Mayor says Linden will buy ‘Amon Labs’ site; council introduced bond and acquisition ordinances

Mayor Armstead told the council that the city will pursue acquisition of a property he identified in the meeting as "Amon Labs," and that the purchase will help address parking pressures on Wood Avenue. The mayor said the acquisition was being advanced by ordinance (Ordinance 69‑59) that was introduced during the session.

Armstead also said the city has reached an agreement with a developer identified in the meeting as RNG Energy and that the city expects to receive $820,000 within the next few weeks, with additional payments contingent on the project's final cost. He described the payment as part of redevelopment fees the city will receive over the life of the project and framed proceeds as helping Linden comply with state affordable‑housing obligations while avoiding denser “stacked” housing designs.

On the council floor, the clerk read Ordinance 69‑59, which authorizes acquisition of property known as Block 212, Lot 24.05 and records a purchase price of $5,000,000 in the ordinance text. The council then introduced Ordinance 69‑60, a bond ordinance appropriating $5,500,000 for acquisition and authorizing issuance of $5,225,000 in bonds or notes to finance part of the appropriation. Both ordinances were moved for introduction and will follow the city's statutory hearing and adoption process.

What happens next: Ordinance 69‑59 and the related bond ordinance 69‑60 were introduced and will return for required hearings or further council action before final adoption and financing arrangements are completed.