Newark has been losing population steadily for four decades,although some progress has been made in recent years for replacingdecrepit high-rise projects with more family-friendly townhouses.The New Newark plan is ambitious--all that's missing are thedevelopers.

At issue is the $17.5 million worth of real estate, a total ofthree square blocks across from Military Park, that New Newark hasunder its control. The focal point of the sweeping proposal is themassive, one million-sf Hahne & Co. department store building,along with Griffith Plaza, that New Newark wants turned into luxuryresidences and ground-floor retailing. The buildings have beenvacant for almost 20 years.

A 60-page RFP, just issued, aims to get developers involved assoon as possible. Among New Newark's other downtown holdings is theold S. Klein department store, also long vacant, but which hasrecently drawn some interest from telecom companies.