BLOG: Property Tax Appeal
Contaminated Property Would Be Assessed As-If Remediated Under Proposed Legislation
New Jersey Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin has sponsored bill A-3179 in the New Jersey Assembly. The bill, if adopted as introduced, would require that “the true value of a parcel of real property contaminated with a hazardous substance . . . shall be its value as if it were remediated .” Under current New Jersey case... Read More
Bloomfield Redevelopment Finally Moves Forward Following Township Council Vote
Bloomfield’s Township Council approved an “area in need of redevelopment” designation which will permit the Township to move forward with redevelopment in the downtown area assuming the designation is not challenged in the courts. Potential plans to redevelop the area have described it as a transit hub with a mix of retail and residential uses. ... Read More
Another New Jersey Town Seeks to Limit Eminent Domain by Ordinance
A Spring Lake Heights councilwoman has introduced two ordinances which would have an impact on redevelopment projects and eminent domain in that Monmouth County Borough. One ordinance would prohibit pay-to-play for redevelopment projects, while the second would prohibit the use of eminent domain when private property is being used for the purpose of privately funded economic development. ... Read More
ARC Tunnel: Back From the Dead?
Hours after Governor Chris Christie‘s announcement that the trans-Hudson ARC Tunnel project was dead, federal transportation officials traveled to Trenton to urge the Governor to reconsider, and to give some thought to alternatives that would keep the project alive. Last Thursday, Governor Christie killed the nation’s largest public works project based upon the unanimous recommendation... Read More
National Media Highlights Lack of Oversight and Failure of Redevelopment Projects
A recent article in the LA Times highlights how redevelopment agencies in California have operated with little or no oversight for years and, as a result, redevelopment projects are stalled or failing. The article is endemic of eminent domain abuse that has occurred across the country as highlighted in the following: St. Louis Business Journal: Hadley developers are no-show... Read More
Trans Hudson Tunnel Project Canceled By Governor Christie
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today canceled the multi-billion dollar “ARC” Hudson River commuter train tunnel — America’s largest public works project. This action follows a moratorium which had been imposed on the project to study its fiscal impact. Governor Christie stated that the tunnel project costs “far more than New Jersey taxpayers can afford and the... Read More
Neptune Redevelopment Challenge Dismissed
A New Jersey appellate court has affirmed a trial judge’s dismissal of a citizen’s challenge to the Township of Neptune‘s designation of five acres as an “area in need of redevelopment “under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (“LRHL”). The court also dismissed the objector’s challenge to the township’s subsequent adoption of a redevelopment plan. The court held that... Read More
New Jersey Road, Rail Projects Suspended
The New Jersey Department of Transportation has suspended approximately 100 state-funded road and rail projects in their early stages while the State contemplates how it will finance needed infrastructure improvements in the future. This announcement follows yesterday’s resumption of work resumed on many transportation projects that NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson had ordered stopped last Friday. According to Simpson, the original stoppage was due... Read More
Rise in Appeals Causes Municipal Budget Crunch
New Jersey municipalities are facing serious budget deficits, as they experience the fallout of reduced property tax revenues resulting from a record number of property tax appeals filed in recent years. Property owners who are successful in tax appeals are entitled to refunds under New Jersey law. These refunds have created troublesome deficits at the... Read More
Newark Church Denied Property Tax Exemption
Church Not Exempt and Subject to Foreclosure for Failure to Pay Taxes A New Jersey appellate court has affirmed a trial court’s ruling that will allow the City of Newark to foreclose on a warehouse property owned by Yes Lord Ministries, Inc. Yes Lord, a religious organization qualified for exemption from the payment of taxes under federal law... Read More
