Newark council advances multiple tax abatements as residents demand more affordable housing

The Newark Municipal Council voted on and advanced multiple tax-abatement ordinances at its Jan. 22 meeting while residents and community advocates pressed the council to require larger affordable-housing commitments and better oversight of developers.

Council members approved a series of abatement measures for projects in the city, including ordinances tied to 486 Market Street, Mount Pleasant Apartments, 566–570 Springfield Street and a 30-year abatement for a project at 40 Austin Street. Several speakers during the public-hearing portions of the meeting criticized the administration and the council for approving long-term abatements while, they said, failing to deliver low- and very-low-income housing or to hold developers accountable for building conditions.

Why it matters: Speakers said the tax-abatement program is a major driver of new development and public subsidies, and they asked that the city demand clearer community benefits, stronger enforcement of inclusionary zoning and more transparency about the use of housing trust funds. Council votes on large abatements directly affect future property tax revenues and the pace and character of neighborhood development.

Council action and votes - 20-year abatement: KS 486 Market Street Urban Renewal LP (20-year tax abatement). Roll call: Gonzales, Kelly, McDonough, Ramos, Scott Rountree, Silva and President Crump voted yes. Item advanced and adopted on first reading; a public hearing was set for Feb. 5, 2025. (Outcome: approved) - 20-year abatement: Mount Pleasant Apartments Urban Renewal LLC (central ward). Approved on first/second reading as presented. (Outcome: approved) - 25-year abatement: 566–570 Springfield Urban Renewal LLC (central ward). Roll call recorded an abstention by Councilman Ramos; other named members voted yes. (Outcome: approved; Ramos recorded as abstain) - 30-year abatement: 40 Austin Street Urban Renewal Company LLC (east ward). Advanced on first reading. (Outcome: advanced)

Speakers and public concerns Lisa Parker, a frequent public speaker, criticized long-term abatements and called out several developments by name, saying the city repeatedly awards abatements to developers with properties in poor condition. “Why aren’t you making these developers pay their fair share?” Parker asked attendees and the council. Deborah Salters, George Tillman Jr. and several other residents questioned why some projects were already complete when abatements were being considered and whether the city’s inclusionary zoning and housing trust fund were being used effectively.

Several speakers raised technical and equity questions: whether area median income (AMI) metrics used to define “affordable” were appropriate for Newark; whether projects that qualified under older rules should be required to provide on-site affordable units; and the need for regular, public compliance reporting on projects that receive abatements.

Administration response and next steps Deputy Mayor Allison Ladd and other staff said the projects comply with the city’s inclusionary zoning rules as applied to each parcel and noted that projects submitted at different times can be processed under different rules. Ladd said five related projects from the same developer were submitted together and explained that some projects are subject to older IZO rules that allowed more flexibility (including off-site compliance). She said the city’s strengthened IZO now requires on-site affordable units in many cases or a payment to the housing trust fund.

What remains unresolved Residents and council members asked for clearer, itemized community-benefit statements and for routine compliance reports when abatements are granted. Speakers asked the council to require monitoring and to consider rescinding abatements or placing them in default where owners fail to maintain livable conditions.

Votes at a glance (selected) - KS 486 Market Street Urban Renewal LP (20-year abatement): approved on first reading; roll-call yes votes recorded from Gonzales, Kelly, McDonough, Ramos, Scott Rountree, Silva and President Crump. - Mount Pleasant Apartments Urban Renewal LLC (20-year abatement): approved (roll calls recorded on the docket). - 566–570 Springfield Urban Renewal LLC (25-year abatement): approved; Councilman Ramos recorded an abstention on final passage. - 40 Austin Street Urban Renewal Company LLC (30-year abatement): advanced on first reading.

Reporting note: Vote tallies and roll-call names are transcribed from the council roll calls recorded during the Jan. 22 meeting. Where roll-call statements included only a spoken “yes” or “abstain,” the article lists those responses exactly as recorded.

Ending: Council members said they expect additional related abatement items to return in February; community members said they will continue to press the council for tighter enforcement and greater low-income housing production.