NEWARK, NJ —
July 03, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
Planning board reverses course on a long-stalled lot, approving a seven-story building with retail and green space.
A vacant lot on South Orange Avenue has sat empty for more than a decade. But if you’ve walked past it lately, you might have noticed a quiet shift — not in the dirt or the weeds, but in the conversations happening inside City Hall.
On June 1st, the Newark Central Planning Board voted to approve a 150-unit apartment building at 66-80 South Orange Avenue. This comes after the board rejected the same project twice in the past year. The developer, KS 66-80 South Orange Avenue LP, first applied in 2024 and was turned down in June 2025. They tried again in early 2025, only to get a second no. Now, after a court order forced a third look, the board said yes.
The new plan calls for a seven-story building with 150 apartments, 3,880 square feet of retail space, and 20 parking spots. There’s no requirement for off-street parking in the zoning district, so that’s a bonus for drivers. On top of that, the developer added a 5,624-square-foot green roof, a rooftop patio, and a courtyard. The previous version included more storage units along the side; those have been replaced with an outdoor lawn.
What didn’t change? The building’s looks — the facade and design are the same as the last proposal. And the developer didn’t need any zoning variances this time, which made the process smoother.
How we got here
This lot hasn’t been an easy one. Back in 2020, the same developer pitched a 109-unit building with 75 parking spaces to the Zoning Board. That plan went nowhere. Before that, in 2015, a different company wanted to build a four-story senior housing complex. That project was withdrawn.
So for roughly ten years, the site has been a blank space, surrounded by a neighborhood that kept growing. It’s a block from Springfield Avenue, where new apartments and shops have been popping up. It’s near University Hospital, which employs more than 785 people. And it’s a stone’s throw from a ShopRite. The demand for housing here isn’t a secret.
But the board wasn’t sold until recently. At a March 23rd meeting, members rejected the plan again. Then the developer took it to Essex County Court, which ordered the planning board to reconsider. That court ruling came in early May, and by June 1st, the board had flipped.
What it means for Hudson County residents
For people who live nearby, this building means new neighbors — and a lot more foot traffic. 150 apartments will bring families, young professionals, maybe some commuters. The retail space could mean a coffee shop, a grocery, or a small business that hires local. The green roof and courtyard are nice touches, but the real change is that this empty lot won’t be empty anymore.
There’s also the question of parking. With only 20 spaces for 150 units, most residents will be taking the bus, walking, or biking. That’s a shift for a city where cars still rule many streets. But it fits with Newark’s push toward transit-oriented development — build near trains and buses so people don’t have to drive.
For the broader Hudson County community, this is a reminder that development can be slow, messy, and sometimes take a court order to move forward. But it also shows that patience — from developers, residents, and officials — can pay off.
What people are saying
Thomas Garlick, the lawyer for the developer, told the board the revised plan included conditions agreed to back in March. A drive aisle to help traffic flow. Better windows and loading space. More trees. “The applicant has worked with the board to address the concerns raised,” Garlick said.
Commissioner Andre Speight was the lone no vote, both on reconsidering the application and on approving it. He didn’t explain his reason publicly, but the split was clear.
Public comments were mixed. Most residents who spoke supported the board’s earlier rejections — they wanted the developer to go back to the drawing board. But a handful pushed for approval, saying the neighborhood needs new housing. The board listened to both sides.
What comes next
Construction won’t start tomorrow. The developer still needs building permits and will likely face more design reviews. But for now, the big hurdle is cleared. Residents can expect to see dirt moving in the next year or so, assuming the financing comes together.
The lot on South Orange Avenue has been a waiting game for a decade. Now, it’s finally turning a corner.
Source: Jersey Digs
