Government & Public Policy

From zoning disputes to the federal tax code, public policy affects the commercial real estate sector far more than you may realize. For industry leaders, government and politics demand constant attention.

MSW welcomes Brendan Pytka as director of tax credits and incentives

Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP has tapped Brendan Pytka as its director of tax credits and incentives, further bolstering the law firm’s offerings for commercial real estate developers.

State OKs $22 million Aspire package for Newark health care center project

State officials have given a major boost to another development in Newark, approving a nearly $22 million tax credit award for a new ground-up health care project in the South Ward.

NAIOP NJ unveils energy position paper, calls for state to slow timeline for full building electrification and focus on costs, grid reliability

State officials must slow the timeline for commercial buildings to become fully electrified, ensuring landlords will have reliable access to power and allowing policymakers to take a harder look at the costs and other hurdles to reaching that milestone by 2035.

Norcross, codefendants plead not guilty in racketeering case tied to Camden waterfront

South Jersey political boss George Norcross pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to racketeering and other charges in a high-profile case brought by the state, with prosecutors alleging he and others unlawfully secured lucrative tax credits and property in Camden for their personal gain.

A focused expansion: Scarinci Hollenbeck says it’s now a one-stop shop for real estate — with clear growth potential

It’s one thing to become the proverbial one-stop shop, as Scarinci Hollenbeck LLC has sought to do with a series of recent additions to its real estate department. But the Little Falls-based law firm has also keyed on what it sees as important growth areas in the space. That strategy is now taking shape at Scarinci, whose long-established real estate team has grown to 15 full-time attorneys from nine last summer, adding new expertise in everything from affordable housing and litigation to foreclosures and landlord-tenant disputes in the wake of the pandemic.

EDA approves $74 million tax credit, boosting award for planned 207-unit Newark high-rise

A project that would bring more than 200 new apartments to downtown Newark is moving ahead with expanded support from the state, securing approvals for up to $74 million in Aspire tax credits from the Economic Development Authority.

CBRE: Buyer wanted for Harrison ‘town square’ site with major residential, commercial phases

A major development site in Harrison is on the market for sale with approvals in place for 1,500 residential units, a 200-key hotel and large office and retail components.

Indictment against Norcross, allies details alleged pattern of extortion, political pressure behind Camden’s highest-profile development projects

A series of land deals, developers and high-profile construction projects along Camden’s waterfront are now in the spotlight after New Jersey’s attorney general announced a bombshell indictment against South Jersey power broker George Norcross and five others.

Advocacy groups: Funding NJ Transit is critical to state’s economic, environmental future

As the state wrestles over a solution to address NJ Transit’s fiscal cliff, we must not lose sight of the importance of funding public transportation. For years, NJ Transit has made New Jersey a more equitable, environmentally friendly and economically competitive place to live. Our leaders must include a dedicated funding source for NJ Transit operations in the FY 2025 budget. Supporting NJ Transit ensures that hundreds of thousands of transit-dependent riders access jobs, schools and health care, which supports employers and the regional economy. 

Eight-unit rental project in Dunellen wins planning board approval, Taylor Architecture says

A developer is moving forward with plans for a new eight-unit apartment building in Dunellen, having secured an approval late last month from the borough’s planning board.