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Essex Green Redevelopment scheme
Here is the plan we have all been waiting for: “The 300 Executive Drive Redevelopment Plan.” In preparation for the July 11th presentation at Town Hall, by Mayor Parisi, Town Attorney Richard Trenk, and representatives of the developers themselves, reviewing the plan prior to attending the meeting is recommended.
If you are unable to attend the meeting but have questions or comments you would like to bring up, please do so on the OGWO FB page, or by emailing info@ourgreenwestorange.org.
An OGWO member will be sure to convey your message or inquiry during oublic comment at the meeting.
What's Behind The ReDevelopment of Essex Green & Executive Drive?
On 12/6, the WO Planning Board voted in favor of the RE-development plan for Essex Green Shopping Center, with the Town Council agreeing 4-1, on 1/9/18. (Despite residents' objections.) A move that could potentially impact residential property taxes for years to come.
The Big Deal
PROS:
Residents will have a "fresher" Essex Green Shopping Center, offering stores and restaurants to shop and dine at. As well as office buildings along Executive Drive to attract businesses.
CONS:
1. Residents do not know exactly what will be at the *new* plaza: Box store, Restaurants, Townhomes...?
2. Town administration is making deals with the developer that could potentially impact residential property taxes for years to come, such as designating it as an "Area in need of Re-Development." (See W.O. Main Street Re-Development Project)
3. With this designation, comes the developer is eligible for tax ABATEMENTS (tax breaks) at an estimated 30% discount over 30-years.
4. Essex Green Shopping Center & Executive Drive is the second largest tax revenue producing source West Orange has. With substantial decreases in tax revenue, residents will absorb the loss through their own property taxes, and a loss in funding to support our municipal services. (Police, fire, schools, roads...)
5. The strategy the Town has taken to move this project forward has created concerns involving conflicts of interest, tenants rights, environmental impact, safety, residential impacts, procedural steps taken, financial promises, PILOTS, a slowing retail market, public use, and much more.
Residents demand answers
Town Has $9 Million
Conflicts of Interest
Town Has $9 Million
Why do we need a Redevelopment area when the town is already due more than $9 million for selling the property where the current Public Works building is located and when the properties in the redevelopment area are already zoned for a municipal building
Mayor Recusal?
Conflicts of Interest
Town Has $9 Million
Why did Trenk say publicly that Mayor Parisi had recused himself from this redevelopment and then the mayor subsequently posted multiple times on Facebook demonstrating intimate knowledge of the project not known publicly and even stating that he would provide tax abatements only for a municipal purpose?
Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of Interest
Tax Breaks for Developers
The Town Council attorney (Mr. Kayser) and the Township Attorney (Mr. Trenk) each told the Town Council that the other had consulted an independent attorney regarding possible conflicts of interest of having a voting Planning Board member (Andrew Trenk) vote on the very plan his father (Richard Trenk) has been pushing. How come an independent attorney wasn’t consulted before the vote took place?
Tax Breaks for Developers
Tax Breaks for Developers
The property owners stand to save millions of dollars in a tax abatement. Under the law, they would negotiate a PILOT that would be much lower than what they would pay on any improvements to the properties. That discount could amount to millions of dollars over 30 years
Blighted Area
Do you believe these tenants would locate in a “blighted” area -- national and regional brands that include Panera, AMC, Shoprite, Sears, Petco, Total Wine, Macy’s, Pearle Vision, Xfinity, Gamestop, Coldstone Creamery, SuperCuts, GNC, H&R Block, CitiFinancial, TGI Fridays, a federal agency, Geico, and Lincoln Educational Services?
Campaign Contributions
Mayor Parisi has stated that he has taken campaign money from BNE. (Which is one of the purchasing companies.) Which other families, friends, leasing companies, or any of the companies that may eventually bid on the redevelopment of Essex Green and Executive Dr. have written checks to the Mayor's campaign fund?
Timeline for Essex Green ReDevelopment Project
This document was received through an OPRA request. Sent by our own town attorney's law partner (Mark Moon) to our very own town attorney (Richard Trenk) to the developers (Clarion, and BNE), the developer's attorney (Francis X. Regan), West Orange business administrator (Jack Sayers), WO Police Chief (Abbott), WO municipal engineer (Len Lepore), WO CFO (John Gross), the developer's leasing agent (RealtyProOnline), and the very planner contracted by the town to write a favorable report to find Essex Green an Area in Need of ReDevelopment.
Relevance: The Town of West Orange had intended to open the door to tax abatements and PILOTs even before it was presented, voted on, or made public. Designating Essex Green as an Area in Need of ReDevelopment was the goal from day one, despite what Mayor Parisi, and his administration stated.
West Orange Mayor Wants Residents to Subsidize Wealthy Developer
Curious if plans for Essex Green and Executive Drive are still being discussed? They are.
Corporate welfare is not solely a national issue, but continue to occur here in West Orange.
On Wednesday December 18, 2019, 7pm (just as we are distracted by the holiday rush), Mayor Parisi and Twp Attorney Richard Trenk have scheduled a Town Council vote which will subsidize a developer to the tune of $100 million over 30 years.
A wealthy developer (and mayoral campaign contributor) purchased Executive Drive, where they plan to build 425 apartments behind Essex Green. To make more money, the developer wants the taxpayers of West Orange to foot the bill... and the Administration agrees.
The Plan
The Mayor is asking the Township Council to vote YES on the following plan:
1. Residents and business owners continue to pay 4.1% of the value of their home in property taxes. (Including the recent 8.5% municipal tax increase.)
2. Let the developer of the apartment project pay only 1%, over thirty years.
3. Accept this plan since it comes with a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes)
But, who picks up the tab? You do!
If you are a West Orange taxpayer, you should be very concerned. If you are a public school advocate, you should be very concerned. If you are a local business owner, you should be very concerned. If you are a senior citizen, you should (continue) to be very concerned. If you are an advocate of the current library location, you should be very concerned.
Your presence is needed to object to this massive wealth transfer:
Wednesday December 18, 2019
7pm
Town Council Meeting
Town Hall 66 Main Street
There have been questions in the past about who the Township Attorney is working for: Township residents? Or wealthy developers? Let the video speak for itself.
WO Chief Financial Officer explains that the goal is for tax relief for residents in the near and distant future, mainly THIRTY YEARS from now. (i.e. West Orange residents will get lots of tax relief in the year 2050 if this corporate welfare plan goes through.)
Big Win for West Orange Tax Payers
Join Our Green West Orange in celebrating this big win for residents, business owners, and Township :
Patch Article, by Eric Keifer, 09-22-2020
Essex News Daily, Amanda Valentovic, 09-25-2020
View the history of this project, including documents, photos, and articles HERE.
Big Win for West Orange Tax Payers
Join Our Green West Orange in celebrating this big win for residents, business owners, and Township :
Patch Article, by Eric Keifer, 09-22-2020
Essex News Daily, Amanda Valentovic, 09-25-2020
View the history of this project, including documents, photos, and articles HERE.
WO Town Council Votes 3:2 to Try Again
Read the full article HERE. Once again, West Orange taxpayers will flip the bill for this new application at an estimated price tag of $30,000. WO residents thank Council Members Krakoviak and Matute-Brown for their opposing votes.
West Essex Highlands: Loss of +/- 5,000 Trees
The development project at West Essex Highlands will impact West Orange, Essex Fells, Roseland, Caldwell, and Verona. Read more about the project HERE.
If everyone donated just $5, we could hire experts to ensure development in West Orange is green and sustainable for years to come.