Newark council votes on several private-sale redevelopment amendments; one amendment fails

The Newark Municipal Council considered four related redevelopment items during its Dec. 10, 2024 special meeting, including first amendments to private-sale redevelopment agreements and a subordination agreement to permit lender financing for an affordable housing project in the Central Ward. Several items were adopted or advanced by roll call; one first-amendment resolution failed after multiple abstentions.

The council first took up an amendment to the sale and redevelopment agreement with Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District Incorporated (item 7R2AS), described by staff as correcting the entity name, amending the project scope, and adjusting assessed and sale amounts for parcels in the South and East Wards. Roll call showed a majority of present members voting to adopt that amendment.

The council then considered a first amendment to the sale and redevelopment agreement with an entity identified in the agenda as "Bison Claims 570 LLC" (item 7R2BS). During roll call several members abstained and the item failed to adopt. Recorded roll-call statements in the transcript show that Council President LaMonica Crump and Councilman Scott Rountree voted yes, while Councilwoman Christina Gonzales, Councilwoman Quintana, and Councilwoman Ramos recorded abstentions and Councilwoman Silva recorded an abstention; Councilwoman Kelly was absent. The clerk announced that the item failed to adopt.

A separate first amendment to a sale and redevelopment agreement with Inner City Development Group LLC for parcels in the South Ward (item 7R2CS) was later considered and carried on a roll call with recorded yes votes by multiple members.

Separately, the council adopted a subordination and reverter authorization (item 7R2DS) authorizing execution of an agreement to subordinate the city's rights of reverter to permit financing from Merchants Bank of Indiana for a redevelopment project owned by Nord Museum of Art Owners Urban Renewal LLC in the Central Ward. Staff said the subordination was required to permit lender financing necessary for the redevelopment of affordable rental or for‑sale housing in that ward; the council approved the measure by roll call.

Deputy Mayor and Director of Economic and Housing Development Jackie Lisonbee told the council that, at the council's direction, developers purchasing land subject to amendments were invited to council chambers and were present for the meeting. When asked for the principal of Inner City Development Group LLC, a man identifying himself as Amal Asif said he was the principal.

Votes at a glance

- 7R2AS — First amendment to sale and redevelopment agreement with Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District Incorporated: adopted by roll call (majority yes; Kelly absent). - 7R2BS — First amendment to sale and redevelopment agreement with Bison Claims 570 LLC: failed to adopt after abstentions (recorded yes: Scott Rountree, President Crump; recorded abstentions: Gonzales, Quintana, Ramos, Silva; Kelly absent). - 7R2CS — First amendment to sale and redevelopment agreement with Inner City Development Group LLC: adopted by roll call (majority yes; Kelly absent). - 7R2DS — Subordination agreement with Merchants Bank of Indiana and Nord Museum of Art Owners Urban Renewal LLC (to permit financing for an affordable housing project, Central Ward): adopted by roll call (majority yes; Kelly absent).

Council members and staff did not provide detailed AMI targets, appraisal amounts, or final sales amounts for the items on the public record during the meeting. Several public speakers asked for more specifics about appraisal amounts, sale prices and what the council meant by “affordable” for the projects; a member of the public asked for clarity about who the individual buyers were for specific developments.

The council moved on to other agenda items after the roll calls.

Ending: The council did not set additional conditions or require supplemental financial disclosures during the roll calls recorded at this meeting; council members and staff indicated some of the questions raised by public speakers would be addressed in future submissions or by direct follow-up with staff.