Category Archives: City Council

The top 10 Rahway Rising posts of 2013

There are two things that people will remember about 2013 (at least according to traffic on this site): the hotel closing and the mayor resigning. If you look at the Google Analytics for 2013, the graph has a steady pace until September when it shoots up like a rocket and then comes back to Earth. Of course, there were other things that occurred in 2013, like construction under way on the 116-unit Metro Rahway and pending completion of another project, the 108-unit Meridia Water’s Edge.

Continue reading The top 10 Rahway Rising posts of 2013

Easement granted for Lafayette Village

The proposed 115-unit Lafayette Village project at the corner of Main and Monroe streets (map) is expected to begin construction in 2014 after finally getting necessary state permits and other approvals in recent months.

Continue reading Easement granted for Lafayette Village

Redevelopment Agency gets two commissioners

The City Council this month approved two appointments to the Redevelopment Agency, filling two vacant seats and bringing the board to its full complement of seven commissioners.

Continue reading Redevelopment Agency gets two commissioners

Office center settles for 25% tax appeal reduction

Due to “popular demand,” our “Tax appeal week” posts have been extended into another week. OK, the real reason is I couldn’t get it done last week.

Continue reading Office center settles for 25% tax appeal reduction

2013 tax appeals ding city for almost $182,000

About 120 properties won tax appeals at the Union County Board of Taxation this fall, collectively knocking almost $182,000 off their tax bills for the 2012 year.

Continue reading 2013 tax appeals ding city for almost $182,000

State Tax Court judgment slashes tax bill in half

Let’s call it “Tax appeal week” at Rahway Rising as we catch up on a few more tax appeals over the last several months, including those approved at the county tax board, decided at the state Tax Court or settled with the city.

STS Tire and Auto Center on St. Georges Ave. (Block 7, Lot 1) had its 2012 tax bill cut in half after a judgment by the state Tax Court. The City Council authorized a refund of $16,705.26 at its Nov. 12 meeting (AR-240), some 46 percent off the total property tax bill of about $36,310 paid by STS on its three St. Georges Avenue lots.

The main parcel on St. Georges Avenue, about a third of an acre and including the building, is assessed for $512,000 and had a tax bill of $29,906 in 2012. Two other land-only lots (Block 7, Lots 2 and 3), which were not appealed, are assessed at a combined $105,900, with taxes of $6,404, for a total 2012 tax bill of about $36,310.

Bridgewater-based STS also was among more than 120 tax appeals in the city for the 2013 tax year that were approved by the county tax board. The City Council approved the judgements at its October meeting and we’ll post details on those appeals and new assessments later this week.

Park Square tax appeal settlement

Park Square, the 159-unit rental complex downtown that was purchased last month, reached a tax appeal settlement with the city in October, which reduced its assessment by more than a third.

Continue reading Park Square tax appeal settlement

Two contracts awarded for treatment plant

City Council last week approved two professional services contracts totaling more than $100,000 for preliminary work on upgrades to the city’s water treatment plant.

Continue reading Two contracts awarded for treatment plant