Practice Group: Redevelopment

The Redevelopment Practice Group at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP is at the forefront of redevelopment in New Jersey. Our attorneys have more than 30 years of experience representing developers, landowners, and municipal governments with distinction before numerous local and county governments, and the key state agencies that impact redevelopment. This breadth of experience is critical to complex real estate transactions, land use issues, construction and environmental issues. Our attorneys have a unique perspective and insight to understand both sides of the redevelopment partnership.

Clients include private redevelopers in Trenton, Wildwood, Rahway, South Bound Brook, Newark, South Amboy, Jersey City, Carneys Point, Newton, Stanhope and Hoboken, among other places. We have served as special counsel to Long Branch (obtaining an area wide CAFRA permit for the redevelopment area), Atlantic City, Belmar, Princeton, Harrison, Woodbridge, Morristown, Millville, North Wildwood and other municipalities. Our attorneys guide our private sector clients in obtaining functional and effective redevelopment agreements and implementing successful redevelopment projects throughout the state. We guide municipalities in the study of redevelopment areas and the creation and implementation of redevelopment plans and projects.

Known as one of the premier real estate firms in the state, GRS&D has been ranked by The Best Lawyers in America as one of the top firms in New Jersey in Real Estate law with 11 attorneys listed in that category. The Department is also ranked in the top tier for Real Estate in Chambers USA - America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

The Chair of the Redevelopment Practice Group, Robert S. Goldsmith, is recognized as a leader in implementing complex redevelopment projects and is frequently called upon for his broad experience in matters involving both the private and public sectors. He is a past president of Downtown New Jersey and member of its Executive Committee; a trustee and board member of New Jersey Future; and a former member of the Main Street New Jersey Board of Advisors. Mr. Goldsmith received a 2009 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award and was the recipient of the 2007 President’s Award for Distinguished Leadership in Planning from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Representative Matters: Redevelopment

• Gallenthin v. Borough of Paulsboro,  Supreme Court of New Jersey, Docket No. 59,982.  The firm appeared as amicus curiae on behalf of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Chapter-American Planning Association as well as Downtown New Jersey, Inc.  Gallenthin was the first redevelopment case heard by the Supreme Court since 1971 and has had a significant impact on redevelopment law in the State of New Jersey.
• The firm represented the City of Millville as redevelopment counsel and was successful in establishing the first and only revenue allocation district in the State of New Jersey. Additionally, the firm also helped establish the first and only Sports/Entertainment District in the State.
• Represented a redeveloper in the redevelopment of a former landfill on the bayside of Wildwood.
• Represented the Morristown Parking Authority in the construction of a parking garage in an area designated as an area in need of rehabilitation. The parking structure consists of approximately 800 parking spaces. The firm also creatively settled a condemnation matter in connection with the parking garage project through a complex property exchange agreement with a private landowner.
• In connection with the firm’s representation as counsel for the Morristown Parking Authority, the firm closed on the sale of bonds in the amount of $27,180,000.
• Served as counsel to the Morristown Parking Authority for the project commonly known as The Epstein's Redevelopment Project in Morristown. The Project has an overall estimated value in excess of $250,000,000. 
• Served as Special Counsel to Thorlabs, Inc., a photonics R&D and manufacturing company relocating from Andover in Sussex County to a redevelopment site in Newton, New Jersey. 
• Served as counsel to Matzel & Mumford, a K. Hovnanian subsidiary, for the redevelopment of the GAF manufacturing site in South Bound Brook into a mixed use community including 152 townhomes.  The firm successfully defended litigation by a hold-out property owner in connection with the successful redevelopment project.
• Served as counsel to Landmark at Rahway for a mixed use redevelopment project converting blighted parking areas to 150 market rate apartments and retail. 
• Served as Special Counsel to Princeton Borough on the Princeton Redevelopment Project which transformed a municipally owned surface parking lot into a public park, retail, residential (including affordable housing) and a structured 500 space parking facility.