CityWorks in the Press
Protesters rally against eminent domain
BILL BOWMAN/COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
NEPTUNE - About 25 sign-toting activists opposed to municipalities using eminent domain for redevelopment projects gathered Tuesday at the corner of Routes 33 and 35 to protest the practice and to support two bills pending in the state Legislature that would limit its use.
The group - organized by Asbury/Neptune/Long Branch Neighbors United - assembled on a grassy corner to hear speeches delivered through a megaphone, punctuated by applause and the honking horns of supportive drivers passing by.
"I see an erosion of our rights," Hazlet resident Richard P. Fuller said of eminent domain use before the rally. "This is a symptom of a greater wrong that is being perpetrated on the American people."
Eminent domain - the taking of private property by government for a public use - has sparked intense debate since the June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that property may be taken by towns for economic development. Prior to that, "public use" had been defined as projects such as road widenings or the construction of public buildings.
The members of Neighbors United joined together to protest ongoing and anticipated instances of eminent domain use for redevelopment in Long Branch, Asbury Park and Neptune, all of which have redevelopment projects either well underway or just beginning.
Nearly a dozen speakers addressed the group, who braved a broiling sun to call for strict state laws limiting the use of eminent domain and to work against politicians who vote for its use.
"The very first thing we all must do is to replace any elected official who is for eminent domain abuse," the Rev. Kevin Brown of Long Branch told the crowd.
Referring to Long Branch resident Denise Hoagland and her daughters - who are facing losing their home to the city's redevelopment - Brown said, "It is sinful to want to throw these children and this woman out of their home."
One of Hoagland's daughters, 10-year-old Daisy, said she was against the condemnation of her house "because it's not right."
"I think they shouldn't take our house because it's ours," she said.
Long Branch is about 10 years into the redevelopment of about 230 acres along Ocean Boulevard and up Broadway to about city hall, city administrator Howard H. Wooley, Jr. said. He said about $500 million has been spent so far and at least another $500 million is expected to be spent before it's all done.
Long Branch's redevelopment, as well as Asbury Park's and Neptune's - is a mixture of residential and retail construction.
Asbury Park is about five years into its efforts to redevelop the oceanfront and downtown, City Manager Terrence Reidy said. The $1.3 billion waterfront redevelopment will result in more than 3,500 residential units, while the downtown redevelopment will result in more than 400,000 square feet of retail space, with some residential components. Reidy said it was harder to estimate the total investment for the downtown redevelopment because there are a number of developers working there.
Neptune has just embarked on the first phase of its Midtown redevelopment with the demolition of a township-owned building on West Lake Avenue. The project's redeveloper - Trenton-based CityWorks - will unveil its plans for the area next month.
It's the taking of private property for these projects that has angered members of Neighbors United, who say they see it as government taking land for less than it's worth and giving it to developers who can then make a profit from it.
Two bills pending in the state Legislature are designed to remedy that. The bills - S-2739 and A-4392, the latter of which was sponsored by state Assemblymen Michael Panter and Robert Morgan, both D-Monmouth - would prevent the use of condemnation to acquire residential property.
Matt Doherty and Jim Reilly, Democratic state Assembly candidates from the 11th District, said the bill should go further.
The candidates said the bill should be expanded to include protection for businesses and to allow homeowners who have had their houses acquired to buy a new house in the same area for a discounted price.
Bill Bowman: (732) 643-4212 or bbowman@app.com
WHAT'S NEXT
The eminent domain bill introduced in the state Senate by Sens. Nia Gill, D-Essex, and Diane Allen, R-Burlington, is being considered by the senate's Community and Urban Affairs committee. The companion state Assembly bill has not yet been referred to a committee.
BILL BOWMAN/COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
NEPTUNE - About 25 sign-toting activists opposed to municipalities using eminent domain for redevelopment projects gathered Tuesday at the corner of Routes 33 and 35 to protest the practice and to support two bills pending in the state Legislature that would limit its use.
The group - organized by Asbury/Neptune/Long Branch Neighbors United - assembled on a grassy corner to hear speeches delivered through a megaphone, punctuated by applause and the honking horns of supportive drivers passing by.
"I see an erosion of our rights," Hazlet resident Richard P. Fuller said of eminent domain use before the rally. "This is a symptom of a greater wrong that is being perpetrated on the American people."
Eminent domain - the taking of private property by government for a public use - has sparked intense debate since the June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that property may be taken by towns for economic development. Prior to that, "public use" had been defined as projects such as road widenings or the construction of public buildings.
The members of Neighbors United joined together to protest ongoing and anticipated instances of eminent domain use for redevelopment in Long Branch, Asbury Park and Neptune, all of which have redevelopment projects either well underway or just beginning.
Nearly a dozen speakers addressed the group, who braved a broiling sun to call for strict state laws limiting the use of eminent domain and to work against politicians who vote for its use.
"The very first thing we all must do is to replace any elected official who is for eminent domain abuse," the Rev. Kevin Brown of Long Branch told the crowd.
Referring to Long Branch resident Denise Hoagland and her daughters - who are facing losing their home to the city's redevelopment - Brown said, "It is sinful to want to throw these children and this woman out of their home."
One of Hoagland's daughters, 10-year-old Daisy, said she was against the condemnation of her house "because it's not right."
"I think they shouldn't take our house because it's ours," she said.
Long Branch is about 10 years into the redevelopment of about 230 acres along Ocean Boulevard and up Broadway to about city hall, city administrator Howard H. Wooley, Jr. said. He said about $500 million has been spent so far and at least another $500 million is expected to be spent before it's all done.
Long Branch's redevelopment, as well as Asbury Park's and Neptune's - is a mixture of residential and retail construction.
Asbury Park is about five years into its efforts to redevelop the oceanfront and downtown, City Manager Terrence Reidy said. The $1.3 billion waterfront redevelopment will result in more than 3,500 residential units, while the downtown redevelopment will result in more than 400,000 square feet of retail space, with some residential components. Reidy said it was harder to estimate the total investment for the downtown redevelopment because there are a number of developers working there.
Neptune has just embarked on the first phase of its Midtown redevelopment with the demolition of a township-owned building on West Lake Avenue. The project's redeveloper - Trenton-based CityWorks - will unveil its plans for the area next month.
It's the taking of private property for these projects that has angered members of Neighbors United, who say they see it as government taking land for less than it's worth and giving it to developers who can then make a profit from it.
Two bills pending in the state Legislature are designed to remedy that. The bills - S-2739 and A-4392, the latter of which was sponsored by state Assemblymen Michael Panter and Robert Morgan, both D-Monmouth - would prevent the use of condemnation to acquire residential property.
Matt Doherty and Jim Reilly, Democratic state Assembly candidates from the 11th District, said the bill should go further.
The candidates said the bill should be expanded to include protection for businesses and to allow homeowners who have had their houses acquired to buy a new house in the same area for a discounted price.
Bill Bowman: (732) 643-4212 or bbowman@app.com
WHAT'S NEXT
The eminent domain bill introduced in the state Senate by Sens. Nia Gill, D-Essex, and Diane Allen, R-Burlington, is being considered by the senate's Community and Urban Affairs committee. The companion state Assembly bill has not yet been referred to a committee.
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