Jones Lang LaSalle
The great land rush continues in Newark
Outgoing council weighs more developer offers
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
BY JEFFERY C. MAYS
Star-Ledger Staff
Even as community groups, Newark's mayor-elect and some city council members call for a moratorium on the sale of city-owned land, the council today will consider proposals from at least 10 developers.
The activity is coming amid concerns that city-owned land is being sold at a breakneck pace and bargain-basement prices weeks before a new administration and up to seven new council members take office.
Politically connected developers and campaign contributors to Mayor Sharpe James are among those to be considered for purchasing land today, including the Rev. Levin West. Also before the council today is a firm representing basketball star Shaquille O'Neal, and a group named Community Urban Renewal Enterprise -- which was just hit with $48,000 in fines for violating state regulations.
"The sitting council people can do what they want until they are out," said Richard Cammarieri, of the nonprofit New Community Corp. He is also part of the Master Plan Working Group, an alliance of community groups that has been trying to get the city to upgrade its central planning document.
"They can make a lot of decisions that can be harmful in the long run. We are over a barrel right now," he said.
Some proposals were voted on but not approved last week when the council considered selling land to at least 15 developers for the city minimum of $4 per square foot. Privately owned vacant land sold for an average of $29.50 per square foot last year.
The controversy has prompted one city council member to call for the cost of city-owned land to be doubled or even tripled.
Mayor-elect Cory Booker asked the nine-member council not to act on the sale of land last week, and once again community planning groups who have long criticized the city for the lack of a master development plan are speaking out.
"I'd like to see them issue a moratorium on development until the new administration comes in and assesses whether we are meeting the requirements on affordable housing and open space," said Robin Dougherty, executive director of the Greater Newark Conservancy.
The city has not drawn a new master plan in at least 27 years and has not updated its zoning ordinance since the 1950s. Newark completed the land use element of a new plan in 2004. The plan delineates which areas should be residential, industrial, open space or reserved for schools. The zoning laws allow the plan to be enforced.
In the meantime, said Dougherty, many of the two- and three-family homes are being placed haphazardly. There have also been complaints about the quality of the new homes.
"They are not creating livable places for children to play. There are no places for people to enjoy a yard or basic amenities people expect in the suburbs. They are not being fought for on a city level, and it's not going to come from developers," Dougherty said.
Councilman Ras Baraka, who abstained on all but three of the proposals voted on last week, was rebuffed by his council colleagues when he called for a moratorium on the sale of city land for two- and three-family homes earlier this year.
Baraka said he voted for the proposals because they involved the sale of land to two nonprofits and a proposal to build office space but still wants the moratorium.
"There's no plan and we are giving out too many pieces of land at a time," he said.
Baraka said he has sensed a new urgency among developers to get their projects completed. "People are fearful that if they don't get it now they won't get it done," he said.
That urgency came through last week as the city council conference room was filled with developers with pending proposals.
One developer, representing Top Quality Builders, was before the council for a hearing that lasted less than five minutes and consisted of him showing a drawing of the home he wanted to develop.
Today, the council is considering the sale of almost 11,000 square feet of land to Top Quality for $43,809. The builder plans to erect three market-rate homes and a commercial building with two apartments above.
There is also confusion over the fate of the old Science High School.
A new Science High is being built, and the company representing O'Neal wants to convert the old building, in a historic district on Rector Street, into condominiums. Superintendent of Schools Marion Bolden wants the district to continue using the building even after a new school opens.
Councilman Hector Corchado, who lost his re-election bid and will leave the council on July 1, said he wants the price of land increased from $4 per square foot to $10 to $12.
"I think since the land value is going up we need to look at increasing the price. We can get more value from our land," Corchado said.
But a bigger issue than the price of the land is the council's pace at selling it, said Dougherty.
"What are we going to do in next month that will change the city? Why the rush now? What is the point?" Dougherty said.
Jeffery C. Mays covers Newark City Hall. He can be reached at jmays@starledger.com or (973) 392-4149.
© 2006 The Star Ledger
© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.
The great land rush continues in Newark
Outgoing council weighs more developer offers
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
BY JEFFERY C. MAYS
Star-Ledger Staff
Even as community groups, Newark's mayor-elect and some city council members call for a moratorium on the sale of city-owned land, the council today will consider proposals from at least 10 developers.
The activity is coming amid concerns that city-owned land is being sold at a breakneck pace and bargain-basement prices weeks before a new administration and up to seven new council members take office.
Politically connected developers and campaign contributors to Mayor Sharpe James are among those to be considered for purchasing land today, including the Rev. Levin West. Also before the council today is a firm representing basketball star Shaquille O'Neal, and a group named Community Urban Renewal Enterprise -- which was just hit with $48,000 in fines for violating state regulations.
"The sitting council people can do what they want until they are out," said Richard Cammarieri, of the nonprofit New Community Corp. He is also part of the Master Plan Working Group, an alliance of community groups that has been trying to get the city to upgrade its central planning document.
"They can make a lot of decisions that can be harmful in the long run. We are over a barrel right now," he said.
Some proposals were voted on but not approved last week when the council considered selling land to at least 15 developers for the city minimum of $4 per square foot. Privately owned vacant land sold for an average of $29.50 per square foot last year.
The controversy has prompted one city council member to call for the cost of city-owned land to be doubled or even tripled.
Mayor-elect Cory Booker asked the nine-member council not to act on the sale of land last week, and once again community planning groups who have long criticized the city for the lack of a master development plan are speaking out.
"I'd like to see them issue a moratorium on development until the new administration comes in and assesses whether we are meeting the requirements on affordable housing and open space," said Robin Dougherty, executive director of the Greater Newark Conservancy.
The city has not drawn a new master plan in at least 27 years and has not updated its zoning ordinance since the 1950s. Newark completed the land use element of a new plan in 2004. The plan delineates which areas should be residential, industrial, open space or reserved for schools. The zoning laws allow the plan to be enforced.
In the meantime, said Dougherty, many of the two- and three-family homes are being placed haphazardly. There have also been complaints about the quality of the new homes.
"They are not creating livable places for children to play. There are no places for people to enjoy a yard or basic amenities people expect in the suburbs. They are not being fought for on a city level, and it's not going to come from developers," Dougherty said.
Councilman Ras Baraka, who abstained on all but three of the proposals voted on last week, was rebuffed by his council colleagues when he called for a moratorium on the sale of city land for two- and three-family homes earlier this year.
Baraka said he voted for the proposals because they involved the sale of land to two nonprofits and a proposal to build office space but still wants the moratorium.
"There's no plan and we are giving out too many pieces of land at a time," he said.
Baraka said he has sensed a new urgency among developers to get their projects completed. "People are fearful that if they don't get it now they won't get it done," he said.
That urgency came through last week as the city council conference room was filled with developers with pending proposals.
One developer, representing Top Quality Builders, was before the council for a hearing that lasted less than five minutes and consisted of him showing a drawing of the home he wanted to develop.
Today, the council is considering the sale of almost 11,000 square feet of land to Top Quality for $43,809. The builder plans to erect three market-rate homes and a commercial building with two apartments above.
There is also confusion over the fate of the old Science High School.
A new Science High is being built, and the company representing O'Neal wants to convert the old building, in a historic district on Rector Street, into condominiums. Superintendent of Schools Marion Bolden wants the district to continue using the building even after a new school opens.
Councilman Hector Corchado, who lost his re-election bid and will leave the council on July 1, said he wants the price of land increased from $4 per square foot to $10 to $12.
"I think since the land value is going up we need to look at increasing the price. We can get more value from our land," Corchado said.
But a bigger issue than the price of the land is the council's pace at selling it, said Dougherty.
"What are we going to do in next month that will change the city? Why the rush now? What is the point?" Dougherty said.
Jeffery C. Mays covers Newark City Hall. He can be reached at jmays@starledger.com or (973) 392-4149.
© 2006 The Star Ledger
© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.
posted by Jones Lang LaSalle NJ News Blog at 2:54 PM
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