REDEVELOPMENT must go on, and I encourage the Planning Board and City Council to find other areas of the city that meet the statutory requirements of "urban blight".
If all else fails, there's always Central Ave just east of First Street. I'll grow old waiting for a city administration to redevelop that block. Redevelopment for economic reasons will never fly politically there, but that's where the new police station and city hall should go. It's next to the high school, and it's the absolute geographic center of Hackensack. Both are great reasons for a new city complex exactly there. No judge will stop eminent domain to build a city hall or police station. Especially one so well situated. Not in a million years.
For some reason, the city is instead focussing on single large-lot projects. I admire their initiative and their goals for the betterment of the city, but it is time to refocus, guys. Stop messing around with the edges of town, and go for redevelopment where it is most needed. JUST DO IT.
And why stop with Central Ave. The judges aren't going to stop the redevelopment of the northern block of Fair Street, Meadow Street south of Kansas Street, the vicinity of Hudson and Water Streets, the north side of Lodi Street between Fair Street and South State Street, downtown Anderson Street, the south side of Banta Place, the NW corner of Union & Lawrence, among others.
Wherever there are multiple properties, small lots, mixed land use, and generally downtrodden conditions the city will prevail in any legal challenge against eminent domain.
