Garfield seeks new redevelopment opportunities

GARFIELD - The mayor is looking for new opportunities for the city's redevelopment agency to explore, including factories next to the middle school and at the Babe Ruth baseball field. 

Mayor Richard Rigoglioso said the main priority is still development in the first ward and revitalizing Passaic Street.

"We are trying to revitalize Garfield. Passaic Street redevelopment could take many years and we are looking for new short-term goals," Rigoglioso said.

While the redevelopment process continues for Passaic Street, Rigoglioso said he wants the city to continue moving forward and look at new options.

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An old factory site at 141 Lanza Ave., next to the middle school and Columbus Park and across from Plauderville train station, could offer new redevelopment possibilities. 

The Lanza Avenue property is the former home to the Forstmann mills plant, which was a large employer of residents until it went out of business several years ago, City Manager Tom Duch said. Since then, smaller warehouse businesses have been on the property such as a self-storage facility.

 "The property is extremely old and disintegrating," Duch said. "In the future, it could be considered for redevelopment."

The other location, Columbus Park, is home to the Babe Ruth league and a monument of Christopher Columbus and is across the street from a train station. 

The field is only used for eight weeks of the year for the Babe Ruth League, which has a couple of teams, according to Rigoglioso. He said the baseball games can be relocated to 20th Century Field. 

The mayor's vision for the properties include mix-use with residences on top of stores and restaurants. 

Rigoglioso said a resolution that includes both properties as redevelopment potentials will be discussed at the July 25 council meeting.

Passaic Street Redevelopment

In May, with the hope of revitalizing the area around the Passaic Street train station and gaining Transit Village status, the redevelopment agency recommended six blocks in the 1st Ward be designated as a redevelopment area. 

The area includes Palisade Avenue, Passaic Street, Somerset Street, Hepworth Place, Midland Avenue and Atlantic Street. It is zoned for mixed-use and is home to residential, commercial and industrial properties. The study area includes 27 lots plus a vacated portion of Hepworth Place and Commerce Street totaling 6.31 acres.

The plan is now in the hands of planning board members, who will review the proposal and hold public meetings. Duch has said the entire process will be lengthy. 

The first public meeting and a presentation on the redevelopment area and possible condemnation is scheduled for July 27 at 7:30 p.m. 

The properties include two single-family homes, four two-family homes, 28 apartment units, two houses of worship and the Alfred J. Thomas Home for Veterans Program, an eight-bed transitional housing program for homeless veterans.

Although 11 of 27 properties do not meet the redevelopment criteria, Local Redevelopment Housing Law allows the properties' inclusion to make way for redevelopment.

Email: cattafi@northjersey.com

On the web

Watch a video about redevelopment efforts in Garfield. Visit njersy.co/garfieldredevelopment