Monday, March 13, 2017

Kitchen Incubator Proposed for Former Newark Firehouse


Newark, New Jersey: Several abandoned or vacant properties in Newark's East Ward could soon see new use.

A resolution will be introduced to the Newark Municipal Council during its meeting this Wednesday, March 15 at 6:30pm that calls for selling three lots that are owned by the City of Newark to All Renovation Construction, LLC, which is based in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood. The properties, located at 29-31 Astor Street, 33-35 Astor Street, and 35 Murray Street, consist of a parking lot, the historic but abandoned Engine 10 firehouse, which dates to 1874, according to 1st Responder News, and a vacant wooded tract. The City is planning to sell the lots for a $43,649.72, according to the resolution, which states that the properties "are no longer needed for public use." 

City records show that All Renovation Construction sent a letter of intent to purchase and redevelop the properties, and is now planning to rehabilitate the properties "to create a kitchen incubator." Although there are currently none in Newark, there has been a growth in the number of kitchen incubators in recent years across the country. According to NPR, "incubators can help hungry entrepreneurs get started in a licensed kitchen at a fraction of the price of leasing their own space," while offering "business support and technical assistance...to help 'foodpreneurs' get off the ground."

Additional details regarding the Newark incubator have not yet been released.

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