Repurposing this area is a good thing, it needed an overhaul. That doesnt necessarily mean ALL of Newark needs to be demo’ed and turned into ‘luxury housing’. I think thats a big fundamental issue I notice in this sub, facebook discussions, etc. Turning vacant lots that no one in decades wanted to touch and adding luxury units doesnt mean the area is kicking people out and fully gentrifying…its just adding newer housing stock at this point.

I understand people’s concerns and there will always be critics, however, this area desperately needed this in attempts to start change and to refresh housing stock.

Look at Passiac Ave in Kearny/East Newark (specifically Vermella East and West properties since were talking about Vermella/Russo in this thread). Residents there, still complain (which honestly, for the most part, a lot of the complaints there are unfounded and lack support from facts/data as it pertains to traffic, school congestion, etc. but I digress). That redevelopment zone took abandoned and contaminated areas; revitalized it and build these apartments and then built a river walk, new sidewalks, plants, etc. which are also accessible by the community.

East Newark is now building a park (adjacent to clay street bridge), renovated Tops and repurposing the Clarke Thread warehouses. The entire community benefits from it, not just those living in those buildings. Now, in this area, did it lead to buyers completely revamping their housing stock in attempts to collect more rent? Somewhat. You saw a buyer overpay for the General Kearny Apartments and slightly increase rent (slightly!). In return, they worked on roofing and exterior improvements, are continuously working on the cockroach infestation they have there and slowly upgrading the inside’s of units as there is attrition and turnover. Once again, this is a good thing. People are retrofixing old housing stock to be modernized and safe for decades to come….but that investment USUALLY starts when more developer interest occurs.

This is happening in Newark, theres a development Boom in very isolated and specific areas (some controversial, others not so much). And as a result, as long as the city can keep making good deals (living wage for local workers at these residential buildings, Low income housing stock in exchange for PILOT, etc. etc.) it can be a good thing. What Harrison did in the lower portion of the town is frustrating; but thats NOT the approach Newark and other towns (referencing Kearny and East Newark) are doing.

Understandably, people are afraid of the change and what that will do to the community. Change is scary, I get that. But on the other side of the coin, we also need to keep modernizing housing to meet todays standards to boast quality of life (and unfortunately, that does come at a cost)