Kelly Nicholaides, Staff Writer, @rovingwriter Published 6:18 a.m. ET Aug. 26, 2017 | Updated 8:50 a.m. ET Aug. 26, 2017
GARFIELD — Merchants and homeowners are bracing for an eminent domain fight since their properties were included in a redevelopment study. Mayor Richard Rigoglioso points to news and magazine clips he is collecting that characterize Garfield as one of the worst places to live in New Jersey as to why redevelopment is needed to regrow the city.
Rigoglioso wants to change the negative perception–beginning with redeveloping the six block area surrounding the Passaic Street train station.
“It’s a tough area to live in, overpopulated with a lot of 2 to 3 family units and absentee landlords. These six blocks haven’t changed for the better,” said Rigoglioso after the Aug. 24 Planning Board meeting. “If we redevelop the area, we can gain Transit Village status, like what Bloomfield did to improve the area around their train station. We want people to visit Garfield and spend money here.”
