A nearly 10-year-old law that placed environmental cleanups in the hands of private-sector experts has been hailed as a triumph and a sea change for the state’s development community. But the Smart Growth Economic Development Coalition says there is still much room for improvement.
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.
Making land: Addressing the supply problem
The Smart Growth Economic Development Coalition has developed a plan for what it describes as “making land” in the heart of northern New Jersey. That means everything from repurposing government-owned facilities in prime locations to having the state take a lead role in acquiring, assembling and cleaning up individual parcels in order to create large development sites near the port.
All hands on deck: How Newark’s bid for Amazon HQ2 rallied landlords, city officials
While there are still months to go before Amazon reveals it selection for its HQ2 project, making the pitch has rallied developers and public-sector leaders in Newark in a way that the city hasn’t seen in recent memory. That show of unity was only amplified on Oct. 16, when Gov. Chris Christie announced that the state would officially support the city’s bid, even as several other cities in New Jersey jockeyed for the project.
LabCorp, Konica Minolta among other major EDA approvals
The state has approved a nearly $40 million tax credit package tied a proposal for LabCorp to modernize and expand its regional headquarters and lab complex in Raritan Borough, while also approving a $29 million incentive to encourage Konica Minolta Business Solutions to expand its existing headquarters in Ramsey.
