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Record of Proceedings

Newark Municipal Council Special Meeting – April 29, 2025

Municipal Council — Tuesday, April 29, 2025
BodyNewark, New Jersey
SessionMunicipal Council
DateTuesday, April 29, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 18:03

Original source
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0:41

Good morning.

0:43

Good morning, Council President.

0:44

Good morning, Council members.

0:46

Welcome to this special meeting of the City of Newark Council for today, Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

0:57

In accordance with New Jersey law, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the Star Ledger, the New Jersey Journal, and the public at large, establishing the date, time, and location of this meeting.

1:10

In addition, the agenda for this meeting was disseminated on April 25th, 2025 at the time of the preparation and posted on the website of the City of Newark.

1:22

Roll call, please.

1:26

Council.

1:29

Council.

1:30

Present.

1:31

Gonzalez.

1:33

Kelly.

1:34

Here.

1:38

Ramos.

1:43

Silva.

1:45

Here.

1:46

President Crum.

1:47

Present.

1:48

Taking note that Ramos and Council member round tree are absent.

1:59

All right.

2:01

Motion for executive session.

2:04

We on page four.

2:07

Executive session.

2:08

Okay.

2:10

Roll call for executive session.

2:12

Council.

2:13

Yes.

2:13

Gonzalez.

2:15

Yes.

2:15

Kelly.

2:16

Yes.

2:17

Quintana.

2:19

Raymo's absent.

2:21

Scott Roundtree absent.

2:23

Silva?

2:24

Yes.

2:24

President Crumb.

2:25

Yes.

2:26

Everybody will be right back.

4:18

We are now on page four.

4:20

That's not on yet.

4:22

Oh, it's not up.

4:23

Okay.

4:27

We're back.

4:28

We can go to page four if you can.

4:34

Sebinar two A.

4:36

S is a private cell redevelopment.

4:39

First amendment to the agreement for the sale and redevelopment of land to CO Enterprise LC to change the entity and name and amend the scope of project in the South Ward.

4:52

Council has a whole to adopt.

5:00

On the what the amendment is good morning, council.

5:08

Good morning Brandy Daniel, legislative representative for economic and housing development.

5:15

Um this was a redevelopment agreement that came to formally under CO Enterprises.

5:21

Um it was a project that was is going to be 100% for uh affordable for senior citizens, um but due to some zoning restrictions as well as some requirements from HMFA that the developer is going for funds for, they had to change the scope of the uh project as well as the entity name.

5:42

Um the new entity name is the Sheila Y.

5:44

Oliver Senior Housing Community LLC, and the changes to the project itself.

5:54

Um previously it was supposed to be for 60 plus units, it is now going to be for um yeah, the original was 67 affordable units at 60 percent of AMI, it will now be 48 newly constructed a hundred percent affordable senior housing, which includes 42 units at 60 percent AMI, five units at 20% AMI for special needs population, and one unit that's going to be dedicated as a superintendent apartment, so it will still be 100% affordable and still for seniors.

6:33

Thank thank you, Ms.

6:34

Daniels.

6:35

Any questions from the council?

6:37

Hearing none, yeah, I like this item.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing██████████████████████████26%
Affirmative Action███████████████████████23%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Tax Abatement████████8%
Economic Development██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Newark Municipal Council Special Meeting – April 29, 2025

The Newark Municipal Council held a special meeting on April 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting began with an executive session from 10:02 AM to 10:50 AM to discuss attorney-client privileged matters. Following the executive session, the council unanimously adopted several resolutions related to housing and development, authorized a ceremonial street designation, and waived permit fees for a Mother's Day Festival. The council also introduced an ordinance for a 30-year tax abatement for a market-rate residential project. Public comments were heard, and the meeting adjourned at 11:07 AM.

Consent Calendar

All resolutions under 7R2 (Economic and Housing Development) and 7R8 (Municipal Council and City Clerk) were adopted unanimously (8-0). Key items include:

  • 7R2-a (25-0511): First Amendment to the Agreement for the Sale and Redevelopment of Land for the Sheila Y. Oliver Senior Housing Community, LLC. The project changed from 67 affordable units to 48 newly constructed 100% affordable senior housing units (42 units at 60% AMI, 5 units at 20% AMI for special needs, 1 superintendent unit). Sale amount: $185,580. Location: 117-303 Aldine Street/Lyons Avenue, South Ward.
  • 7R2-b (25-0559): Subordination of the City's reverter rights to permit financing for redevelopment of rental or for-sale housing by Ascension Capital Partners I, LLC. Sale amount: $116,099.20. Multiple properties on Springfield Avenue, 18th Avenue, Brenner Street, and South 10th Street, South Ward.
  • 7R2-c (25-0537): First Amendment to the redevelopment agreement with 760 Clinton Ave Shoho, LLC, reinstating the agreement after default and extending the timeline. Location: 760-766 Clinton Avenue, South Ward.
  • 7R2-d (25-0534): Need for Housing Project determination for the Sheila Y. Oliver Senior Housing Community, LLC. Total project cost: $17,785,352, with no city contribution, funded by Low Income Housing Tax Credits.
  • 7R2-e (25-0550): Resolution supporting the Department of Economic and Housing Development's final Green Acres application for a major diversion of a portion of Minish Park (932-964 McCarter Highway, Central Ward).
  • 7R8-a (25-0555): Ceremonial street designation of Howard Street and Court Street as “Gloria Gaynor Way,” sponsored by Council Member Scott-Rountree. Ceremony date to be determined.
  • 7R8-b (25-0557): Waiving special event application permit fees for the Mother’s Day Festival and Street Fair, scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM at North 5th Street between Abington Street and Bloomfield Avenue, sponsored by Council Member Quintana.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • George Tillman, Jr. addressed the council, expressing concern that the Affirmative Action Review Council is not meeting regularly or issuing annual reports, despite its role in monitoring and enforcing the Newark Resident Employment Policy. He stated that Council Member Silva is boycotting the meetings and called for a special conference to address the issue. He also requested an injunction on tax abatements until the matter is resolved.

Discussion Items

  • Brandi Daniel, Legislative Administrator for the Department of Economic and Housing Development, provided explanations for two resolutions:
    • For 7R2-a, she noted that the senior housing project's scope changed due to zoning restrictions and HMFA funding requirements, resulting in a reduction from 67 to 48 units but maintaining 100% affordability for seniors.
    • For 7R2-c, she explained that the amendment reinstates the agreement with 760 Clinton Ave Shoho, LLC after it went into default due to COVID-19 and funding issues, and provides an extension.
  • Council Member Michael J. Silva responded to Mr. Tillman's comments, stating that he is boycotting the Affirmative Action Review Council because the person in charge is not adhering to established guidelines, and that necessary reports and representation from unions are not being provided. He said he would not participate until those issues are resolved.
  • Council Member Carlos M. Gonzalez noted that the 30-year tax abatement ordinance (8-a) is part of a group of five projects that together provide 35% affordable housing, exceeding the 20% threshold. He moved to advance the ordinance on first reading.

Key Outcomes

  • All seven resolutions (7R2-a through e, 7R8-a, b) were adopted unanimously (8-0).
  • Ordinance 8-a (24-0471): A 30-year tax abatement for 317 Mulberry Street Urban Renewal Co., LLC, for a project to construct 24 market-rate residential rental units, 770 square feet of commercial space, and 15 ground-floor parking spaces at 317-323 Mulberry Street (Block 881, Lot 28, East Ward), was introduced and adopted on first reading as 6F-a(s). A public hearing is scheduled for the special meeting on May 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM.
  • The meeting adjourned at 11:07 AM.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. Good morning, Council President. Good morning, Council members. Welcome to this special meeting of the City of Newark Council for today, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. In accordance with New Jersey law, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the Star Ledger, the New Jersey Journal, and the public at large, establishing the date, time, and location of this meeting. In addition, the agenda for this meeting was disseminated on April 25th, 2025 at the time of the preparation and posted on the website of the City of Newark. Roll call, please. Council. Council. Present. Gonzalez. Kelly. Here. Ramos. Silva. Here. President Crum. Present. Taking note that Ramos and Council member round tree are absent. All right. Motion for executive session. We on page four. Executive session. Okay. Roll call for executive session. Council. Yes. Gonzalez. Yes. Kelly. Yes. Quintana. Raymo's absent. Scott Roundtree absent. Silva? Yes. President Crumb. Yes. Everybody will be right back. We are now on page four. That's not on yet. Oh, it's not up. Okay. We're back. We can go to page four if you can. Sebinar two A. S is a private cell redevelopment. First amendment to the agreement for the sale and redevelopment of land to CO Enterprise LC to change the entity and name and amend the scope of project in the South Ward. Council has a whole to adopt. On the what the amendment is good morning, council.

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