Who's Who in Cranford Development
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WHO’S WHO CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT FROM 2007 TO PRESENT IN 2005 MAYOR JORN, DEPUTY MAYOR ASCHENBACH & COMMISSIONER MCDONOUGH VOTED AGAINST CRANFORD OBTAINING COAH CERTIFICATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE 2 BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUITS BELOW 215 & 235 BIRCHWOOD AVENUE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT 360 APARTMENTS AND PARKING GARAGE ANNE ESTABROOK/ELBERON DEVELOPMENT 2007: ALONG WITH WOODMONT PROPERTIES (A DEVELOPER) APPLIED TO HAVE ZONING CHANGED TO RESIDENTIAL. WOODMONT PROPERTIES 2007: PRESENTED AN APPLICATION BEFORE THE CRANFORD PLANNING BOARD TO CHANGE THE BIRCHWOOD PROPERTIES ZONING TO RESIDENTIAL. WITHDREW THE APPLICATION. STEPHEN SANTOLA, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR WOODMONT PROPERTIES 2007: BEFORE JOINING WOODMONT, HE WAS A PARTNER IN THE LAW FIRM FOUNDED BY ANNE ESTABROOK’S LATE HUSBAND. HEKEMIAN/CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIES/CRANFORD REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES 2008: PURCHASED THE PROPERTIES FROM ANNE ESTABROOK AND ARE THE PRESENT OWNERS. SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT A BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT AGAINST CRANFORD IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTIES AS MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL—360 APARTMENTS AND A PARKING GARAGE. STEPHEN EISDORFER, ATTORNEY FOR HEKEMIAN PARTNER WITH HALL WALLACK LAW FIRM LAWYER REPRESENTING HEKEMIAN (CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES/CRANFORD REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES) IN THE BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT AGAINST CRANFORD TO BUILD 360 APARTMENTS AND A PARKING GARAGE JUDGE CHRYSTAL UNION COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE HEARING AND DECIDING ON ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF THE BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT FOR BOTH THE BIRCHWOOD AVENUE PROPERTIES AND 555 SOUTH AVENUE. STATE SENATOR RAYMOND LESNIAK RECOMMENDED HER TO BECOME A JUDGE IN 2000. HE IS ALSO A PARTNER IN THE LAW FIRM WHICH REPRESENTED LEHIGH ACQUISITION CORP BEFORE JUDGE CHRYSTAL. SPECIAL HEARING OFFICER WOLFSON SITE PLAN HEARINGS IN AUGUST 2012 AUGUST 2012: APPOINTED BY JUDGE CHRYSTAL. HEARD THE SITE PLAN HEARINGS FOR BIRCHWOOD AVENUE AND 555 SOUTH AVENUE. MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO JUDGE CHRYSTAL SPECIAL MASTER ELIZABETH MCKENZIE APPOINTED SPECIAL MASTER BY JUDGE CHRYSTAL. SUBMITS RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT CRANFORD’S FAIR SHARE HOUSING AND AIDED IN THE SITE PLAN HEARINGS IN AUGUST 2012. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FORWARDED TO JUDGE CHRYSTAL. CARL WOODWARD, ATTORNEY FOR CRANFORD PARTNER WITH CARELLA, BYRNE, CECCHI, OLSTEIN, BRODY & AGNELLO LAW FIRM 2008-2013: LAWYER REPRESENTING CRANFORD IN DEFENSE AGAINST HEKEMIAN (CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES/CRANFORD REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES) BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT AS WELL AS THE BUILDER REMEDY’S LAWSUIT FOR 555 SOUTH AVENUE. WORKED WITH MR. MORIN IN 2013 IN PRESENTING THE CASE BEFORE JUDGE CHRYSTAL. PHIL MORIN, ATTORNEY FOR WOODMONT 2007 ATTORNEY FOR CRANFORD 2012-2013 PARTNER WITH FLORIO, PERRUCCI, STEINHARDT & FADER LAW FIRM 2007: LAWYER REPRESENTING WOODMONT PROPERTIES BEFORE TOWNSHIP TO HAVE ZONING CHANGED TO RESIDENTIAL. ALSO THE UNION COUNTY REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN. APPLICATION WAS WITHDRAWN BEFORE DECISION REACHED. 2012-13: CRANFORD’S TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY AND CRANFORD’S ATTORNEY IN DEFENSE AGAINST HEKEMIAN (CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES/CRANFORD REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES).
description
A listing of people involved in the development or proposed developments in Cranford.
Transcript of Who's Who in Cranford Development
WHO’S WHO
CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT
FROM 2007 TO PRESENT
IN 2005 MAYOR JORN, DEPUTY MAYOR ASCHENBACH & COMMISSIONER MCDONOUGH VOTED AGAINST CRANFORD OBTAINING
COAH CERTIFICATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE 2 BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUITS BELOW
215 & 235 BIRCHWOOD AVENUE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT
360 APARTMENTS AND PARKING GARAGE ANNE ESTABROOK/ELBERON DEVELOPMENT 2007: ALONG WITH WOODMONT PROPERTIES (A DEVELOPER) APPLIED TO
HAVE ZONING CHANGED TO RESIDENTIAL.
WOODMONT PROPERTIES 2007: PRESENTED AN APPLICATION BEFORE THE CRANFORD PLANNING
BOARD TO CHANGE THE BIRCHWOOD PROPERTIES ZONING TO RESIDENTIAL.
WITHDREW THE APPLICATION.
STEPHEN SANTOLA, GENERAL COUNSEL FOR WOODMONT
PROPERTIES
2007: BEFORE JOINING WOODMONT, HE WAS A PARTNER IN THE LAW FIRM
FOUNDED BY ANNE ESTABROOK’S LATE HUSBAND.
HEKEMIAN/CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIES/CRANFORD
REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES
2008: PURCHASED THE PROPERTIES FROM ANNE ESTABROOK AND ARE THE
PRESENT OWNERS. SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT A BUILDER’S REMEDY
LAWSUIT AGAINST CRANFORD IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTIES AS
MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL—360 APARTMENTS AND A PARKING GARAGE.
STEPHEN EISDORFER, ATTORNEY FOR HEKEMIAN
PARTNER WITH HALL WALLACK LAW FIRM
LAWYER REPRESENTING HEKEMIAN (CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATES/CRANFORD REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES) IN THE BUILDER’S
REMEDY LAWSUIT AGAINST CRANFORD TO BUILD 360 APARTMENTS AND A
PARKING GARAGE
JUDGE CHRYSTAL
UNION COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE HEARING AND DECIDING ON ALL OF
THE ASPECTS OF THE BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT FOR BOTH THE
BIRCHWOOD AVENUE PROPERTIES AND 555 SOUTH AVENUE. STATE SENATOR
RAYMOND LESNIAK RECOMMENDED HER TO BECOME A JUDGE IN 2000. HE IS
ALSO A PARTNER IN THE LAW FIRM WHICH REPRESENTED LEHIGH
ACQUISITION CORP BEFORE JUDGE CHRYSTAL.
SPECIAL HEARING OFFICER WOLFSON
SITE PLAN HEARINGS IN AUGUST 2012
AUGUST 2012: APPOINTED BY JUDGE CHRYSTAL. HEARD THE SITE PLAN
HEARINGS FOR BIRCHWOOD AVENUE AND 555 SOUTH AVENUE. MADE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO JUDGE CHRYSTAL
SPECIAL MASTER ELIZABETH MCKENZIE
APPOINTED SPECIAL MASTER BY JUDGE CHRYSTAL. SUBMITS
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT CRANFORD’S FAIR SHARE HOUSING AND AIDED
IN THE SITE PLAN HEARINGS IN AUGUST 2012. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
WERE FORWARDED TO JUDGE CHRYSTAL.
CARL WOODWARD, ATTORNEY FOR CRANFORD
PARTNER WITH CARELLA, BYRNE, CECCHI, OLSTEIN,
BRODY & AGNELLO LAW FIRM
2008-2013: LAWYER REPRESENTING CRANFORD IN DEFENSE AGAINST
HEKEMIAN (CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES/CRANFORD
REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES) BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT AS WELL AS
THE BUILDER REMEDY’S LAWSUIT FOR 555 SOUTH AVENUE. WORKED WITH
MR. MORIN IN 2013 IN PRESENTING THE CASE BEFORE JUDGE CHRYSTAL.
PHIL MORIN, ATTORNEY FOR WOODMONT 2007
ATTORNEY FOR CRANFORD 2012-2013
PARTNER WITH FLORIO, PERRUCCI, STEINHARDT &
FADER LAW FIRM
2007: LAWYER REPRESENTING WOODMONT PROPERTIES BEFORE TOWNSHIP
TO HAVE ZONING CHANGED TO RESIDENTIAL. ALSO THE UNION COUNTY
REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN. APPLICATION WAS WITHDRAWN BEFORE DECISION
REACHED.
2012-13: CRANFORD’S TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY AND CRANFORD’S ATTORNEY IN
DEFENSE AGAINST HEKEMIAN (CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATES/CRANFORD REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES).
215 & 235 BIRCHWOOD AVENUE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT (CONTINUED)
BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT
360 APARTMENTS AND PARKING GARAGE ROBERT PODVEY, ATTORNEY FOR CONCERNED CITIZENS OF
CRANFORD 2012-2013
ATTORNEY FOR CRANFORD FOR NJDEP 2013
DIRECTOR OF PODVEY MEANOR
2012: HIRED BY THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF CRANFORD TO REPRESENT
THEM BEFORE THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
2013: CRANFORD HIRES MR. PODVEY TO REPRESENT CRANFORD BEFORE
THE NJDEP JEFFREY R. SURENIAN, ATTORNEY FOR CRANFORD FOR THE
BIRCHWOOD APPEAL 2013
JEFFREY R. SURENIAN AND ASSOCIATES
2013: CRANFORD HIRES MR. SURENIAN TO REPRESENT CRANFORD FOR THE
APPEAL OF JUDGE CHRYSTAL’S DECISION
PROFESSOR AMBROSIO, ATTORNEY AND LAW ETHICS PROFESSOR
AT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
2013: CRANFORD TOWNSHIP HIRED PROFESSOR AMBROSIO TO INVESTIGATE
AND GIVE AN OPINION ABOUT ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE CONCERNED
CITIZENS OF CRANFORD ABOUT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BY MR. MORIN
ACTING AS OUR ATTORNEY FOR THE BIRCHWOOD AVENUE AND LEHIGH (555
SOUTH AVENUE) DEVELOPMENTS. PROFESSOR AMBROSIO FOUND NO
CONFLICT.
555 SOUTH AVENUE
BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT
163 APARTMENTS WOODMONT PROPERTIES 2013: PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FROM LEHIGH ACQUISITION
LEHIGH ACQUISTION CORP OWNER OF THE PROPERTY UNTIL 2013 WHEN SOLD TO WOODMONT PROPERTIES
WEINER LESNIAK, ATTORNEYS FOR LEHIGH ACQUISITION CORP REPRESENTED LEHIGH IN BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT BEFORE JUDGE
CHRYSTAL AGAINST CRANFORD. STATE SENATOR RAYMOND LESNIAK IS A
PARTNER IN THE LAW FIRM. HE RECOMMENDED JUDGE CHRYSTAL TO
BECOME A JUDGE IN 2000.
JUDGE CHRYSTAL UNION COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE HEARING AND DECIDING ON ALL OF
THE ASPECTS OF THE BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT FOR BOTH THE
BIRCHWOOD AVENUE PROPERTIES AND 555 SOUTH AVENUE. SENATOR
RAYMOND LESNIAK RECOMMENDED HER TO BECOME A JUDGE. HE IS ALSO A
PARTNER IN THE LAW FIRM WHICH REPRESENTED LEHIGH ACQUISITION
CORP AGAINST CRANFORD BEFORE JUDGE CHRYSTAL.
SPECIAL HEARING OFFICER WOLFSON
SITE PLAN HEARINGS IN AUGUST 2012
AUGUST 2012: APPOINTED BY JUDGE CHRYSTAL. HEARD THE SITE PLAN
HEARINGS FOR BIRCHWOOD AVENUE AND 555 SOUTH AVENUE. MADE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO JUDGE CHRYSTAL
SPECIAL MASTER ELIZABETH MCKENZIE
APPOINTED SPECIAL MASTER BY JUDGE CHRYSTAL. SUBMITS
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT CRANFORD’S FAIR SHARE HOUSING AND AIDED
IN THE SITE PLAN HEARINGS IN AUGUST 2012. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS
WERE FORWARDED TO JUDGE CHRYSTAL.
CARL WOODWARD, ATTORNEY FOR CRANFORD
PARTNER WITH CARELLA, BYRNE, CECCHI, OLSTEIN,
BRODY & AGNELLO LAW FIRM
2008-2012: LAWYER REPRESENTING CRANFORD IN DEFENSE AGAINST
HEKEMIAN (CRANFORD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES/CRANFORD
REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES) BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT AS WELL AS
THE BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT FOR 555 SOUTH AVENUE.
MAYOR MARK SMITH SIGNED THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WITH LEHIGH ACQUISITION CORP IN 2010
FOR 163 APARTMENTS
RIVERFRONT ON SOUTH AVENUE (across from the RR Station)
127 APARTMENTS AND RETAIL SPACE S. HEKEMIAN GROUP (same developer for Birchwood Avenue Proposal) 2006 & 2007: TRIED TO REACH AN AGREEMENT FOR THE RIVERFRONT
REDEVELOPMENT AREA WITH CRANFORD. BOTH ATTEMPTS FAILED.
GARDEN HOMES/RIVERFRONT DEVELOPERS, LLC 2008: SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH CRANFORD TO DEVELOP THE
RIVERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT AREA WITH 106 APARTMENTS AND RETAIL
SPACE. IN 2011 AN ADDITIONAL 21 APARTMENTS WERE ADDED.
TONY GIOVANNI, DEVELOPMENT PARTNER WITH GARDEN
HOMES
PRESENTED THE GARDEN HOMES PROPOSAL TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE
AND TO THE PUBLIC ON TV35.
MAYOR PUHAK, COMMISSIONERS SMITH & GARCIA 2008: DISSOLVED THE INTERIM AGREEMENT WITH HEKEMIAN AND SIGNED
AN AGREEMENT WITH GARDEN HOMES.
MAYOR ASCHENBACH, COMMISSIONERS O’MALLEY &
CAMPBELL
2011: ADDED ANOTHER FLOOR TO THE PROJECT FOR AN ADDITIONAL 21
APARTMENTS.
FRANK CAPECE, ATTORNEY REPRESENTED THE HOLT FAMILY (majority owner of property in the redevelopment
area) AND ALSO REPRESENTED THE MACK FAMILY (owner of a home on the fringe
of the development) IN THE NEGOTIATIONS TO SELL THEIR PROPERTIES TO
GARDEN HOMES. HE ALSO REPRESENTED THE MACK FAMILY IN ACTION
AGAINST CRANFORD TOWNSHIP.
