Highland Park council designates Classic Cleaners block as ‘‘in need of redevelopment’’

The Highland Park Borough Council voted March 18, 2025, to adopt a resolution designating property identified on the borough tax map as Block 1704, Lots 43, 46 and 49 (known in the record as Classic Cleaners) as being in need of redevelopment.

The designation does not itself transfer property or impose immediate restrictions, but it formally lays groundwork for the borough to pursue redevelopment tools — including negotiated acquisition or, if necessary, condemnation — while continuing efforts to resolve outstanding environmental and remediation issues with the property owner.

Special Counsel Bauman told the council the planning board had reviewed a borough-commissioned study and recommended the area meet statutory criteria for redevelopment. “We fully expect and hope that at some point, we're gonna come to an agreement with the property owner,” Special Counsel Bauman said while explaining the purpose of the designation and the borough’s ongoing engagement with the owner.

Council members raised the borough’s long involvement with the parcel. The record shows the property was previously placed on a state contaminated-sites list about 11 years ago and that borough staff and consultants have engaged the owner for multiple years. According to the attorney’s remarks, the borough also secured grant funding (described in the meeting as “tens of thousands,” cited as nearly $50,000 in the discussion) to assist with assessment and remediation work in earlier phases of the process.

Bauman outlined the post-designation process: the council’s resolution will be sent to the property owner, who can object or contest the designation; the borough must attempt good-faith negotiations if a purchase is pursued; and if negotiations fail, the borough could seek court permission to deposit an appraisal amount and proceed toward condemnation proceedings. “Once we put money in court and we filed with courts, we have the right to take up to the property and sort of have it dispute over the value over time,” Bauman said, describing the statutory appraisal and deposit process required before taking title through condemnation.

Council President Stephanie Kim Chohan urged the property owner to engage with municipal staff to avoid litigation. The council made clear the designation is intended as a tool to advance remediation and eventual reuse while the borough remains open to continuing negotiations.

On a roll call the council approved the resolution; the minutes record the motion, a second, and affirmative votes from the members present. The council also noted that designation does not itself require immediate use of condemnation and that future steps would return to the governing body for further approvals.

Next steps identified in the meeting record include formal notice to the property owner and continued outreach by borough staff and counsel. If the owner files a challenge, the statute provides a window for litigation over value; if the owner declines to contest, the borough could move to acquire the property following the appraisal and negotiation steps described in the meeting.