HRA Meets Mon. Sept. 23/2024 To Discuss Supor Property Sale

The Harrison Redevelopment Agency (HRA) will hold a critical meeting on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 1 p.m. in the Third Floor Conference Room at Harrison Town Hall, 318 Harrison Avenue. On the agenda are the approval of minutes from the Special Meeting held on September 16, 2024, and a pivotal discussion regarding the sale of the Supor Properties, located at 1000 South Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. The meeting will also address the assumption of the redevelopment agreement for the site.

Special Meeting Raises Transparency Concerns

Last Monday’s September 16th Special Meeting, scheduled on short notice, has sparked concerns over whether the HRA provided adequate public notice. Although the meeting was posted on the town’s official calendar on Friday, September 13, the Agenda wasn’t released until the morning of the meeting. Some residents and stakeholders argue this left insufficient time for public review and counter to the New Jersey Public Meetings Sunshine Law.

Supor Properties Sale: Unanswered Questions

The Supor Properties, a focal point of prior redevelopment discussions, was at the center of last week’s HRA meeting. It appears that H Equities LLC is seeking to purchase the property and the principals of H Equities LLC have ties to Eastone Equities, a current designated developer in Harrison.  Attorney Michael A. Ochs, representing H Capital Holdings LLC, participated in the September 16 meeting alongside Matt Higgins of H Equities LLC and representatives from Eastone Equities LLC.

At the Special Meeting, the HRA Commissioners entered into an Executive Session to discuss the assumption of the amended and restated redevelopment agreement for the Supor Properties. Afterward, Commissioner Daniel Choffo introduced a motion to defer action on the agreement which was seconded by Commissioner Harold Stahl, leaving open questions about whether the current terms would be revised or remain intact.

Given the Supor family’s long-standing role as property owners and community supporters, any changes to the redevelopment terms could prompt significant debate. Notably, Eastone Equities, which has ties to prospective buyer H Equities LLC, has received multiple extensions for its ongoing projects in Harrison. If material changes are made to the current Supor Properties redevelopment agreement, it would be surprising.  No more surprising than the Mayor of Harrison and long-time HRA Chairman James Fife “supporting” EPA’s plan to take over the decontaminated PSE&G property and allowing the EPA to place an open-air toxic Dioxin Sludge plant and staging area at the PSE&G property that will be used for at least 10 years.  An EPA representative stated last week that the EPA’s Passaic River cleanup could take 15 to 20 years not the 10 years previously stated by EPA representatives.

Eastone Equities' History of Extensions

Eastone Equities has benefited from several extensions granted by the HRA for its redevelopment projects in Harrison. Most notably, at the October 23, 2023, meeting, Eastone was granted extended deadlines for its project at 600 South Frank E. Rodgers Blvd., affecting Phase II of the development:

1. Phase II Buildings B and C: Eastone’s deadline to commence construction was extended to June 1, 2025. The completion deadline for Phase II was further extended to July 1, 2027, with an option to extend to July 1, 2028, if the developer is diligent in progressing the project.
2. Building E: The commencement deadline for Building E was pushed to December 15, 2025, with a completion deadline extended to December 31, 2027. As with Phase II, Eastone can extend this deadline by one year, up to December 31, 2028, with sufficient progress.
3. Overall Project Term: The entire redevelopment project term was extended to December 31, 2028, giving Eastone an additional year to complete its work. This was despite earlier statements from Harrison Mayor James Fife, who previously claimed that no more extensions would be granted.

In addition, Eastone was granted further leeway on infrastructure deadlines. The original fixed deadline of January 31, 2024, for paving Cifelli Drive and South Fifth Street was changed to "within three months of notice from the Town," a move that effectively removes a hard deadline from the project.

Next Steps

As the HRA prepares for its September 23 meeting, the public remains eager for transparency and answers. The agency’s handling of public notice, as well as the future of the Supor Properties, will be closely watched by residents, developers, and local stakeholders alike.

With the history of extensions granted to Eastone Equities in mind, many will be questioning whether similar terms could be offered to the prospective buyers of the Supor Properties or if the HRA will adopt a firmer stance.

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