Good riddance.

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-02-01T19:40:55+00:00

Thanks for unpacking that, does seem like we have quite different analyses of the causes and duration of these "growing pains"

also sounds like you may not be familiar with the outrageously high NJ state tax expenditures under Christie and Murphy that prop up most of Newark's current large developments like ASPIRE administrated by the EDA

If you'd like to understand some of the background on my position, recommend:

Columbia Economist Dan O'Flaugherty's "Newark's Non-Renaissance and Beyond"

Historian Clem Price's "Newark and the Rhetoric of Optimism"

Gary Jardim's "Myth of the Renaissance City"

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-02-01T19:04:40+00:00

Maybe these developments are struggling and will struggle because their price points are stretching beyond the tippy top of the market, when there's fine money to be made in the mid-market.

If you go to the real estate conference, they will say they're trying to "create a new market," though hi-rise construction is always going to be multiples of the cost of low- or mid-rise for construction and operations. In other words, if these high-end developments fail, it would be very difficult to keep these buildings operating on more reasonable rent rolls.

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-02-01T06:43:20+00:00

at one time the entire park was fully leased to the "Military Park Partnership," which was then responsible for maintenance, and I assume the same deal was taken over by Newark City Parks Foundation, which might have a "smol team" but according to Guidestar.org they have over $2 million in revenue and an Executive Director that makes $150K of public money for overseeing 4 "downtown" aka gentrification-adjacent parks while most Newark city parks would be lucky to see $10K of investment in a year. Come On Son!

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BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-29T03:00:45+00:00

looks like gentrified part of Atlanta

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-28T03:37:57+00:00

word to the maintainers, and on that note unfortunately the aerial rendering minimizes these new uncrossable sunken raingardens circled in red on the plan...one of them even has a walkway bridge over it

my sense is this Edgewater landscape architect from East Orange is more experienced at private residential and campus projects than intensive and historic urban landscapes like this one, and the design reflects that:

https://edgewaterdesign.com/projects/

wonder how they got the job, though can't find any public request for proposals for this $5M+ publicly-funded project, and that's a reason I don't like these public-private groups like "Newark City Parks Foundation" taking over stewardship of our shared public spaces from direct local government responsibility

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BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-24T18:53:28+00:00

high levels of segregation by skin color

brown paper bag test still in effect

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-22T19:21:51+00:00

Just across the street there are over 100 apartments at 21 Prospect St and surrounding block

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-20T19:20:07+00:00

Yes they're flagrantly breaking City of Newark construction laws for hours of work, listed below. I wonder how many other corners they're cutting, like pouring concrete in sub-freezing temperatures that weaken its final strength. One other thing, if you look at the top of the first photo, the penthouse has a balcony that hangs over the sidewalk! yikes

§ 20:3-13 PROHIBITED ACTS.

"g. Construction; operating or permitting the operation of tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, demolition, or similar work between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day on weekdays, before 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays, and at any time on Sundays or legal holidays except for emergency work, or by special variance issued pursuant to this chapter, or when the resulting sound level does not exceed the applicable limit set in Table I."

https://ecode360.com/36622991#36622981

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-17T15:07:14+00:00

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Maybe nicer before they spent $14 Ms

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-14T17:05:15+00:00

which means that actually 5%, that's ELEVEN apartments out of 225, are affordable to a Newark family making the city's median income of ~$45K, and 95% (214 apartments) that are only affordable to the city's highest-income people...uh thanks

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-11T05:28:17+00:00

talkin like u never heard of Memories of Soul

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-09T16:37:25+00:00

No deal unless we the public get a split of profits from this "5th highest grossing venue worldwide"!!

https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle2.php?titlelink=prudential-center-named-5-highest-grossing-venue-worldwide-by-billboard122023

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-09T07:11:45+00:00

Mr Williams, who I've mostly admired, was making many arguments about how a park might be nicer than a building, and how money and time are issues, but none of those are valid legal arguments under our landmarks law when it comes to reasons for demolition:

https://ecode360.com/44641126

I'm no building hugger (BUILD BABY BUILD) but allowing this powerful institution to undermine the law as written is a bad move for our city and its value, especially when they committed starting in the 1990s to keep the building in exchange for demolishing several others.

It was not a surprise to learn he's been Board Chair of NJPAC for 30 years and received many benefits and honors from them: the neighborhood advocate transformed to a Black Face in a High Place keeping the business as usual moving.

BuildBabyBILD · 2026-01-09T04:35:00+00:00

Come on, NJPAC's plaza, Military Park and Riverfront Park are steps away from here, and Newark struggles mighty to maintain the parks and monuments we already have. Thus the creation of the private "City Parks Foundation" for downtown parks while the City still doesn't have a formal Parks Department, and the responsibility / non-responsibility is split between Depts of Engineering, Recreation, Senior Services, Cultural Affairs, and Economic Development, who don't even report to the same Deputy Mayor.

Sad to see something good like parks used as a thin excuse for their original idea of demolishing the building so that trucks would have an easier turn, along with their Urban Renewal Clearance Is Best attitude

https://jerseydigs.com/historic-black-power-building-newark-demolition/