The mayor of Jersey City is declaring victory in a development fight next to Berry Lane Park, publicly ripping the opposition.
Steven Fulop’s office announced Thursday the redevelopment of a former industrial site at 417 Communipaw Avenue could move forward after the Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit challenging the project. The “meritless” lawsuit, as the statement called it, was brought by the Morris Canal Redevelopment Area Community Development Corporation.
The project has also drawn opposition from Councilperson Frank Gilmore, which the mayor’s office singled out in the statement.
“While this baseless lawsuit has done a tremendous disservice to our community, it is my hope that residents now hear the full truth with the court’s dismissal so that we can move forward on this important neighborhood improvement project together,” Fulop said.
The project has been locked in litigation for years. Last year, the nonprofit successfully sued to delay the project; a judge ruled the city needed to provide more evidence for overriding local zoning.
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Jersey City went through the necessary process and received a green light from the city council in March. But MCRACDC sued again, according to NJ.com, arguing the city violated its own inclusionary zoning ordinance. The ordinance requires 10 percent affordable housing, but it was passed after the project received its initial approval.
In a response to The Real Deal’s request for comment, the non-profit said it “woke up stunned” and “voluntarily dismissed” the most recent lawsuit after being satisfied with changes to the project.
The project calls for a 17-story residential and community development in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood. There will be a maximum of 420 units, 21 of which will be designated for affordable housing.
The project also includes a 22,000-square-foot recreation center, a 14,000-square-foot retail space, 20,000 square feet of outdoor public space and 40 parking spaces. There will also be work to preserve and adapt the historic Steel Tech Head House.
Skylight Development Group is the developer.