News Release
For Release: Friday, November 19th
Contact: Frank Baraff 914-469-3775

Orange played leading role at 2010 NJ League of Municipalities Conference

Exerting an expanded leadership role at this year’s League of Municipalities Conference, Orange’s redevelopment plans and strategy were highlighted in several panel discussions and presentations.

Left to right: Joseph Maraziti, Chris Fiore, Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.,
Leslie A. Anderson, Ronald S. Ladell

Participants at the annual conference received copies of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Magazine Enterprise. This month’s cover story is an article by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. about Orange’s downtown redevelopment strategy and the city’s green environment-friendly construction initiatives.

Wednesday, November 17th:
Mayor Hawkins presided over a session on redevelopment:
How municipalities can create a redevelopment identity:  A Key for Economic Success.
The panel focused on attracting private development from a municipal perspective, a legal perspective, and the perspective of developers. Other participants on the panel were: Leslie A. Anderson, New Jersey Redevelopment Authority: Joseph Maraziti, Maraziti, Falcon and Healey, LLP; Ronald S. Ladell, AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; and Chris Fiore, Jersey City Redevelopment Agency

Also on Wednesday:
At “Creating Opportunity through Economic Growth” – A meeting of the Urban Enterprise Zone Mayors Commission. Commissioner Lori Grifa of the State Department of Community Affairs applauded Mayor Hawkins’ commitment to revitalization for the City of Orange Township.

Thursday, November 18th:
At a League Session on Legislative & Statewide Policy Updates, Commissioner Lori Grifa discussed how the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) funds helped the Valley District in Orange.

Also on Thursday:
At the NJ Urban Mayors Association Annual Meeting – Orange was praised for its Vacant and Abandoned Property Strategy by Diane Sterner, Executive Director, Housing and Community Development Network. Wayne Meyer, president of New Jersey Capital Management and Orange resident, highlighted the City's vacant and abandoned properties leadership.  

Statement by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
“I want to thank the City Council, Director Valerie Jackson’s Department of Planning and Development, the Orange Housing Authority and our other partners for helping to make Orange a recognized leader in redevelopment and revitalization.  Despite the bad economy and huge cuts in state aid we are moving the city forward. We are committed to restoring abandoned properties and stabilizing our neighborhoods. I am proud that Orange is being recognized as an example of the good things that can be accomplished even in difficult economic times.”

Statement by Councilman Rayfield Morton
“I am pleased that the League of Municipalities recognizes the leadership of our City Council and Administration in moving redevelopment forward despite these hard times. This year’s League classes and meetings were very helpful to me in networking and meeting other elected officials to learn how different cities are dealing with the financial crisis.”

Attached: Article on Green Development in Orange from NJ Chamber of Commerce Magazine