kicked in, Newark’s downtown is starting to shed, albeit slowly, what some call its "tacky," even "garish" look.
Among the no-no’s of the citywide rules: Signs cannot obstruct a window or door or hide any decorative architectural features, nor can they be dominant, or out of proportion. The rules cover only new, or replacement, signs.
The new rules are intended to rid the city of the two-story tall, brightly colored signs with monster-sized lettering that masked 19th century buildings and their architecture. The signs were actually in style in the 1970s, used as a way to hide the classical brick facades and give the appearance of something more modern.
In the past decade, Newark shifted gears and decided to celebrate its late 19th century Greek and Roman-style buildings, built when the city was one of America’s wealthiest communities.
"It was a symbol of opulence and a symbol of grandeur at the time," said Michele Alonso, a principal planner with Newark. "We have a very wide range of architecture in our downtown."
To spotlight the structures, the city passed an ordinance barring "excessive size" and "visual clutter" in historic districts in 1996.
The sign prohibitions were once open to interpretation and went unenforced — until this spring’s citywide rules weighed in on everything from location, scale, color, lettering, materials, texture and depth as well as their harmony with the architecture.
David Abramson, chairman of the city’s landmarks commission, said change has not been easy.
"It’s a real task because everyone cries either dollars when we’re asking for some change, or they cry we can’t get the advertising we need or the visibility. We try to balance," he said.
He said the effort is worth it, and he is particularly happy with the Bank of America’s transformation of its piece of the Four Corners.
"They were very responsive, and I think it turned out very nice."
Before applicants get to Abramson’s commission, they find themselves consulting Alonso. She has helped steer Mom’s Natural Market on Broad Street from a bright yellow vinyl awning with multi-colored lettering to a more subdued, textured forest green.
Perhaps nowhere are the changes more evident than the restoration of 825 Broad St., a 150-year-old structure directly across from Newark’s Old First Church.
"I almost had a fender-bender the other day when I saw that. I could not believe it," said Elizabeth Del Tufo, a trustee of the nonprofit Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee. "Underneath those signs, we have the wonderful early 20th century buildings."
The owner, Manny Munoz, undertook the renovation on the building after a small fire, in the process kicking in design standards governing historic districts and the size and placement of its signs.
"Absolutely. Absolutely," Munoz said when asked whether the restoration will make the locale more attractive to tenants.
Downtown’s transformation is expected to speed up this spring with the rollout of a $4 million facade improvement program, which will provide matching grants to owners. The program will be watched closely.
"I think it has to strike a balance between what might be considered good taste and a lively look," said Doug Eldridge, executive director of the nonprofit landmarks committee. "We don’t want to go back to a Puritan village."

[stache]

The signs were actually in style in the 1970s, used as a way to hide the classical brick facades and give the appearance of something more modern.


In style for idiots, maybe! ;)

[newarkdevil1]

I do sort of wonder though about the goal or more brightly lighting four corners and if this goes the other route. I always felt the goal was to acheive a Time Square like feel for the district. on the other hand the Pru's lighting and signage have complete transformed Mullberry.

[Newarkguy]

I do sort of wonder though about the goal or more brightly lighting four corners and if this goes the other route. I always felt the goal was to acheive a Time Square like feel for the district. on the other hand the Pru's lighting and signage have complete transformed Mullberry. Do you mean to ask whether the street lighting will improve at Broad and Market? I hope.Four corners were brighter with older gold sodium cobra lamps. I think its gone the wrong way. while the white metal halide lamps on Market street(the three lamp poles between Penn Sta. and Pru center) are very bright, Broad street has gotten dimmer lighting on t shaped poles on center islands and many are already burnt out. High pressure gold sodium cobra lamps are Newark's brightest lamps in decades. The streetscaped area of Broad street looks dark,shady,compared to the older bright yellow lighting the rest of broad street. The same goes for the Washington park area too. people are harder to see. crime may increase, such as muggings.....perhaps.

[Newarkguy]

Has anyone else noticed the new so called "green"or "jersey" street lamps? They are either long rectangular in shape or square shaped. Both have a glossy green top, flat dome less bottom lens. They have been located in scattered sites in the city on experimental basis. some locations...1 .McCarter hwy. at Mc Donalds. 2 corner of Martin Luther king Blvd. with Central ave. 3 Raymond Blvd at PSEG tower. 4 Broadway and Bloomfield avenue junction. These lamps seem like a throwback to the rectangular tube lighting that Newark had during the 1950's untill 1967 riots.(look at night pictures of Springfield ave during the riots to see what these lamps looked like.) The new fixtures seem brighter until you realize that they have no sideways coverage whatsoever. Thats because they have no domes underneath. Unlike the common cobra domed high pressure gold sodium lamps (Newark's brightest in decades), the new lamps are white in color. Sodium lamps' yellow glow is pervasive and everything glows orange. Even side buildings as well as the sky. Suburban stargazers complain about light pollution,but the lights keep Newark safe at night. The new induction lamps light straight down, but leave deep shadows in between, as the white light is rapidly absorbed into the surrounding darkness. I hope this city doesnt go with these white lamps, or its a return to the past with darker streets and places for criminals to hide in the open like the 1970's....all to please the greens out there? Its not broken,dont fix it. A golden sodium lit Newark is a safer Newark.

[66nexus]

Izod Center tops Prudential Center in revenue ranking

By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk (http://connect.nj.com/user/njoslcnd/index.html)

January 20, 2010, 6:00AM

The Izod Center in East Rutherford ranked 12th and the Prudential Center in Newark ranked 20th in a worldwide measure of arena revenue (http://www.northjersey.com/sports/011910_Izod_named_12th-best_arena_in_world_for_concerts_shows_trade_publi cation_says_.html), according to a report on NorthJersey.com.
The report said industry publication Venues Today counted revenue from family shows and concerts during the 12 months ended in October, but excluded proceeds from sporting events. During this period, Izod took in $31 million, while the Prudential Center took in $20.4 million.
http://media.nj.com/boys_basketball_blog/photo/prujpg-dcf4762e07f36739_large.jpgTony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerThe Prudential Center in Newark

taken from nj.com:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/izod_center_tops_prudential_ce.html

[66nexus]

Honestly,

some folks may quite literally see this as a loss for Newark. I disagree (albeit respectfully). Y'see, I actually see this as a win for Newark. One may ask why:

For a long time people have not only pushed Newark down, they have wished for it to stay down. It is without question: Newark has the crime stigma attached to it. Undeniable. However, some folks simply can't see past this.

I cannot count how many people have said no one would go to an arena in Newark, and that arena would close within 2 years of its opening. But when I see an article that shows the Newark arena at the #20 revenue spot in the WORLD, I can't help but to see some form of success.

That ranking does not include sporting events either (in which Izod Center loses money on the Nets). And also does not mention a fact pointed out by Marv:

Live Nation (the largest promoter) does not promote for Newark (only AEG). That folks, I believe is no small feat.

[Newarkguy]

Honestly,

some folks may quite literally see this as a loss for Newark. I disagree (albeit respectfully). Y'see, I actually see this as a win for Newark. One may ask why:

For a long time people have not only pushed Newark down, they have wished for it to stay down. It is without question: Newark has the crime stigma attached to it. Undeniable. However, some folks simply can't see past this.

I cannot count how many people have said no one would go to an arena in Newark, and that arena would close within 2 years of its opening. But when I see an article that shows the Newark arena at the #20 revenue spot in the WORLD, I can't help but to see some form of success.

That ranking does not include sporting events either (in which Izod Center loses money on the Nets). And also does not mention a fact pointed out by Marv:

Live Nation (the largest promoter) does not promote for Newark (only AEG). That folks, I believe is no small feat. By omitting this Live Nation fact and other exclusivity deals binding acts to IZOD,it seems the arthur of this piece wants you to think Newark's arena isn't doing as well. I wonder if this article's writer resides in Bergen county..........:p

[66nexus]

By omitting this Live Nation fact and other exclusivity deals binding acts to IZOD,it seems the arthur of this piece wants you to think Newark's arena isn't doing as well. I wonder if this article's writer resides in Bergen county..........:p

My sentiments exactly lol

[newarkdevil1]

Well I have to concur with Newarkguy in that the Pru has been way more successful than it was originally given credit for. Good part is that it looks to continue to do well going forward from here.

[newarkdevil1]

I was at the Rock today for a NRBP function and Gifane (I'm not sure how to spell it) had some interesting notes. Apparently the Devils have started on both their bars (on in the Parking garage and another on Edison St). The part I liked is that they have been saying the same time frame all along which seems to be the 4 Quarter of this year. The other part was Edison Parking talking about triangle park or more specifically the pedestrian bridge they are trying to get done. All in all pretty cool stuff.
Also, Gilfane claimed that if they are able to get 1 class A hotel opened they will be able to get the All-star game.

[block944]

Newark Central Ward housing complex is scheduled to be demolished

By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/dgiambus/index.html)

January 26, 2010, 6:57PM

http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/douglas-harrison-homes-newarkjpg-37c2c51244b57251_large.jpgJohn O'Boyle/The Star-LedgerBroken glass litters the ground at the Douglas Harrison Homes in Newark. The complex is scheduled to be demolished.
NEWARK -- The corroded skeleton of Newark’s Douglass-Harrison Homes has been a blight on the Central Ward for decades, but after years of political and legal wrangling the 70-year-old complex is set to be dismantled starting next week.
"I just want to thank God that the Douglass-Harrison buildings are finally going to come down," said Central Ward councilman Charles Bell. "After the suits, and counter suits, and all the litigation that took place, it’s finally been put to rest."
But the troubled history of the complex, repeated delays for razing the site, and promises of a park to replace it, have left many city residents skeptical.
"I can’t tell you the number of timelines we’ve been given over the last three years," said Charone Montayne who helps run the nearby High Park Gardens apartment complex and is running for City Council.
"I’ll believe it when I see the fencing," she said, referring to the first phase of the project.
The housing project was built in the early 1930’s by Prudential Insurance as segregated minority housing. In 1983 New Community Corporation took over management of the complex, but neighborhood residents said the true managers were the gang lords that occupied and defended the complex as an open market for drugs and prostitution.
"I don’t think there’s been another area in the city of Newark that has been that bad," said Essex Freeholder President Blonnie Watson. She and her family live at the neighboring High Park Gardens and have crusaded for Douglass-Harrison’s demolition for close to a decade. "Gangs just actually took the building over — the police were afraid to even go in."
The building was vacated by New Community in 2004, and plans were drafted for demolition. Three years later the demolition plans remained in limbo and the city took over the property.
City Hall in 2007 put out bids to have the property demolished. But they rejected all of the proposals, citing "defects," according to court records. In 2008, the city re-bid the contract, awarding it in July of 2009 to East Hanover-based LVI/Mazzocchi, a major New Jersey demolition firm. The award was drawn into court with questions of funding and fair bidding.
A lawsuit filed by Bayonne-based Nacirema — another major demolition firm — accused the city of awarding the $5.5 million contract without specifying where the money would come from. They also complained the city waited 14 months to award the contract rather than the state-mandated 60 days. The suit, filed on July 31, 2009 was settled last week by the two firms in a confidential agreement, clearing the way to take down the 12 buildings.
Pat Collins, who represented LVI/Mazzocchi, said the concerns presented by Nacirema were minimal and many of them, including the expired time limit, were standard operating procedure in doing business with the city.
"Newark never ever awards in 60 days," Collins said yesterday. "I’ve waited well over a year for Newark."
Michael Parlavecchio, the lawyer for Nacirema, said the best thing his client could hope for in winning the suit was to have the city put out new bids, in which Nacirema may still have lost out.
"They already spent a good amount of money on this," he said, adding, "Victory would have been a hollow victory."
At a community meeting Monday night, residents expressed skepticism about the contract and what impact it would have on the community. The chief concerns presented to Bell and other city leaders, were the environmental impact of the demolition, the effects of rodent infestation, and whether city residents would be hired to perform some of the work.
Contractors assured residents a comprehensive asbestos, dust and infestation plan would protect residents during demolition, which is scheduled for completion in June. They said "49 percent" of the money spent on the project would go to minority contractors, but conceded this did not necessarily promise jobs for city residents.
According to Freeholder Watson, Mayor Cory Booker promised the community the 8-acre site would be converted to parkland.
"We’re just skeptical about it,’’ said Freeholder Watson, adding residents can’t go through another season looking at the decaying buildings.

[block944]

Nets Could Face $7.5 Million Fine if They Move to Newark



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By KEN BELSON (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/ken_belson/index.html?inline=nyt-per)
Published: January 26, 2010
New Jersey’s new governor, Christopher J. Christie (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/christopher_j_christie/index.html?inline=nyt-per), wants the Nets (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/probasketball/nationalbasketballassociation/newjerseynets/index.html?inline=nyt-org) to pay a $7.5 million penalty if the team breaks its lease at the Izod Center and moves to the Prudential Center in Newark next season.
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The suggestion was included in a 20-page document issued by the New Jersey Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Committee (http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/reports/Gaming,%20Sports,%20and%20Entertainments.pdf) of the governor’s transition team. The report, compiled before the governor took office last Tuesday, focuses largely on the state’s casinos and horse racing, both of which, the committee said, were “broken.”
The report identified agreements made during previous administrations that the Christie Administration hopes to revise or undo. One is a plan created last year (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/sports/10jersey.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=ken%20belson%20david%20halbfinger&st=cse) to allow the Nets to break their lease at the Izod Center two years early and move to the Prudential Center until their new arena in Brooklyn opens.
However, the committee said that the Nets “cannot leave the Meadowlands without paying the waiver amount. The impact upon suites and sponsorship dollars has to be part of the negotiations.”
The report did not specify how much the Nets pay to the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority in suite and sponsorship revenue. But according to their Izod Center lease, they do not need to pay a penalty if they terminate their lease early because they would stay in Newark less than five years. The team would need a waiver to break its lease, however.
In return, the Prudential Center would cede many of its nonsports events to the Izod Center, under the plan developed by Jerold L. Zaro, former Gov. Jon S. Corzine (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/jon_s_corzine/index.html?inline=nyt-per)’s economics czar.

[ASchwarz]

Newark Central Ward housing complex is scheduled to be demolished


Completely idiotic to destroy all that housing in a high-cost region such as this, especially in a very central location, close to transit and jobs.

Will our politicans never learn?

[Marv95]

Completely idiotic to destroy all that housing in a high-cost region such as this, especially in a very central location, close to transit and jobs.

Will our politicans never learn?
Even if it is literally falling apart? Even if it would cost more to renovate it? Face it, with the new townhomes up it doesn't fit in. And it is not in a "very central location" as you put it.

[66nexus]

Nets Could Face $7.5 Million Fine if They Move to Newark

By KEN BELSON (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/ken_belson/index.html?inline=nyt-per)
Published: January 26, 2010
New Jersey’s new governor, Christopher J. Christie (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/christopher_j_christie/index.html?inline=nyt-per), wants the Nets (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/probasketball/nationalbasketballassociation/newjerseynets/index.html?inline=nyt-org) to pay a $7.5 million penalty if the team breaks its lease at the Izod Center and moves to the Prudential Center in Newark next season.
Skip to next paragraph (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/sports/basketball/26nba.html#secondParagraph) Related

Wizard Gets Probation in Dispute With Arenas (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/sports/basketball/26wizards.html?ref=basketball) (January 26, 2010)



I'm going to be honest: While I didn't think so before, I think that 'deal' between the Izod Center and the Prudential Center is a loss for the Rock.

Just as I posted earlier, the simple fact that the Newark arena ranked #20 in the world in non-sport revenue is enough for me to conclude Newark can go on its own steam w/o the Nets.

Afterall, would any of you really be enthused to go to a Nets game in Newark at this point anyway? Especially considering they're not staying. Hell, Brooklyn can have them.

[66nexus]

Even if it is literally falling apart? Even if it would cost more to renovate it? Face it, with the new townhomes up it doesn't fit in. And it is not in a "very central location" as you put it.

Indeed, those buildings look beyond repair and have been sitting for years. A park would not only be better (given Newark's 'shortage' of parks) but a park would do a whole lot better than an abandoned building.

[ASchwarz]

Even if it is literally falling apart? Even if it would cost more to renovate it? Face it, with the new townhomes up it doesn't fit in. And it is not in a "very central location" as you put it.

Sorry, I totally disagree. It's those awful new suburban townhouses that don't fit in.

This is one of the best pieces of urbanity in Newark, and they're proposing to demolish it for a useless park.

Never mind that there's already a park across the street, and all those horrible suburban homes already have private yards, so no one will use the park.

And if it really costs more to renovate, then at least rebuild the site to its previous density. A park is the last thing this part of Newark needs. Newark needs more people and density if it is to recapture its former glory.

And I think the Central Ward is a great location for high density housing. Arguably the best location in the entire state, or maybe second to the Hudson waterfront corridor.

The reason NYC has seen such a revitalization is because there are more people than ever before, and because it has gotten denser and more urban. Newark cannot improve by turning itself into a suburb.

[ASchwarz]

Indeed, those buildings look beyond repair and have been sitting for years. A park would not only be better (given Newark's 'shortage' of parks) but a park would do a whole lot better than an abandoned building.

Newark doesn't have a shortage of parks; it has a surplus.

Newark has more park space than ever, yet its population has fallen by more than a third. There are far fewer people using the parks than before.

Go to major Newark parks and compare the usage to major NYC parks. No comparison.

Newark needs more people, not more open space. And more people will mean better parks, because an active park is always a safer and better maintained park.

[66nexus]

Newark doesn't have a shortage of parks; it has a surplus.

Newark has more park space than ever, yet its population has fallen by more than a third. There are far fewer people using the parks than before.

Go to major Newark parks and compare the usage to major NYC parks. No comparison.

Newark needs more people, not more open space. And more people will mean better parks, because an active park is always a safer and better maintained park.


Newark, given its size, does indeed have a shortage of parks:

http://www.newarkhistory.com/parks.html

http://policy.rutgers.edu/cupr/community/organizations/projcomm/hdc/background.htm

Newark does indeed need more people, but this building isn't a good place to put them. As Marv said, you have to factor in refurbish costs. Just because the structure is existing does not make it a cost-beneficial investment.

Even 1180 Raymond (a true Newark jewel) cost more to refurb than the building was worth.

[66nexus]

Development is about much more than population as in, you can't just cram folks into living space and expect prosperity as a result.

This building has been burned out for decades now. I believe any opportunity has been long past gone.

[block944]

"We are as disappointed as our customers to be closing our Hoboken store, but the fact is the rent became too high, which made it impossible to continue leasing the space from a business point of view."


MAN COME TO NEWARK!!!

http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2010/01/barnes_noble_in_hoboken_to_shu.html

[block944]

NEWARK -- A downtown Newark building partially collapsed this morning, sending debris over nearby cars, authorities said.
The building at 24 E. Park St. "took some type of structural collapse" shortly after 11 a.m., said Newark Fire Chief Michael Lalor. The cause was not known, and engineering teams have been dispatched to the scene.
No injures have been reported, Lalor said.
The management of the building, known as the Hotel Carlton, could not be reached for comment.
http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/newark-building-collapsesjpg-e1976152420c42cb_large.jpgGoogle MapsA building on East Park Street partially collapsed today, sending debris over nearby cars, authorities said.

[Marv95]

And I think the Central Ward is a great location for high density housing. Arguably the best location in the entire state, or maybe second to the Hudson waterfront corridor.

Not on that block it isn't. This isn't downtown or University Heights, this is in the heart of the ghetto west of MLK Blvd almost bordering the South Ward, where not too long ago almost every building was bombed out. It's a couple blocks from where Brick Towers used to be. Have you been there? If you have, you'd realize why this particular area needed to trend towards a suburban environment.

As for the Hotel Carlton, time to tear down that welfare hotel. No business being there in 2010.

[stache]

The building at 24 E. Park St. "took some type of structural collapse" shortly after 11 a.m., said Newark Fire Chief Michael Lalor.
No injures have been reported, Lalor said.
The management of the building, known as the Hotel Carlton, could not be reached for comment.


While I certainly hope no one is injured, if this building is razed it will be of benefit to the entire area.

[newarkdevil1]

66 I am defintely with you on the Nets, I just disagree with Gilfane from the devils assesment that it woudl be a better senerio. That being said, I think Gilfane sees moving the nets as the begging of their arugment to tear down the meadowlands and change it to a Nascar track.

[newarkdevil1]

Stache,

Unfortuatelly if the Carlton comes down Berger will just leave it and let it become a parking lot. The best hope is that the city comes in and makes him make repairs or creates presure for him to do something. Just about anyone who is honest with you in this city will tell you he is a gigantic slumlord mascarading around as a developer.

[stache]

It's not the building, it's the people inside. When I first started going to Newark I quickly realized I had to plan my travel two or three blocks away from this hotel, especially in the late afternoon.

[scrollhectic]

I'm going to partially agree with ASchwarz on this one. Newark needs to rezone and implement higher denisity residential construction. I'm surprised some of these developers are even turning a profit considering the cost of building in Newark and the ridiculous hassle of dealing with a corrupt and inefficient city hall (one year to await a bid selection? Why??)

Unlike MOST urban centers, Newark is shying away from denser development and I think that approach is misguided. Density doesn't equal bad. High unemployment, inadequate resources, slumloards and crime equals bad. The townhomes surrounding douglass harris are relatively attractive, but the density is dissapointing. Large scale middle class development projects like the one surrounding douglass harris have significant impact on the stability of the neighborhood. Given Newark's overwhelming low income population, middle income development should be maximized to help even out the population, create a stronger tax base and stimulate commercial and retail development. They aren't building townhouses in Hoboken. They aren't even building townhouses in Montclair!



Sorry, I totally disagree. It's those awful new suburban townhouses that don't fit in.

This is one of the best pieces of urbanity in Newark, and they're proposing to demolish it for a useless park.

Never mind that there's already a park across the street, and all those horrible suburban homes already have private yards, so no one will use the park.

And if it really costs more to renovate, then at least rebuild the site to its previous density. A park is the last thing this part of Newark needs. Newark needs more people and density if it is to recapture its former glory.

And I think the Central Ward is a great location for high density housing. Arguably the best location in the entire state, or maybe second to the Hudson waterfront corridor.

The reason NYC has seen such a revitalization is because there are more people than ever before, and because it has gotten denser and more urban. Newark cannot improve by turning itself into a suburb.

[scrollhectic]

Stache,

Unfortuatelly if the Carlton comes down Berger will just leave it and let it become a parking lot. The best hope is that the city comes in and makes him make repairs or creates presure for him to do something. Just about anyone who is honest with you in this city will tell you he is a gigantic slumlord mascarading around as a developer.

:D:D:D - newarkdevil1, i think i love you!

Berger :mad: is a bad developer. He's not commited to Newark's redevelopment. He sits on properties waiting to get bought out.

[newarkdevil1]

sorry Scroll...I'm taken :cool:

I could go on about Berger for days but it doesn't really matter, he will run his properties to the ground and anyone that deals with him knows that. He certainly isn't the first or last slumlord in this city.

As for the density arguement, I am biased. I moved to the Ironbound because I like it. That being said density is a problem with only low income housing. I am a proponent of a proportion being for working class housing but only if luxury housing is in the same development. You just have to avoid the circle that happens when a development becomes a slum.

I have said this before but I think everyone knows the good vs bad developers in Newark. People like Hanini, Crawford st. partners and Regan are the good guys and people like Berger, Edison and even Cogswell to a degree (although that's a whole separate debate) fall on the other side.

[newarkdevil1]

although I tend to think of wood framed buildings as cheep, this design was pretty cool...8326

please forgive the size, this is a first for me putting up files

[NoyokA]

Sorry, I totally disagree. It's those awful new suburban townhouses that don't fit in.

This is one of the best pieces of urbanity in Newark, and they're proposing to demolish it for a useless park.

Never mind that there's already a park across the street, and all those horrible suburban homes already have private yards, so no one will use the park.

And if it really costs more to renovate, then at least rebuild the site to its previous density. A park is the last thing this part of Newark needs. Newark needs more people and density if it is to recapture its former glory.

And I think the Central Ward is a great location for high density housing. Arguably the best location in the entire state, or maybe second to the Hudson waterfront corridor.

The reason NYC has seen such a revitalization is because there are more people than ever before, and because it has gotten denser and more urban. Newark cannot improve by turning itself into a suburb.

I agree with you 100%. These buildings were real gems and were very urban. Newark has very few buildings like these and now they're seeking to tear them down, I feel like its the era of Robert Moses all over again, don't they ever learn? It'll be at least a century until this neighborhood sees the same build quality and urbanism.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/2964494406_6dc3949566.jpg?v=0
Renovated this looks like it could be a block from Manhattan.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2964494322_281f7c7e3a.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2963653955_3bed4edd67.jpg?v=0

Instead of renovating the property which I'm sure will cost a great deal they're going to build a needle park surrounded by cheap vinyl siding single family houses behind lawns and gates. Disgusting.

[Marv95]

If you actually been there or even been past there you would know why that abomination needs to be demolished. It's not like the building is downtown(where you begin to redevelop and try to establish a tax base, not the south-central hood), so I dunno what the big uproar is, and the neighborhood wouldn't mind this loss. So Brick Towers (basically right next door) shoulda been renovated? Westinghouse?

What if it's redeveloped only to be turned into more low-income housing? And who is going to buy that property in that location?

[NoyokA]

Brick Towers was failed 1960's urban planning, its single-family inner city replacements are just as anti-urban. Renovate the Douglas-Harison complex? Yes. Is that so foreign of a concept outside of New York City? They renovated a number of beautiful buildings that were just abandoned a couple of years ago already. Here's an example on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

http://thumbs.forrent.com/imgs/fr/propertyFiles/231/056/1000/resized/02_122842576704970730330020075000020.jpg

[66nexus]

NYC and Newark aren't cut from the same cloth. Land is much more scarce in NY and the density has been there since the 20s.

I don't think it's a wonder why that building was left in the cold for so many decades.

[NoyokA]

Apparently it became abandoned in 2004. That's not a couple of decades. You guys have such a defeatist outlook.

[66nexus]

"...has been a blight on the Central Ward for decades"

It isn't defeatist, but in the case of Newark, 'historic' isn't always a plus (b/c that can usually mean neglect)

Think of what Marv said about the area: The only real demand in that area is low-income (which seems to have been the case of the building for most of its life) But just b/c this thing is to be torn down does not mean a high-density structure could not eventually be built in or around that particular area.

Additionally, Newark has much nicer jewels closer to downtown that are still in neglect. There are so many more deserving refurbish projects than this one. Should one sit and simply 'hope' something good will happen to it?

It seems some are more influenced by nostalgia rather than how a potential developer would realistically invest in the place. It would even make more sense to me if there was a decent master plan for the area

[newarkdevil1]

Here is what's missing from the discussion Noyoka, Federal requirements to replace units taken down. The NHA is getting alot of grief for taken down the projects because the tenant associations are pointing out that the units have no been replaced as federal mandate requires. Newark does not have a strong enough housing market to create the mixed income environment that would be required to prevent another disaster like these housing projects. NYC is different because of it's strong uppper and middle class housing demand. The concept now is to require a lower proportion of the housing to be rent controlled ect (ie the Richardson project). This requires that 2/3s of the building be filled by middle class "market rate" tenants. Newark's outer wards lack great public transportation (buses do not count) and those denser projects are being ripped down so they are supporting the drug trade. When it gets down to it, they are basically trying to get the gangs to move out by removing their subsidized housing.

[newarkdevil1]

Here is the other bar that's having it's grand opening this weekend I believe. The place is called Rio something or other but it seems like a pretty nice rennovation.832983308331

[stache]

When it gets down to it, they are basically trying to get the gangs to move out by removing their subsidized housing.

If they're dealing drugs they can afford a better apartment, or rent a house.

[scrollhectic]

[QUOTE=Marv95;314620]If you actually been there or even been past there you would know why that abomination needs to be demolished. It's not like the building is downtown(where you begin to redevelop and try to establish a tax base, not the south-central hood), so I dunno what the big uproar is, and the neighborhood wouldn't mind this loss. So Brick Towers (basically right next door) shoulda been renovated? Westinghouse? QUOTE]

I agree; they need to be demolished. As the surrounding neighborhood is low density, it would only make sense to build more low density in its place, but overall, low density housing is integrated in areas that should have remained medium or high density.

Take, for example, on 7th between the Colonnades and the Pavillion. The You have 3 high density structures, roughly 20+ stories, but in between them (save the church and school) you have 2 story townhouses... why was that allowed? Their placement in that area is poor planning and esthetically unpleasing. The townhouses themselves aren't terrible, but they don't belong in that area.

Supposedly, the development replacing Baxter Terrace, Seth Boyden, etc., is going to be low density - terrible idea! That area, bound by 280, University Heights and downtown should AT MINIMUM be 500 units.

[stache]

This is the pattern that has been followed around the country, demolish the towers (which have mostly been recognized as failed) and replace with low rise/townhouse. I don't know if this has resulted in lower crime rates.

[JCMAN320]

^^^Newark has a terrible mass transit system and you are right Newarkdevil that limits how successful the outerwards can be. That Newark Lightrail is practically useless for most of Newark with the exception for people that live in the northward. The rest of the city is all bus lines which can't be relied on consistantly to provide great service. Most people won't give up their cars to go to a bus; but people are most likely to give up their cars for reliable rail service. Newark needs extend more lightrail throughout the city; Rapid Bus Tranist is not enough.

Also with the density; Newark wasn't limited by geography thats why Newark was never that dense to begin with. NYC, JC, Hoboken, Union City etc.. were all limited by either water or the palisades so they had no choice but to be dense. Newark was able to spread out more and more and have wider streets and bigger homes because they werent constrained by water.

[Marv95]

Define "terrible".

[JCMAN320]

I shouldn't have said terrible; limited is more of the correct word to use. The city is completely reliable on bus service and there is not enough encentive for people not to use their cars. Most people in Newark do not use mass transit; according to the last survey in 2006, only about 24% of the Newark pop. use mass transit. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._cities_with_high_transit_ridership)

I'm not saying that the city isn't well connected. Penn Station is a hub for the region along with Newark Liberty being a huge international gateway. However to get around within the city and the surrounding communities of Essex county; the city is heavily reliant on bus and buses aren't that efficent.

[Marv95]

Top 10 in the country isn't bad considering its geography and a beyond mediocre bus system. Look what it's ranked ahead of: Pittsburgh, Atlanta, St. Louis, Baltimore, Cleveland, Miami(all which have a higher population and/or more public transit lines).

[Nexis4Jersey]

Unfortnatly NJT focuses on everything going to NYC , but they should have started focusing on the Essex County Empire , and Newark-Elizabeth Light Rail networks, but i do see Northern Urban Jersey getting a decent sized network over the next 5-20 years.

~Corey

[66nexus]

Not for anything, but JC has a comparably heavy use of bus transit as well. The reason JC's train numbers are higher are b/c of the commutes to NYC.

Newark's West Ward and parts of the South Ward are heavily residential in the sense that it's not uncommon to see suburban-style neighborhoods (especially Vailsburg).

You're not considering Newark's connection with it's suburbs South and West: NJTransit. Newark light rail efficiently connects with its northern suburbs.

http://www.best-placetoretire.com/best-places-to-retire-in-the-united-states/living-without-a-car

Newark's mass transit certainly isn't perfect, but it's not exactly bad either.

Additionally, Newark's borders were reset more than several times during its history so the fact that it wasn't confined by water didn't mean it wasn't confined by geographic politics.

[66nexus]

Unfortnatly NJT focuses on everything going to NYC , but they should have started focusing on the Essex County Empire , and Newark-Elizabeth Light Rail networks, but i do see Northern Urban Jersey getting a decent sized network over the next 5-20 years.

~Corey


NJtransit is one of the more extensive statewide networks in the country. Most northern NJ cities are connected by rail.

[JCMAN320]

Yea your right 66nexus with the political geography; but in Newark most of its neighborhoods aren't very dense; there wasn't much stress to build up, it was much easier to build out then up for Newark.

Yes JC is reliant on some bus service but since the HBLR opened buses have become less crowded. I remember before the lightrail opened the buses were always packed. Now since the lightrail opened the buses have become more efficent and less crowded and some bus lines disappered altogether because the lightrail took so many of their riders.

The mass transit system in Newark needs to be improved especially the some of the bus routes. I work in Newark and have taken the buses and the routes need to be improved and the buses are not efficient and seriously unless you live in the North ward or have business up there, the lightrail is entirely useless plain and simple. Being 10 not bad but being so close to NYC and a major city with a key airport in the region it should be higher.

[Marv95]

-The HBLR already had most of the tracks in place for it to work. Except for the Airport and industrial areas toward Union County, Newark does not.
-The Central Ward, more specifically the college folk, also find it useful. And don't forget it has bus connections at nearly every one of its stations that feed into other wards/towns. Norfolk St is an example of this, as there are plenty of folks who use this connection via the 24, 44 and 99 bus lines, no matter how crappy the bus service is. I know from experience.
-If the money was there, where would you extend the NCS? And unless it's underground, don't say Springfield Avenue. Might as well keep the 25 as it is or have a trackless trolley like SEPTA if that's the case.

[block944]

Newark has the best mass transit system in NJ, I don't see buses running through north brunswick, somerset, piscataway,plainsboro the way they do through newark.

[block944]

Former Newark Bears mascot, now homeless, shows how recession hits home

By Barry Carter/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/bcarter/index.html)

January 31, 2010, 7:29AM

http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/woolridgejpg-bcaf3d77ee0c74fe_large.jpgJohn Munson/The Star-LedgerKendell Woolridge is homeless in Newark.
NEWARK -- Kendell Woolridge wants a place of his own — something stable, warm, and not Penn Station in Newark, where he wound up last week for the first time in his young life.
But he is the kind of guy you bet on. There’s something about him, the smile, the attitude, the belief that things will break his way again.
"I’m 23," he said. "I’m not supposed to be homeless. I shouldn’t be living like this."
Last week he was. And so were many young people like him.
It had been two years since he lost his job, the best one he said he ever had. Woolridge was the mascot of the Newark Bears — Ruppert — and the clubhouse manager, until he got laid off in 2007 when the baseball team changed ownership.
It was a great gig, because the stadium was home, too. He took care of the clubhouse, cleaned it, washed the players’ uniforms, then crashed in an office overnight.
When the job was over, so was his place to stay.
"That’s why I fell off," he said.
He bounced from one friend’s house to another, holding down jobs at ShopRite, then Walgreens, but never making enough, he says, to be stable.
He knew it was rough out here, but not like this, not to the point of Penn Station.
He found himself somewhere by the PATH train, sleeping to stay warm, then heard there would be social service agencies at the Essex County Skating Rink in Branch Brook Park Wednesday. About 50 of the agencies come every year as part of a statewide program to count the homeless and connect them to services. The effort takes place in other counties as well, with volunteers looking for the homeless by waterfrosnts, bridges, abandoned warehouses and other places they may frequent to stay warm. Results are then turned over to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
While urban areas bear the brunt of poverty, the suffering has spread to Essex suburbs in ways that leave county officials staggered.
"Our food stamp program grew by 50 percent, and our Medicaid caseload grew by 31 percent in the last two years," said Bruce Nigro, the county’s director of welfare.
In Montclair two years ago, 925 people applied for food stamps. That number has jumped to 1,256. In West Orange, 750 cases increased to 1,371, and Maplewood rose from 347 to 637, Livingston from 85 to 161.
"We’re seeing numbers we’ve never seen before," Nigro said. "These are people who lost their jobs."
A state agency tracking the face of the homeless sees more and more families in crisis every year.
"That was the one thing that stood out from the past two years," said Colleen Velez, program manager for the New Jersey Corporation for Supportive Housing. "It was the beginning downturn of the economy."
The need was evident Wednesday. Crowds of people showed up at the skating rink, lining up as early as 7 a.m., three hours before the doors opened. Kids were in strollers. Toddlers getting restless cried once inside. The playful ones ran around, then slid on the floor, laughing. The young families ate boxed lunches in the cafeteria, talked to representatives from the slew of agencies. They grabbed pamphlets and signed up for services if they were eligible. Soulful music played to make things somewhat festive, to make people feel better.
Darnella Smith, 38, was one of them. She’s been in Newark five months, living in transitional housing, having relocated when a storm flooded her home in Florida. Smith wants to work, but that’s going to be hard now. She’s five months pregnant, has three other children and is on assistance. The free haircuts for her boys were a big help.
Sitting next to her was Jacqueline Feliciano, 32. She wasn’t homeless but said she goes to the food pantries in Newark so she can feed her two young boys when food is low.
"The face of the homeless is getting younger and younger," said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo. "Look at all of the people here."
In his county, DiVincenzo said, one out of every five residents is on some form of assistance. It’s disturbing to him. Make that alarming.
"More and more of these kids need jobs," he said. "We need to find jobs for these young people. They want to work. They want help. That could be anyone of our kids. That could happen to anybody."
In the early-morning hours Wednesday — midnight to 4 a.m. — volunteers fanned out in Newark to find the homeless so they could count them and tell them to come to the skating rink for help. Many of the usual haunts, like the old Essex County Jail, were abandoned. The waterfront was empty except for a loner known only as Fred. No one was under Route 280 by McCarter Highway, either. There were only remnants — clothing, bottles, cardboard, tarps — that let you know somebody had slept there at some point. It was cold, and many had found shelter elsewhere.
At Penn Station, a dozen or so people were on the floor in an enclosure by the Market Street bus lane. There was no heat, but it kept the wind out. They slept on newspapers, feet sticking out from underneath blankets, some with cardboard. One pair of small shoes was sandwiched by two larger pairs of feet: This is a family.
Upstairs by the PATH train, several more people found refuge in a vestibule. When the train pulled in around 3 a.m., they got on to ride all night long.
The final tally of homeless won’t be known for several days, but officials said 733 people came to the rink for help. Some had their eyes checked, others a haircut or nails done. Little things to ease the pain. They just needed something extra, maybe a hat, a coat for their kid, information on where to get food when the shelves get empty at the end of the month.
However you slice it — urban vs. suburbs — people are hurting. On cold nights, they are at Penn Station and shelters.
It’s enough to depress even the toughest of us.
But then there was Woolridge. He has been on his own since 19, when he had to leave home. Time for him to be a man, he said. He’s always worked. Even now, with no place to stay, he tended one of the food concession stands at Newark’s Prudential Center.
He takes the money he earns to care for his 1-year-old daughter, whom he sees as much as possible. That makes him proud. He said he prays to keep his head on straight and attends New Hope Baptist Church when he can on Sundays. He knows he should tell church members about his problems but feels embarrassed. It’s not supposed to be like this.
When he made his way to the skating rink, Woolridge bumped into a familiar face from a Bears game. It was DiVincenzo. Woolridge reminded the county executive that they shook hands years ago, when he was Ruppert. DiVincenzo remembered and offered him help so he wouldn’t have to go back to Penn Station.
Woolridge accepted, but changed his mind on the way to the shelter on Fulton Street. He was able to camp out with a friend instead.
For that night.
Then, on Friday, for some reason he can’t explain, Woolridge walked into the general manager’s office at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.
He told them who he was, that he had once been Ruppert the Bear.
Well, they said, as it turned out, they needed a Ruppert for the new season. They hired him on the spot.
Woolridge starts March 6, making his Ruppert comeback appearance at the Nutley Irish Parade.
"I’m just trying to get back on my feet," he said. "I’m going to see what happens next and go from there.

[stache]

She’s five months pregnant, has three other children and is on assistance.

Plus it's terrible that the mascot does not make enough to get him some kind of housing.

[block944]

Plus it's terrible that the mascot does not make enough to get him some kind of housing.

The problem is if you give it just like that, then EVERYONE is going to want the same assistance and there would be no drive to educate or better oneself. For example if I was a female, I would just run out and get pregnant and forget going to school if the government is going to help me with assistance and food stamps.

The problem with all these bails outs and assistance is they took away any risk of doing stupid things so the behavior will continue,

basically we rewarded and continue to reward irresponsible behavior with NO incentives for people that were responsible other than more taxes to cover for everyone else.

[stache]

I still think the mascot should be paid enough so he can find housing, unless he already is and is not budgeting properly.

[block944]

I still think the mascot should be paid enough so he can find housing, unless he already is and is not budgeting properly.


The team orginally did go bankrupt?

[stache]

Yes but the article said the mascot was sleeping in an office when he was working there previously. I'm guessing attendance was not supporting the team financially.

[newarkdevil1]

If they're dealing drugs they can afford a better apartment, or rent a house.

Stache, I would reference "Freakanomics" on this. Gangs develop in impoverished areas where low cost labor can be found. The ones that make the money are the upper management and they are the ones get get out. Problem is that like management in any business they then risk loosing touch with their business or the respect of their employees.

Newark's culture of mistrust for outside further exacerbates this problem as it tightens gangs holds on the city. The article in the ledger in regards to family politics in Newark was interesting in this context. The city has a large population that is insulated from the world and myopically only looks at their own world with a sense of abandonment and entitlement (depending on your viewpoint).

[newarkdevil1]

As for buses vs rails, financing is huge. JC like Hoboken benefits from existing conditions in these areas. I constantly deal with the fact that it's difficult to get tenants unless you are close to the path or Penn station. The constrained space argument can not be stressed enough when it comes to density and the types of buildings that then develop.

This btw, is the basis of the Edison's argument for refurbishing the CNJ overpass on 21 to a pedestrian bridge. Heck the Ironbound is what it is due in part to the geographic barriers that existed that have kept it an isolated community. Newark like NJ is exceptionally less dense due in part to when it connected the employment centers (the bridge and tunnels) and how people get about. I have a NJ transit book from the 80s when expanding the light rail to Paterson, Springfield ect was on the discussion board. All this fights up hill because their is an existing buss, rail and car system that while less efficient still functions. NJ transit with limited dollars basically follows ridership trends and won't even consider a train until the buss ridership equals a cost effective ratio for building a train (I'm using their words from forums I have been to). This is sad because redundancies like a path expansion to the airport would only bolster development and allow developers to take those risks. I think what is forgotten is that 100 years ago these rails and even some tunnels were actually built by private enterprise whereas now it's our tax dollars, which forever changes the picture.

Newark's trolley system once crisscrossed the city and allowed for density and tracks were running through the city from various different rail companies. Once that was torn out and replaced by buses (in part due to the politics of the auto industry) it ended up working in conjunction with the interstate highway system of pushing everyone west. Now the state must work to push people back with incentives and tax credit programs just to reduce maintenance costs as density is infrastructures friend.