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Neighbors question affordability and parking in plan for 55-unit Central Ward building proposed for 22-year tax abatement
Summary
Neighbors at a Nov. 6 public hearing urged the Newark Municipal Council to scrutinize a 22-year tax abatement for a 55-unit Gomes Generation project, saying most units appear oriented to market-rate tenants and the site provides only 24 rental parking spaces for 55 units.
A proposal to grant a 22-year tax abatement to Gomes Generation Urban Renewal LLC for a five-story, 55-unit rental project in the Central Ward prompted residents to question whether the development will provide meaningful affordability or adequate parking.
"When you hear income restricted and market rate, that means that low to moderate income is not included," Lisa Parker said at the public hearing, criticizing long-term abatements she said benefit owners more than existing residents. Parker highlighted the project's parking plan and unit affordability breakdown, saying the scheme appeared skewed toward higher AMIs. "55 units, 24 rental parking spaces," she told the council, arguing the block already has limited curb parking.
Other commenters, including residents of nearby buildings and small-business owners, said applications for units at similarly labeled "affordable" developments are sometimes denied or opaque. Atisha Davis, who said she applied for this project and for housing at Pilgrim Village, described poor living conditions where she lives and said she had been denied placement in projects she had applied to. "I'm not asking you for anything. I'm just asking to be treated humane. Like, fair," she said.
Speakers and some council members urged closer scrutiny before awarding long abatements. Several commentators said that labeling units at 80% AMI or 60% AMI as "affordable" remains out of reach for many Newark residents and that incentives should require deeper affordability, local hiring and community benefits tied to the tax relief.
Council members and administration staff did not dispute that parking and affordability are key concerns. The item proceeded through public hearing; the council recorded votes on multiple redevelopment and private sale redevelopment items during the meeting record, including motions to adopt or defer various projects that were resolved by roll call later in the agenda.
The project sponsor was present for the hearing; the administration did not provide a finalized community benefit agreement on the record. Residents asked the council to withhold or condition long-term abatements until community impacts, parking and affordability requirements are clarified.
For this Central Ward proposal, opponents asked for more explicit guarantees on affordability levels, transparency in application and selection processes for units, and mitigation for parking impacts on existing households. Council follow-up actions were limited to the existing public hearing and later roll-call items on redevelopment agreements on the agenda.
