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Mt Holly Gardens Residents Live to Fight Another Day
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has reversed a United States District Court decision in the long-running Mt Holly Gardens redevelopment cases. As reported in the Burlington County Times, the Third Circuit remanded the case back to the District Court to analyze alternatives to eminent domain takings that allegedly had a... Read More
Atlantic City Development Authority Gets New Executive Director
The Press of Atlantic City reports that Governor Christie will today announce a new head of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority at Boardwalk Hall. Christie picked John Palmieri, born in Hoboken, but who spent the last four years as head of Boston’s redevelopment agency and has spent many years in New England working in other... Read More
Long Branch Property Owners Suffer Setback
As reported today in the Asbury Park Press, four property owners in Long Branch’s infamous MTOTSA (Marine Terrace, Ocean Terrace, and Seaview Avenue) redevelopment area lost their most recent battle with the governing body. Two years ago, after the Appellate Division reversed a trial court decision that authorized the use of eminent domain to acquire private... Read More
Morristown's Speedwell Redevelopment Moving Forward (Slowly)
Earlier this month, the Town of Morristown introduced – and adopted – another amended redevelopment plan. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the amended plan on September 15, 2011 as reported by the Daily Record. A more detailed account of the redevelopment project may be found in this Morristown Patch article. Having grown up in Morristown,... Read More
Jersey City McGinley Square Redevelopment – Citizen Asks: Et Tu Brutus?
Following on the footsteps of last week’s removal of the McGinley Square Redevelopment Plan from the Jersey City Council’s agenda, is this impassioned letter to the editor reported by the Jersey City Independent. Even though the plan was removed from the Council’s agenda, this citizen asks that eminent domain be removed from any version of... Read More
Constitution "Alive and Well" in Virginia
The Virginia DOT will be forced to pay for what it took from farmer Ed Jennings. In a rare “inverse condemnation” (where a property owner sues government to compensate for a taking), the judge found that run-off from a bridge over the property owner’s land, and mounds of construction debris deposited on the land were... Read More
Electricity Shocks Property Owners, But Not The Court
Shock Treatment Insufficient to Constitute Inverse Condemnation Yesterday, a New Jersey appellate court affirmed a jury verdict awarding $195,000 in “nuisance” damages to a Brick Township couple, but refused to reverse the trial court’s finding that an electric utility company’s stray “neutral to earth” voltage running rampant through their backyard was insufficient to amount to taking. Smith v. Jersey Central... Read More
Redevelopment Beginning at Former NL Industries Site
The 427 acre industrial site in Sayreville formerly owned by chemical manufacturer NL Industries – seen by millions every summer as they cross the Driscoll Bridge on their way down the shore – is finally being “redeveloped.” As pointed out in this article, dredged spoils are being imported to fill the site as part of... Read More
Watch Out, Olympia!
From news across the nation, comes this article from Olympia, Washington. “Call it Blighted and Get it Help.” Help is clearly in the eyes of the beholder. The “blight” designation may ultimately help “redevelop” Olympia’s downtown, but take it from this New Jersey attorney, it’s not good for property owners in the downtown area. The blight... Read More
Morristown's Speedwell Redevelopment Hot Topic In Debate
The Daily Record recently reported on a Town Council candidates’ debate (read the article here) which included lively discussion on the future of the Speedwell Avenue Redevelopment Project. Each candidate had his or her own take on the direction the redevelopment should follow. Several of the candidates opined in favor of improvements to the Early/Spring/Speedwell... Read More
