Who's Going to Wipe Away Redeveloper's Tears?

by: Joseph Grather
10 Oct 2011
Downtown Vineland, New Jersey in Cumberland Co...

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Not me.

A designated redeveloper is crying about the misfortune of being partnered with government in Vineland.  The redeveloper went so far as to write a letter to the editor, which was published by The Daily Journal.com.  In the letter, the redeveloper complains how the City has not been living up to its promises regarding the “Four Corners” redevelopment of East and Landis Avenues in the city.

Redeveloper complaints notwithstanding, let’s not forget how these public private partnerships are often forged.  A developer eyes a neighborhood of the municipality that may or may not been ‘in need of redevelopment’, and then he goes to the town fathers and negotiates a deal for the exclusive development rights of that neighborhood.  Once declared in need of redevelopment by the town, a deal is inked with said redeveloper.  Thereafter, the public/private partnership deal precludes anyone else from development the properties, including the lawful owners.  In effect, the redeveloper now has a free option on someone else’s private property.

This has happened countless times all over the State of New Jersey.  And when the real estate market was booming, redevelopers had their governmental partners waive the eminent domain club at property owners in a classic land-grab.  The only tears we saw in those days were those of the property owners.  

Now, a designated redeveloper is crying over spilt milk.  Meanwhile, every single property within the Four Corners of East and Landis Avenues is off the market and under the threat of eminent domain.  Why would a property owner even pay for a fresh coat of paint while the redeveloper has a free option on their property and the property can be taken at any time?  Answer, he wouldn’t and won’t until the cloud is removed or the property is acquired for redevelopment.

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