[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6077724,"mediaKeyId","2963213-e96c289114eafa200cd6451e7d90045b","parentId",2963213,"title","Council introduces 30-year tax-exemption for 701 Newark Ave amid debate over developer breaks","audioSeconds",509,"startMs",469000,"endMs",978000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963213-e96c289114eafa200cd6451e7d90045b&start=469&end=978","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963213-e96c289114eafa200cd6451e7d90045b/thumbnail_469000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077724/Jersey-City/Hudson-County/New-Jersey/Council-introduces-30-year-tax-exemption-for-701-Newark-Ave-amid-debate-over-developer-breaks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077724-48a6222d959f59e42b8d71b1e2a4c00b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188861&Signature=n8MRL1XkYHWj22aMa0XDt9FFq2Hhhb-eKHzRxSY1LdCVWMXKnWznZPHOXj0jMZqzrULRw6-H5B510Ko4EiyWhoUk7SJPKpzg7y74fanhXyY~GLb2jN6X-wqH-jaZK7x0xW6fD6BrQnkPpuqlEG8eug0kwVReJ7qnFtysRmIVdQW4zVfUzwtcWMMNLsbiSjdw~cb8a51TjW0YZclkqgxrEv5zzKmm~c7Zjn0mYXm8~X6NVpXVQiOFszSHNYC6feOKfUlxI2M7748vY1aY5XRAprgV8OVMcAblOU5LgMLC0xwwI1g~o2ST7bluElqseBU5LXmtBxDeFgLVTOLeTaqYMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Jersey City, NJ","date","2025-04-11T16:38:08.803Z","article","The Jersey City Municipal Council introduced an ordinance (item 3.4) on April 9 to grant a 30-year tax exemption under the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Act for a development at 701 Newark Avenue. The ordinance was introduced after a first-reading vote; introduction results were recorded as 6-1-1 (six in favor, one no, one abstention) with Councilperson Gilmore voting no and Councilperson Baggiano abstaining.

Several council members said at the caucus and during the introduction that they support union jobs and affordable housing but are concerned that the city may be giving away too much in tax breaks for a site they said was formerly city-owned. Speakers questioned whether the developer could complete the project without a long-term abatement and asked for more financial documentation. One councilperson said the area (Journal Square) already has strong market incentives to build and that tax breaks should be limited there.

City staff and a council finance official said the project would increase the affordable set-aside from 20% to 25% but that the abatement would extend the pilot period to 30 years; council members asked for the parcel purchase price and staff said the sale price was approximately $6,800,000. Other questions raised included prior terms of sale and whether union labor requirements are already part of earlier agreements with the project.

Because this was a first-reading introduction, council members noted additional materials requested from the petitioner and staff could be submitted before final consideration. The council did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting; the item was advanced for later consideration with introduction recorded 6-1-1.

Ending: Councilmembers asked staff and the petitioner for additional financial documentation and clarifications before second reading; the council’s minutes record the introduction vote and the outstanding requests for materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jersey City Municipal Council Meeting April 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City council members introduced a 30-year tax-exemption ordinance for a proposed Journal Square project at 701 Newark Avenue but several members voiced concern about the size of the abatement and whether the city is receiving adequate public benefit.","taxTitle","Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey","taxId",2747,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6077728,"Council to re-advertise amendment requiring prior approvals for construction permits, adds forestry and tax-assessor checks",900,3231000,4131000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963213-e96c289114eafa200cd6451e7d90045b&start=3231&end=4131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963213-e96c289114eafa200cd6451e7d90045b/thumbnail_3231000.jpg","/articles/6077728/Jersey-City/Hudson-County/New-Jersey/Council-to-re-advertise-amendment-requiring-prior-approvals-for-construction-permits-adds-forestry-and-tax-assessor-checks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077728-a4d0573805edd522c362695c42d492bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188861&Signature=WTWtuDckd~H7LR7RhPZGM3HhfgzBXTuN4fWfR7kvF4alaZJCKYBFFtTOKVtV4rPiIcmHoPcqy1VFut3zERvDolb3vfWIwQGteEYVtTK1Gskua296IAgDHdkV0rVEAVgR-iU8oVyr181e09yrdWkKzlVewtoKgjd8TYKe7y442HiI4Bx-v5LGcbQN~F6QX734nekr0HR2YrQi8Y4PeZX7ZoOMX3z16NER0wxma6yyp5pzcUwKOigUHvbYOpAl719KnpS8pfjRDFNl2WWLakogyruQ3MPQ0Uw96kG9a5V0f5I2LfOXWJGrKV0A0gQ~vrvS1j-hI7gAL6G8pNGVglaFaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jersey City Municipal Council on April 9 voted to amend and re-advertise a construction-permit ordinance (city ordinance 25-026) that requires applicants for building permits to document prior approvals from specified city agencies before a construction permit will issue.

During the public hearing, residents and contractors asked for clarity about when prior approvals are required and whether builders must secure every listed clearance (zoning, water, health, electrical, plumbing, traffic and engineering, plan review, fire safety and — after the amendment — forestry and the tax assessor). Speakers said the change is intended to reduce last-minute conflicts by ensuring forestry and other technical checks happen earlier in the review process.

City staff clarified that the local construction board of appeals has already been abolished and that appeals will be heard at the Hudson County level; applications in the review pipeline before the ordinance’s effective date would not be subject to the new rule. Corporation Counsel described the changes as “prior approvals that are applicable” to the specific permit request — if a particular discipline is not applicable to a job, it would not be required.

Because the council approved a substantial amendment (adding Jersey City Forestry Division and the Tax Assessor), members voted 9-0 to re-advertise the ordinance for final public hearing on April 23, 2025; the amendment vote was 9-0. Council members said the re-advertisement would allow the public to view the redlined changes and for staff to provide additional clarifying guidance.

Ending: The council published the amended language online and set a second public hearing for April 23 to consider final adoption after the redrafted local prior-approval list is publicly posted.","After a public hearing and edits, the council voted April 9 to amend the construction-permit ordinance to codify required prior approvals and to re-advertise the amended ordinance for final hearing on April 23.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6077733,"Jersey City council adopts upgraded tree protections amid broad public support",1322,4928000,6250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963213-e96c289114eafa200cd6451e7d90045b&start=4928&end=6250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963213-e96c289114eafa200cd6451e7d90045b/thumbnail_4928000.jpg","/articles/6077733/Jersey-City/Hudson-County/New-Jersey/Jersey-City-council-adopts-upgraded-tree-protections-amid-broad-public-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077733-9b07f5fa253337c5df659c0881b6ab8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188861&Signature=khbKo5Nx1~Xa3yWlV~0NV-w90y9t4mPE9t3Wf-dWg-Vuf5LhOfxLHhXpW9MNZKdnKvzDxwMJpUmfXEOc0MG1UVGdfvAdLRVsWRC-Gx-a~CazhPLRthU0cphBd-WTVdVrJcjZ990Ibl1zADLhh~sv3ZCEjsW5MCLlqWIpnNxgc5bopjAtnF3e4LODHoCqqdJLzrNt1UBIH1x-ncBF76XgUgMMTH5iSzJ1Ft7Py2f54uAZYYAjOfJDq0geSW5LO~tOo1vfFaUPx4hjwYj92DCENJUM7frcqNkIb0SVzzN-3d4EYuC7qyf-9nWxQmimLgNnF7GRhmOMUsKe4TR7Lgj4Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Jersey City Municipal Council on April 9 adopted an amended tree ordinance (city ordinance 25-033) intended to strengthen protections for both street trees and trees on private property, and to align local rules with state stormwater-management guidance.

The ordinance passed unanimously, 9-0. Dozens of speakers from neighborhood groups, the Hudson County Tree Allies and the Shade Tree Committee supported the changes at the public hearing, urging greater protections for mature and “legacy” trees and clearer rules for replacement and species selection. Several speakers said mature trees provide disproportionate stormwater retention and cooling benefits.

Key changes discussed at the hearing include a permit requirement for the removal of many private trees, advance neighbor notification for proposed removals, a stronger written preference that redesign or other mitigation be used before removal of public right-of-way trees, required use of the city approved tree species list for sidewalk trees, and clearer standards for root-zone protection and acceptable fill materials.

Supporters, including founding Hudson County Tree Allies members and Shade Tree Committee members, told the council the revisions bring Jersey City closer to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection stormwater-management practices and will reduce late-stage conflicts that leave forestry staff appearing as the “bad actor” after plans are already approved. Multiple residents said they had seen city trees removed late in projects when forestry staff were brought in only at final stages.

Council members from across the chamber thanked the Shade Tree Committee, forestry staff and community advocates for the year-long process of revision. On final consideration, the council voted 9-0 to adopt the ordinance; several members spoke in favor of follow-up amendments and continued community consultation.

Ending: The ordinance takes effect according to ordinance schedule and the city will begin implementation steps, including updating the city’s approved species list and publishing permitting guidance for private removals.
","The council unanimously adopted an amended tree ordinance to strengthen protections for street and private trees, align local rules with state stormwater guidance, and require permits for many private-tree removals.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6077738,"Portside Towers tenants press Jersey City council to enforce security and rent-control rules",1884,9376000,11260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963213-e96c289114eafa200cd6451e7d90045b&start=9376&end=11260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963213-e96c289114eafa200cd6451e7d90045b/thumbnail_9376000.jpg","/articles/6077738/Jersey-City/Hudson-County/New-Jersey/Portside-Towers-tenants-press-Jersey-City-council-to-enforce-security-and-rent-control-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077738-fb740b16e309916f8453f614d59da004/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188861&Signature=hCzEJYfsG-K37XDgFLMU-skV9Uw0GtwmIvoPel-dWlI7zgRuruq23kCpG7xT4ENHG3llmzhQyBJWcMJqu2LOsWzlAQ8HQ2jbN039nDp0Q74E-499RHt4poZsSqnEHKH0ef1JoNtYsx7pbS2EdnukNg-5SyqEAGvYbdmXGKqsR1V0e84d20Dt5MZ3VweFi47tHqW0TmQqiotUGsnFuDsjT~rOxWJDdvJMvMMfBepTgAyFGypX7BI3J9fPrLRhTcekN1ZB6V-R0LgSGvtxkn1vnRL3NJVNf1iFlrgHdBs0SRaSxbKwF-pstDd5HFZ0b-J1Zq~cmuk1AvNVnrV8TSdsuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Jersey City Municipal Council meeting on April 9, dozens of Portside Towers tenants and tenant-organizers pressed council members to enforce city ordinances they say the building’s owner is violating, including the city’s uniform security and landlord-disclosure rules.

Tenant speakers said repeated incidents — including a bullet through a child's window, a violent incident in a lobby and failures of building emergency responses — show the building lacks required, continuous on-site security and an on-site superintendent. Several speakers said the landlord has not complied with city rules on disclosure of landlord identity, and they accused the administration of slow or inconsistent enforcement.

The tenants sought daily fines and other enforcement actions. Multiple speakers also disputed public statements by Mayor Steven Fulop and others that tenants had delayed filings: tenant representatives said they filed as required and that the city’s own rent-control officer initially confirmed the building was subject to rent control.

Corporation Counsel and other city staff told the council the city’s investigation into a pending exemption request is complete and that the investigator is preparing a final report for the administration. Staff also said two municipal-court violations related to the property are outstanding and in the court process; if an exemption is refused, additional violations may be issued for noncompliance.

Council members did not take a new enforcement vote at the meeting. Several said they were tracking the investigation and court actions and asked staff to complete and circulate the final investigative report. The city’s corporation counsel confirmed the city can issue violations if inspectors find ongoing noncompliance after the required cure period.

While tenants said the failures have continued for years, city staff told the council they were completing the administrative review and that inspectors can issue daily fines in appropriate circumstances. The meeting record shows the investigation was complete and that the director preparing the report intended to finalize it “very soon.”

The tenants warned the council they will continue public outreach and media campaigns to seek stronger action and to make enforcement a public issue in the mayor’s campaign.

Ending: Tenants asked the council to apply existing code and fines now, and to make enforcement transparent; staff said the administrative report would be circulated to the council when finished and that municipal-court proceedings were in process.","Tenants from Portside Towers told the Jersey City Municipal Council on April 9 that the city has not enforced existing rules on uniformed security, live-in superintendents and landlord disclosures, and urged municipal action while litigation and an administrative investigation proceed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council introduces 30-year tax-exemption for 701 Newark Ave amid debate over developer breaks

Council to re-advertise amendment requiring prior approvals for construction permits, adds forestry and tax-assessor checks

Jersey City council adopts upgraded tree protections amid broad public support

Portside Towers tenants press Jersey City council to enforce security and rent-control rules