Newark is changing, but it will not become Brooklyn, mayor promises
Newark’s mayor, Ras Baraka, addresses gentrification in the city. He assures residents that they will not be displaced in midst of “the sites of newly-opened retail and high-rise, high-price housing complexes.” One of the ways he plans to fight against gentrification and displacement is by establishing a commission that “will draw from a cross-section of the city’s institutions, nonprofit, business and academic communities to keep Newark’s growth accessible for everyone. Baraka will appoint the members who will make recommendations to his staff around policy, land use laws and development.”
How NJ is trying to keep families off the streets, out of shelters
In response to NJ residents facing homelessness, the State Department of Community Affairs Division of Housing and Community Resources (DCA) has created a variety of programming using a multi-faceted approach. For example, “under the Housing First initiative, DCA works with a variety of different social service organizations so the chronically homeless can “get into housing and then once they’re there, provide them with the services they need to make sure they’re not going to become homeless again. However, the Homelessness Prevention program is designed to help households at risk of homelessness due to an upcoming rental eviction because of a short-term loss of income, whether it’s losing a job or facing a unexpected expense.”
What does Amazon’s NYC headquarters mean for New Jersey real estate?
Although Newark, NJ was not chosen to host one of Amazon’s new headquarters, New Jersey may still benefit from its proximity to Long Island City, Queens — a location Amazon did chose. Many local real estate agents are inclined to believe that Amazon’s new employees will opt to live in New Jersey, where, in exchange for an hour commute, they “will find more space for their money”. However, other local agents think that the majority of employees will choose to live in Queens, or the surrounding New York Area, and even if some are willing to make the commute, “a few more renters won’t be noticeable in a city like Hoboken…where there are already thousands of people commuting to the city”.
Explainer: How New Jersey’s Court-Approved Plans for Affordable Housing Work
Municipalities are required by law to have zoning for affordable housing in their respective communities. This article outlines the history and process of affordable housing, through the establishment of the Fair Housing Act. It also gives a detailed overview of the fears municipalities have regarding it.