Triangle Park Bill Vote Postponed

NEWARK, NJ—Last week the Newark City Council decided to postpone a key vote on a bill critical to the completion of the controversial Triangle Park project here.

The project to be built by Boraie Development LLC has drawn criticism from Edison Properties, which owns property surrounding the proposed park. City Council officials were quick to point out that Edison's complaints were not the reason for the delay in the vote.

"In no way were we influenced to defer by what you said," City Council president Mildred Crump told a lawyer representing Edison Properties during the meeting last Wednesday. "I'm gonna tell you why because the last vote we cast you smiled like I got my way."

The Newark City Council voted earlier this month to transfer city land to the Newark Housing Authority for the creation of the Triangle Park at the blocks of Edison Place, Lafayette Street, McCarter Highway and Mulberry Street, according to NJ.com. The council agreed to take a second vote and hold a public hearing on an ordinance that amends the Newark Downtown Core District Redevelopment and the Newark Plaza Urban Renewal plan to allow mixed-use development in the area.

Michael Stein, an attorney who represents Edison Properties, says that passage of the ordinance would breach a contract Edison has with the Newark Housing Authority.

"The council's action will leave Edison with no choice but to initiate the arbitration procedures called for under its agreement with the NHA and to institute litigation to halt the enforcement of this ordinance," he says. See story at NJ.com.