Official Update - No Status

After being away and returning to the tormented state of ambiguity, here is a little bit more official ambiguity. Essentially this all means that the project is in severe question, to be delayed for months, even years. Yet somehow the town feels okay preventing local owners from developing their own properties in the meantime. If this isn't an intentional slaughter I don't know what is.

I've contacted a lawyer friend to help me and local merchants "left behind" to find out our rights - I sit here with a slaughtered business (the numbers can prove this) and a letter from the town's legal reps explaining that I am due certain relocation assistance. I am suffering and have seen none of this - do I have any right?

Bloomfield loses speed in condemnation appeal. This just in, from a press release, issued by attorneys Carlin & Ward of Florham Park:

Judge Barbara Byrd Wecker of the Appellate Division signed an order denying two motions filed by the Bloomfield in Township of Bloomfield v. 110 Washington Street Association. The order was filed on October 24 with the Superior Court of New Jersey. The township asked the court to accelerate their appeal of an earlier decision made by Essex County Assignment Judge Patricia Costello, who threw out Bloomfield’s condemnation complaint against 110 Washington Street in August. In a second motion, Bloomfield asked to supplement the record with additional letters and affidavits that were not submitted earlier to Judge Costello. Both requests were denied.

The appeal will proceed in accordance with the original scheduling order set by the court which stipulates that all briefs and replies must be filed by December 5, 2005. This will set back any implementation of Bloomfield’s redevelopment project for at least a year while the case goes through the appeal process. Bloomfield has refused to move forward on any other cases involving eminent domain or relocation while the appeal is pending.

In another action, the township denied property owner Alessandro Lardieri the building permits required to finish approximately 3000 square feet of his building at 622 Bloomfield Avenue. The township rejected Lardieri’s application, premised on its redevelopment plan and agreement with Forest City Ratner, which gives the redeveloper all redevelopment rights over properties within the redevelopment area.