Summit Debates Broad Street West Redevelopment At Council Meeting

SUMMIT, NJ — With a resolution on the table to progress with the proposed Broad Street West Redevelopment project in Summit, many council members and residents discussed the implications of the new development at the Common Council meeting Tuesday night.

After a long discussion about how the development would impact the City's tax revenue, traffic, congestion and parking, the Council voted to authorize a Letter of Intent for the Broad Street West Development. This resolution was a non-binding agreement.

Council member Lisa Allen explained that the aim of the Letter of Intent is transparency. Currently, there are two negotiating partners involved in this project: the developer and the City.

Allen said these two partners are currently negotiating and the Letter of Intent is a step in the process which allows residents to have input into how this development will operate.

A Breakdown of the Redevelopment Project

Earlier in the meeting, City Administrator Michael Rogers, as well as other council members, broke down the reasons for creating this new development, which involves building 140 rental units, along with green spaces, affordable retail, pedestrian amenities and more.

Rogers said the development of this property would help bring more tax revenue into Summit, as the City has experienced a major financial burden due to an industrial value decrease.

"Since 2016, I stated publicly many times over the years that Summit has a revenue issue," Rogers said. "The City unequivocally needs to find other ways to generate new revenue sources."

Rogers said the City expects that the Broad Street West Subdistrict 3 project will bring 2.5 times more in annual net revenue than what the City would normally receive in an annual municipal tax revenue.

Another major aspect of this project is that the revenue generated from the development will help offset the costs of a new, relocated firehouse that many council members said is much needed in Summit.

Council member Greg Vartan also said the project will help Summit fulfill its legal obligation to provide more affordable housing units, since 15 percent of the condominium is proposed to be allocated for that purpose.

Residents Voice Comments, Concerns

In the comment portion of the meeting, many residents voiced approval of the new development.

Tina Rosen, a 10-year resident of Summit, expressed optimistic feelings about the project.

"I love that Summit is working with residents to create a multi-purpose space that addresses many needs," Rosen said. "The existing space is, in my opinion, ugly in a sea of cement. I love that the area is being repurposed with a beautiful building and green spaces and that this will offset the cost of the new fire house and add housing close to Downtown."

Karen Davis of Ridgedale Avenue also said she believes the five-story condo would fit in nicely with the rest of the City's buildings.

"This building would be an attractive and practical way of developing Subdivision 3 to help keep everyone's taxes as low as possible," Davis said.

Resident Miriam Zukoff said she was pleased that the new development is aimed to be environmentally friendly and she believes it will "spruce up the City."

"As an active environmental advocate, I am delighted by the plan to landscape with native plants and to power the building with renewable solar energy," Zukoff said. "These are big steps forward for the city."

"It makes a car-free existence possible, especially if there will be a grocery store included in another segment of this project," Zukoff added.

But many residents expressed concerns over how parking and traffic will be impacted by the new development. Resident Davis Gates said there are already areas of the City, such as an intersection on Morris Avenue near Overlook Medical Center, that experience congested traffic.

"You [have] to get this Morris Avenue [traffic] straightened out before you start putting Brooklyn-sized buildings down," Gates said.

John De Socio of Stiles Road said the new housing will bring in a lot of people and it is only proposed to provide 196 parking spaces for all 140 units. He expressed concern over how this would impact traffic in the City.

Lastly, resident Rachel Kramer said she did not support the development bringing in more retail shops into the City, as the Downtown shops are not at "100 percent occupancy."

Next Steps

At a meeting about the redevelopment last Wednesday, Phil Abramson — the founder of the City's planning firm, Topology — spoke about the details of the project. According to council members, over 100 residents attended the presentation.

Abramson said anticipated next steps include a general information session on a 30-year PILOT concept in March, as well as a public hearing on the redevelopment agreement and the potential introduction of a financial agreement in April.

Abramson also said June is the earliest possible opportunity for the site plan to be introduced before the Planning Board.

To learn more about the Broad Street West Redevelopment project, visit the City's website.

Tuesday night's entire council meeting can be watched on YouTube below:

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