[Nexis4Jersey]

East Newark wants a hotel built on its Passaic River waterfront

By Rose Duger | For The Jersey Journal
on January 22, 2015 at 1:55 PM

East Newark’s elected officials are setting their sights in 2015 on enticing a developer to build a hotel along its Passaic River waterfront.

Mayor Joseph R. Smith outlined moving ahead on a new hotel as his administration’s top priority for 2015.

So far, four entities have requested more information on specifications for the project, but none have submitted applications to the borough yet, according to the mayor.

“That’s our priority this year, to try and build a hotel along the waterfront,” said Smith. “I really feel this is the answer. It’s what we need here. It’s low maintenance compared to the services that would have to be provided for a residential development and we would get the real estate taxes for it.”

Borough officials have targeted a tract at the intersection of Passaic and Central avenues for the project. Once jointly occupied by BASF corporation and a parking lot for First Republic Corporation, the parcel has stood empty for several years.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2...ssaic_riv.html