BLOG: Property Tax Appeal
Apartment Complex Wins Assessment Reductions at Trial
A New Jersey Tax Court judge reduced the assessment for two of the three years under appeal on an apartment complex in the Town of Phillipsburg. The Subject Property contained 96 apartment units on a 4.19 acres parcel in a residential zone. At trial, the parties agreed that the highest and best use of the... Read More
Supreme Court Fails to "c" Property Owner’s Argument on Variance
The New Jersey Supreme Court recently considered whether it was proper, at a trial to determine just compensation, to allow a jury to hear evidence regarding the likelihood of a zoning approval without having the trial court first determine, outside of the jury’s presence, that there was a reasonable probability of such approval. The issue... Read More
Millburn Synagogue Retains Property Tax Exemption
This week a New Jersey appeals court affirmed a property tax exemption which had been granted by the Tax Court concerning a three-story house in Millburn Township that had been used as a synagogue. The dispute focused on the use of the property by Chai Center’s rabbi as his principal residence, although religious services... Read More
The Borgata gives new meaning to the saying that “the house always wins.”
Every day thousands of disappointed gamblers leave Atlantic City with their wallets a little lighter. For most, this makes for a long ride out of town. After a Tax Court ruling earlier this month in favor of the Borgata, Atlantic City officials may wish to take a long ride out of town. As far as... Read More
Hilton Hotel Assessment Reduced Following Trial
In this commercial tax appeal involving a Hilton hotel, the taxpayer challenged the assessments on its property for the 2010 and 2011 tax years. The subject property operates as a 355 guest room Hilton Hotel and executive conference center. The standard method for valuing a hotel’s real property component is the income approach, which takes... Read More
Redundant But True: Tenant's Relocation Claims Denied…For Failure to Relocate
A New Jersey appellate court recently rejected a commercial tenant’s claims for relocation benefits and assistance arising out of a displacement caused by a redevelopment project in Wrightstown Borough, near the Fort Dix military establishment. The claimant, Andrew Rosen, was the owner of Wright Cleaners, which had been operated at the same location since... Read More
NJ Supreme Court Finds Group Homes Tax Exempt
The New Jersey Supreme Court affirmed a decision of the Appellate Division to classify homes rented by Advanced Housing to provide normalized community living arrangements for developmentally disabled people as tax exempt under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6 for tax years 2002 through 2009. Nine Bergen County municipalities argued the properties were not used for a tax exempt purpose,... Read More
Dune Replenishment Case Settled, So State Gives Green Light To Acquire Remaining Easements
Today we may have learned why there has not been any noticeable progress in the government’s acquisition of approximately 1,000 dune easements in several municipalities on the Jersey Shore. This afternoon, a settlement was reported between the Borough of Harvey Cedars and Mr. and Mrs. Karan, which resulted in the ruling this summer from the... Read More
So What Do Assessors Do With All That Income And Expense Information Anyway?
Thanks to a recent tax court decision, WPH Mount Laurel LLC v. Township of Mount Laurel, property owners and their attorneys will get a rare glimpse of what municipal tax assessors really do with all of that income and expense information they receive from taxpayers every year pursuant to the assessor’s requests under N.J.S.A. 54:4-34,... Read More
Despite Threat, Jersey City Reval Still Not Cancelled
Despite threatening to cancel the city-wide property revaluation in Jersey City, Mayor Steven Fulop has not followed through with any formal action to cancel the City’s first revaluation since 1988. Fulop had voted against the revaluation contract in 2011 as a member of the Jersey City Council, at which time the revaluation company had a... Read More
