Newark Council approves tax abatement for mixed-use building despite resident concerns

The Newark Municipal Council held a regular meeting on March 5, 2025, addressing several key issues, including ordinances related to senior services and tax abatements for new developments.

During the meeting, the council approved an ordinance to enter into a lease agreement aimed at providing various services to Newark's senior citizens. These services will include seasonal activities, meals, athletics, arts and crafts, and cultural activities in the Central Ward. The ordinance was adopted unanimously, with a public hearing scheduled for March 19 for further discussion.

Another significant topic was the proposed 20-year tax abatement for PGH and Associates Urban Renewal LLC, which plans to construct a new five-story mixed-use building in the South Ward. This proposal sparked public concern, particularly from resident Lisa Parker, who questioned the rationale behind granting such long tax breaks to developers. She highlighted the lack of activity at the Halo Building, which also received a tax abatement but remains underutilized. Parker criticized the council for not rescinding the tax abatement for the Halo Building and for continuing to approve similar incentives without sufficient benefits for Newark residents.

The meeting also featured comments from Shakira McDougal, who expressed her support for a council member's recent performance but did not elaborate on specific issues.

Overall, the discussions reflected ongoing tensions between city development initiatives and community concerns about their impact on local residents, particularly regarding affordability and the allocation of tax benefits. The council's decisions will be closely monitored as they move forward with these projects.