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Historic Hudson group says sewer-separation assessments could leave homeowners unable to pay
Summary
At a Newark City Council meeting, a Historic Hudson Community Association representative warned that the city's estimated assessment for a North Street sewer separation could impose large, unaffordable costs on long-term residents and asked the city to preserve brick roads and create a clearer assessment process.
David Fraser, a representative of the Historic Hudson Community Association, told the Newark City Council that the association cannot absorb the city's current estimated assessment for a planned sewer-separation project and urged the city to adopt protections and a clearer, repeatable process to preserve brick roads.
Fraser said the city's estimate for assessments on the North Street area totals $368,333 and that "one individual owner currently paying $2,400 a year in property taxes will be responsible for $40,000 of this assessment alone," which he described as the equivalent of about 18 years of property taxes. He said, "Outside a major charitable donation and or cooperation with the city, the North Street community will be unable to pay the assessment estimated by the city."
The nut of Fraser's remarks was that the upcoming sewer-separation work and its associated assessments could impose disproportionate burdens on fixed-income homeowners in the Historic Hudson area and that the city's current inventory and assessment process are insufficient. Fraser said he identified 16 remaining brick roads across four wards and listed streets within the Historic Hudson area (West North, East North, Charles, Kepler, East Oak and Elizabeth) and elsewhere in the city (North Fifth, London Avenue, North Seventh, Fairfield Avenue, Grama Avenue, Park Avenue, Woods Avenue, East Canal Street, Near East Street and Eddy Street).
Fraser asked the city for greater awareness, an inventory of brick roads and legislation to document and preserve them so communities can plan around phasing and assessments. He said the next phase of the city's sewer-separation project will include four bricked roads in his neighborhood and requested continued engagement with city staff, including Brandon Fox and Lindsay Bridal, who he said had already met with the neighborhood to review options.
Council members and city staff did not take formal action on the item during the meeting; Fraser's remarks were made during the public comment period. He asked for follow-up and collaboration on a timetable and a process that would limit the financial impact on homeowners.
The transcript records Fraser's listing of the brick roads and the $368,333 assessment estimate as his presentation to council; the record does not show the council adopting any immediate changes to the assessment process or a specific funding plan.
Fraser closed by saying he looked forward to working with the administration and council to find "a process that is adhesive, comprehensive, and repeatable."
