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Eminent Domain Abuse in Newark Cited in New Report
A new report entitled “No Work In Newark: City Must Free Entrepreneurs” by the Washington, D.C. based Institute for Justice, as part of its City Study Series, repeatedly cites fear of eminent domain abuse as a major reason for Newark’s lack of new small businesses. The report suggests that Newark should discontinue the use of eminent... Read More
Spring Lake Mayor Vows to Veto Anti-Eminent Domain Ordinance
The Mayor of Spring Lake Heights plans to veto two ordinances adopted by the Borough Council because she claims they were unnecessary as there are no blighted areas in the Borough, and there was no reason to spend money publishing laws that were not needed. The ordinances would prohibit pay-to-play for redevelopment projects, and the... Read More
Governor Christie Kills ARC Tunnel Project, Again
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has announced that the trans-Hudson ARC Tunnel project will remain canceled, after agreeing to take another look at its fiscal impact upon urging from federal transportation officials. The project would have added a second commuter rail tunnel and line between the Frank Lautenberg rail station in Secaucus and a new... Read More
Contaminated Property Would Be Assessed As-If Remediated Under Proposed Legislation
New Jersey Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin has sponsored bill A-3179 in the New Jersey Assembly. The bill, if adopted as introduced, would require that “the true value of a parcel of real property contaminated with a hazardous substance . . . shall be its value as if it were remediated .” Under current New Jersey case... Read More
Bloomfield Redevelopment Finally Moves Forward Following Township Council Vote
Bloomfield’s Township Council approved an “area in need of redevelopment” designation which will permit the Township to move forward with redevelopment in the downtown area assuming the designation is not challenged in the courts. Potential plans to redevelop the area have described it as a transit hub with a mix of retail and residential uses. ... Read More
Another New Jersey Town Seeks to Limit Eminent Domain by Ordinance
A Spring Lake Heights councilwoman has introduced two ordinances which would have an impact on redevelopment projects and eminent domain in that Monmouth County Borough. One ordinance would prohibit pay-to-play for redevelopment projects, while the second would prohibit the use of eminent domain when private property is being used for the purpose of privately funded economic development. ... Read More
ARC Tunnel: Back From the Dead?
Hours after Governor Chris Christie‘s announcement that the trans-Hudson ARC Tunnel project was dead, federal transportation officials traveled to Trenton to urge the Governor to reconsider, and to give some thought to alternatives that would keep the project alive. Last Thursday, Governor Christie killed the nation’s largest public works project based upon the unanimous recommendation... Read More
National Media Highlights Lack of Oversight and Failure of Redevelopment Projects
A recent article in the LA Times highlights how redevelopment agencies in California have operated with little or no oversight for years and, as a result, redevelopment projects are stalled or failing. The article is endemic of eminent domain abuse that has occurred across the country as highlighted in the following: St. Louis Business Journal: Hadley developers are no-show... Read More
Trans Hudson Tunnel Project Canceled By Governor Christie
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today canceled the multi-billion dollar “ARC” Hudson River commuter train tunnel — America’s largest public works project. This action follows a moratorium which had been imposed on the project to study its fiscal impact. Governor Christie stated that the tunnel project costs “far more than New Jersey taxpayers can afford and the... Read More
Neptune Redevelopment Challenge Dismissed
A New Jersey appellate court has affirmed a trial judge’s dismissal of a citizen’s challenge to the Township of Neptune‘s designation of five acres as an “area in need of redevelopment “under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (“LRHL”). The court also dismissed the objector’s challenge to the township’s subsequent adoption of a redevelopment plan. The court held that... Read More
