Plans to build a condominium complex at the site of a former police station in Essex County might be coming to a halt.
The Orange Municipal Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution during its virtual meeting this Tuesday, December 1 that calls for revoking a contract of sale and a key designation regarding the 595 Lincoln Avenue property near the Seven Oaks neighborhood.
The proposed resolution states that developer 595 Lincoln Avenue Urban Renewal Entity, LLC had been planning to tear down the existing building on the property in order to construct “approximately 60 market rate owner-occupied condominium units along with amenities and parking spaces.”
A resolution that was unanimously passed by the Orange Municipal Council back in August 2019 formally designated the LLC as the developer of 595 Lincoln Avenue. The resolution said in part that the company “is an experienced and successful developer of housing and commercial development throughout New Jersey and has the necessary expertise, skill and ability and financial resources to carry out or oversee and guarantee completion of the development of this project.”
Then, in December 2019, a separate resolution that was passed by all present councilmembers authorized a contract of sale between the City of Orange Township and the developer. This resolution noted that the tract was expected to be sold to the LLC for $1.2 million by the end of 2019.
Now, these two previously passed resolutions would both be revoked should this newly proposed resolution be approved by councilmembers. The proposed resolution does not state why the City of Orange Township is seeking to revoke the contract of sale and the designation.
An economic development guide on Orange’s municipal government website refers to this project as “Lincoln Avenue Heights” and identifies Chadwick Capital as the developer. The document also says that development costs have been estimated at $17 million and that the project was expected to be completed in the summer of 2021.
A June 2019 “application for designation as redeveloper” that was released by the City of Orange Township listed George Robb as the managing member of the Lower Manhattan-based LLC. Chadwick Capital’s website says that Robb is the company’s founder and CEO.
Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled to begin over Zoom at 7:00 p.m.
Note to readers: The dates that matters are scheduled to be discussed by the Orange Municipal Council and other governing bodies are subject to change.
