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.

Professional Services
Genova Burns hires former deputy AG in real estate, land use groups

Genova Burns has bolstered its team of real estate and land use attorneys, hiring a former deputy state attorney general as an associate in its Newark office.

Policy Page
Trifecta of sweet spots: Urban revival, suburban makeovers and industrial boom

Commercial real estate developers and their professionals are a tough breed of entrepreneurs who thrive on thinking outside the box. My recent observation of presentations to the judges for NAIOP’s Deal of the Year awards (to be announced at the May 16 Gala), confirmed the latent creativity and tireless work ethic in this business — a business that is, in reality, all about hospitality and human resources as developers and brokers focus on creating amenity-rich spaces to compete for tenants and the modern workforce.

Office
Bergen County acquires 34,000 sq. ft. Hackensack office building

The longtime owner of a 34,000-square-foot office building in Hackensack has sold the property to one of its tenants, the Bergen County government, under a deal arranged by NAI James E. Hanson.

Events
New Jersey Future unveils smart growth award winners for 2019

New Jersey Future has announced the winners of its 2019 Smart Growth Awards, a group that includes adaptive reuse projects in four of the state’s major cities.

Professional Services
Greenbaum Rowe adds two real estate attorneys

Two experienced real estate attorneys are among several recent hires at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP.

Events
USGBC NJ unveils LEED projects of the year, honorees for spring gala

A new corporate campus in Bergen County and two upscale, environmentally conscious condominium projects will be among the top honorees this year at an annual gala hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council’s New Jersey chapter.

Government & Public Policy
Murphy renews call for state-supported venture capital fund

Gov. Phil Murphy hit the road on Wednesday to highlight a plan to draw more venture capital to New Jersey, a key piece of his proposal to replace the state’s expiring business incentives.

Government & Public Policy
Developer of Newark’s Teachers Village launches Opportunity Zone fund

RBH Group, the developer of the heralded Teachers Village project in Newark, is hoping to build on that success with a new investment fund under the federal Opportunity Zone program.

Government & Public Policy
Sweeney, top Assembly official offer support for renewing state incentive programs

State Senate President Steve Sweeney last week came to the defense of New Jersey’s use of tax incentives — a recent target of Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration — while pledging to find a solution to extend and update the programs by the time they sunset on June 30.

Government & Public Policy
EDA aims to lure grocery co-op from Staten Island, keep food service firm in Paterson

The state is hoping to coax a supermarket co-op to move its offices from Staten Island to Old Bridge as part of a recently approved tax credit incentive, as it moves to keep another food-related company from moving jobs out of New Jersey.