Newark, New Jersey: Hundreds of more people could soon be living along Springfield Avenue in Newark.
New mixed-use developments are planned at several properties along the avenue, which has been lined with vacant lots and abandoned properties in the decades following the 1967 Newark riots and rebellion.
According to the agenda for tomorrow's meeting, the Newark Department of Economic and Housing Development is planning to sell a 78,632 square foot lot of city property to developer Ganesh Ji Springfield, LLC, based in Jersey City, for nearly $315,000. The assessed value of the property, which is located at 457 Springfield Avenue, is $1,041,700, according to the agenda.
The lot stretches back along South Jacob Street to 18th Avenue, and is just across the street from the shopping plaza containing The Home Depot and Wendy's. Laurel Garden Sports Arena, which was home of boxing and wrestling matches, was once located at the site.
Now, a new three-story building with 30 apartments on the top two floors and 15,000 square feet of retail and commercial space on the ground floor, is proposed for the site. There would also be 75 to 80 parking spaces under the proposal.
There are other development projects planned for the Springfield Avenue corridor as well. According to the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (Newark CEDC), a four story building with retail space and 77 apartments is planned for 269-273 Springfield Avenue, at the corner of Boyd Street, and a building with 122 apartments and space for the Randy Foye Foundation is proposed for 521 Springfield Avenue, at the corner of 18th Avenue. The latter project received a 30 year tax abatement in 2013.
In addition, a new building called Rita Gardens is planned for 650-656 Springfield Avenue near the Irvington border, between South 16th and South 17th Streets. The project would reportedly have 54 apartments and commercial space. It was stated in a recent presentation by the Newark CEDC that GS Developers and Queen Latifah were partners in the project, but the presentation has since been removed from the Newark CEDC website. Queen Latifah grew up in Essex County, and Rita is the name of her mother.
The recent development along the avenue began with the Springfield Avenue Marketplace project, which includes a ShopRite supermarket that opened last year, and the CityPlex 12 movie theater.
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