Residents press council over housing conditions as tax abatements, redevelopment draw criticism

Dozens of residents and community leaders used the hearing-of-citizens portion of the Oct. 22 Newark Municipal Council meeting to press the council and the administration on housing conditions at New Community Corporation properties and to criticize tax abatements granted to developers as insufficiently benefiting tenants.

Speakers described mold, leaks, nonfunctional elevators, infestations and other long-running upkeep problems at properties including 225 Huntington Street and Georgia King Village. Residents and organizers said they had asked for inspections and repairs, and urged the council to withhold or delay tax abatements for property owners who have outstanding maintenance problems.

“I've been standing at this mic for three years telling you about lead, water-line issues and the conditions seniors live in,” said Donna Jackson, who urged stronger enforcement of landlords and developers and said residents were suffering while city leaders granted abatements. George Tillman Jr. and other residents from New Community complexes asked the council to return a pending tax-abatement item to the administration and to require that repairs be completed before any tax relief is granted.

Council members said they had heard the concerns and that some items were deferred for additional review so staff and the administration could follow up with code enforcement, economic development and New Community representatives. A council sponsor said the project list includes affordable and mixed-income developments in the South Ward, and highlighted other city-supported affordable projects, but residents said the reality at occupied buildings remains unacceptable.

Ending: Residents asked the council to tie future abatements to verifiable repairs and community benefits; councilors agreed to ask administration staff to return with follow-up information and to connect tenants with enforcement resources.