Residents and council press for property list and accountability as Invest Newark transfers move forward

During the Aug. 5 meeting, residents pressed the council and the Department of Economic and Housing Development for the exhibit listing city properties included in a proposed sale and transfer for redevelopment through Invest Newark. Several speakers said the agenda lacked the addresses and procurement details necessary for meaningful public comment.

Lisa Parker asked the administration to disclose which properties are being sold and to whom, and alleged that past undervalued sales allowed subsequent buyers to flip lots for large profits. “What you have been doing every month is authorizing the deputy mayor and Invest Newark for the sale and transfers of properties that you haven't identified what properties they are,” Parker said. Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator for economic and housing development, read aloud six addresses proposed for transfer and said Newark developers were given priority during solicitation; she said packages were made available at an information session attended by about 100 developers and that deed restrictions on the awarded property will require housing affordable at 50% of AMI for the rehabilitation units.

Council members asked the clerk to ensure future agendas list properties ward‑by‑ward, and several members urged the administration to return with detailed exhibits, financing plans and an itemized explanation of how qualifications were scored. The council deferred multiple new‑construction resolutions and asked staff to present the missing information before further action.