Odd Update Results in Questions

An odd update from this weekend's local press (The Star Ledger) is making less and less sense of the situation. To briefly summarize, the area on the other side of the train tracks in downtown was to be the first condemnation. Back in August condemnation by eminent domain was not approved by the judge, who cited lack of justification and problematic redevelopment planning / set up (anyone could have told you that). Now the property owner wishes to redevelop it himself, but the town doesn't approve of this idea, saying they are not the approved developer (who happens to be a New York based multi billion dollar company). All I see are dollar sign intentions, and little discussion of the actual process here. Yet again, redevelopment and the actual process of revitalizing the area gets politicked and flavored with greed.

The article also claimed that the project was moving ahead with construction after the New Year - what project? Is this my area? Does anyone think to tell those of us there the status? It has prompted me to write a letter to all town officials, the redevelopment consultants, the developer, and the center alliance for an official status. I have many lawyers now reviewing the details of the case and hope that they begin to tell me what my own rights are, but now it's time for an official statement to me, a local business owner.

Check out the article from http://www.baristanet.com:

Eminently Reasonable?

Here's a novel idea: instead of government leading a downtown revitalization and kicking out the current property owners by means of eminent domain, why not let the property owners plan their own revitalization? That's the concept behind a new proposal by 110 Washington Associates, which wants to build a 10-story condo tower behind the Bloomfield train station.

110 Washington Associates, you may remember, successfully sued the township of Bloomfield over the condemnation of its property, and put a halt to Bloomfield's downtown revitalization plans last August.

Mayor Bloomfield Raymond McCarthy, as quoted in Sunday's Star Ledger, doesn't like the new proposal.

But condos built by 110 Washington Associates are not part of the township's redevelopment plan, said Mayor Raymond McCarthy.

"(The company) could build that if they were given developer status," he said. The designated developer for the 13.5-acre redevelopment zone is New York City-based Forest City Residential.

Since 110 Washington Associates is not the developer, McCarthy said, they can't built residences on that property. Currently the area is zoned for industrial or retail uses.

"This is an attempt in futility," McCarthy said of the company's plans. "I would think this is called posturing."

We're not the Amazing Kreskin, but in the battle between 110 Washington Associates and Mayor McCarthy, our money is on 110 Washington Associates. One of its principals, David Mandelbaum, is number 384 on Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans.