Bayonne Urban Partners Renewal, set to be heard by the planning board next week, could lose a 1,250-unit project if local legislation introduced by Council President and mayoral challenger Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski passes.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This is not complicated. The developer has no right to the property. They were required to close on the property by November 3, 2021. The agreement specifically states the closing needs to occur 48 months after the effective date,” Ashe-Nadrowski said on a Zoom press call yesterday.
“The agreement signed between the city and Boriae as developer was signed on November 3, 2017 and required a closing on at least a portion of the property to occur within 48 months. The city has no legal ability or obligation to transfer this property to the developer and the developer has no rights to force a sale of the property.”
Ashe-Nadrowski began taking issue with the project after Politico first reported that Wasseem Boraie donated $25,000 to a super PAC founded by former state Senator Ray Lesniak – the Government for the People.
Lesniak said at the time that the PAC was to help get Mayor Jimmy Davis re-elected to a third term.
The entity ceased operations after consultant Sean Caddle, who was paid $2,500 for the PAC on December 15th, pleaded guilty on January 25th to a 2014 murder-for-hire scheme that claimed the life of Jersey City politico Michael Galdieri.
Boraie is one of the developers for the Bayonne Urban Partners Renewal project, which had redevelopment and payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements approved by the city council (including Ashe-Nadrowski) in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
However, in part for the reasons outlined above, along with the fact that the land has become significantly more valuable, Ashe-Nadrowski plans on introducing two resolutions and one related ordinance at the April 20th council meeting.
The first is a resolution soliciting a request for proposals (RFP) for the redevelopment of the Bayonne Bay East District, the second is a resolution acknowledging and declaring the redevelopment agreement with Bayonne Partners null in void, while the third is an ordinance rescinding their PILOT agreement.
Additionally, she said the PILOT deal was for 850 units, not 1,250 – a difference of about 47 percent – and that the land value has gone up to $95 million, as opposed to the $35 million it was worth in 2015.
Last month, Team Davis called the notion of cancelling or altering the deal with Bayonne Partners “insane,” though did not respond to an inquiry seeking comment on Ashe-Nadrowski’s specific proposals.
“Sharon Nadrowski’s insane plan to break an ironclad contract that she herself supported and her campaign manager Joe DeMarco personally negotiated for the city would be one of the most irresponsible, nonsensical actions Bayonne could ever take,” Davis campaign spokesman Phil Swibinski said on March 29th.
When asked about his remarks on Thursday’s edition of HCV Live and Uncut, Ashe-Nadrowski responded in kind.
“Well quite honestly, I find it insane that the mayor wouldn’t be fighting for the residents of Bayonne to get their fair share. I don’t think it’s insane of me to try every avenue to make sure the city is not losing out on $60 million,” she replied.
Her plans could possibly be curtailed by the city planning board though, who is supposed to vote on the project, which also includes 10,000 square feet of retail and two parking structures during Tuesday’s meeting, according to a copy of their agenda.
When asked on the Zoom call how this would impact her plans, Ashe-Nadrowski, also a planning board commissioner, said it should not be considered by the land use board since the redevelopment agreement is null in void.
If her measures make it to a council vote, she will still have an uphill battle on her hands since 1st Ward Councilman Neil Carroll, 3rd Ward Councilman Gary La Pelusa, and Councilman-at-Large Juan Perez are all running on Davis’ slate.
The non-partisan Bayonne municipal elections are on May 10th.
“Non partisan”?
“ If her measures make it to a council vote, she will still have an uphill battle on her hands since 1st Ward Councilman Neil Carroll, 3rd Ward Councilman Gary La Pelusa, and Councilman-at-Large Juan Perez are all running on Davis’ slate.
The non-partisan Bayonne municipal elections are on May 10th.”