Housing authority to press developers on six stalled projects, forms committee for Schwartz/Robeson site

Commissioners discussed next steps on six pending redevelopment projects and agreed with legal counsel’s recommendation to send formal notices and, where appropriate, exercise the authority’s 90‑day contractual rights if developers do not respond.

The board reviewed a memorandum from counsel outlining options at the end of each redevelopment agreement. Commissioner Georgiani said the authority should send a tight response window to developers—suggesting roughly a 10‑day period for an initial reply—and then proceed on the 11th day toward the authority’s next contractual remedies, including the 90‑day cure period where counsel recommends it. Legal counsel confirmed the authority must follow the letter of each agreement before taking enforcement steps, even when developers are in foreclosure or litigation.

Commissioner Waldy raised concerns about projects that date back several years and one church‑led project on George Street that is in litigation, asking how the authority would handle those cases. The authority’s counsel and staff said litigation can be an exception that pauses certain enforcement options; the authority will gather additional information on projects that are subject to active court cases before deciding whether to proceed.

Staff provided a site‑level update on specific properties. Penrose/Hildebrand Commons, the former senior site on Nielsen Street, is awaiting permit approvals from the city and a closing is expected within a few weeks after the city issues permits, staff said. The board postponed an update on a separate digital‑connectivity initiative to a later meeting.

Commissioners and staff also discussed the Schwartz/Robeson site, a larger redevelopment where preliminary massing studies show it could support between about 1,000 and 2,000 housing units depending on scale. Chairman Wright urged forming a special committee to provide continuity and shepherd the project through finance and design stages. The chair and staff encouraged commissioners and community volunteers to join but advised keeping the committee under a quorum threshold (fewer than four commissioners) to avoid triggering the authority’s public‑meeting requirements for committee sessions unless the board decides to notice those meetings publicly.

Charlie Crataville, a New Brunswick Today editor who spoke during public comment, welcomed the authority’s tougher stance toward delinquent developers and urged the authority to consider making committee meetings public even if the membership is kept below a quorum. Crataville said public notice and participation could increase transparency for a project that will affect many residents.

The board did not adopt policy changes immediately but directed staff and counsel to prepare and send the recommended notices to developers and to return with updates on litigation‑encumbered projects.