Newark council advances several redevelopment amendments, approves 30-year tax abatement for 317 Mulberry

The City of Newark Council on April 29, 2025 voted to advance and adopt a series of first amendments to redevelopment and sale agreements affecting projects in the South Ward and approved a 30-year tax abatement for 317 Mulberry Street Urban Renewal Co. LLC. Council members also authorized filing a final Green Acres application for a major diversion of a portion of Minish Park in the Central Ward.

The most detailed amendment involved a previously approved sale to CO Enterprise LLC that the city said must change because of zoning limits and requirements tied to HMFA funding. Randy Daniel, Legislative Representative for Economic and Housing Development, said the original plan called for about 67 affordable units at 60% of area median income. Under the amendment the project will be renamed Sheila Y. Oliver Senior Housing Community LLC and re-scoped to 48 newly constructed, 100% affordable senior units, including 42 units at 60% AMI, five units at 20% AMI for a special-needs population and one superintendent apartment. “It will still be 100% affordable and still for seniors,” Daniel said.

Brandi Daniel, also a legislative representative for Economic and Housing Development, explained a separate amendment involving 760 Clinton Avenue, SoHo LLC. That earlier sale went into default amid COVID-era funding issues; the first amendment reinstates the agreement and gives the developer an extension after it secured new financing, Brandi Daniel said. “This reinstates the agreement without it going into default and giving them an extension on their project,” she said.

Council members asked for brief explanations before voting. Councilman Jose Gonzalez and others emphasized affordability levels as projects were reviewed; a council member noted that one cluster of projects had exceeded a 20% affordable threshold and was producing about 35% affordable units across several sites.

Other council actions on the consent/legislative calendar included: - Authorization to subordinate the city’s reverted rights for a project in the South Ward so the developer could obtain necessary financing. - Authorization of a first amendment for the sale and redevelopment of 760 Clinton Avenue to reinstate the project after default and allow an extension for completion. - A city resolution to file a final Green Acres application for a major diversion of a portion of Minish Park in the Central Ward. - A ceremonial street designation honoring singer Gloria Gaynor. - A waiver of special-event permit fees for a Mother's Day festival sponsored by Councilman Quintana. - An ordinance (Communications 8a) granting a 30-year tax abatement to 317 Mulberry Street Urban Renewal Co. LLC for a project to construct 24 market-rate residential rental units in the East Ward; council discussion noted that the package of related projects includes higher-than-threshold affordable set‑asides in some cases.

Votes at a glance - First Amendment — CO Enterprise LLC → Sheila Y. Oliver Senior Housing Community LLC (project re-scope): adopted. Vote (recorded roll call): Gonzalez (yes), Kelly (yes), Quintana (yes), Ramos (yes), Scott Roundtree (yes), Silva (yes), President Crump (yes). - First Amendment — subordinating city reverted rights to permit financing (South Ward project): adopted. Vote (recorded roll call): Gonzalez (yes), Kelly (yes), Quintana (yes), Ramos (yes), Scott Roundtree (yes), Silva (yes), President Crump (yes). - First Amendment — 760 Clinton Avenue agreement reinstatement and extension: adopted. Vote (recorded roll call): Gonzalez (yes), Kelly (yes), Quintana (yes), Ramos (yes), Scott Roundtree (yes), Silva (yes), President Crump (yes). - 7R2DS — Determination of need for housing project pursuant to housing and mortgage finance guidelines: adopted (recorded roll call as above). - 7R2ES — File final Green Acres application for portion of Minish Park (major diversion): adopted (recorded roll call as above). - 7R8As — Ceremonial street designation for Gloria Gaynor: adopted (recorded roll call as above). - Waiver of special-event permit fees for Mother's Day festival: adopted (recorded roll call as above). - Communications 8a — Ordinance granting a 30-year tax abatement to 317 Mulberry Street Urban Renewal Co. LLC: adopted on first reading; council discussion noted related projects and affordable set‑asides.

Context and next steps Council staff said the amendments were requested because developers sought alternate financing and had to change legal entities and project scopes to meet funders’ requirements. Staff named HMFA as a funding-related constraint on one amendment. Council members directed staff to continue coordinating on project financing, Green Acres filings and the tax-abatement review noted during the meeting. Several council members requested follow-up detail on combined project packages and affordability levels as the items proceed through second readings or final filings.

The actions on redevelopment and the Green Acres filing will affect project approvals, timing of construction and future reporting to funders; council members said they expect staff to circulate follow-up materials about affordability percentages and financing conditions.