Urban League proposes 100% affordable homeownership at Reservoir; council presses for auction documents
May 19, 2026 | Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
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The Urban League of Essex County told the Newark City Council on May 20 that it plans to redevelop the troubled Reservoir site as 100% affordable homeownership, a shift from the site's prior 100% rental model.
"We're going to turn it into condos for ownership," Vivian Cox Fraser, president and CEO of the Urban League of Essex County, told the council, describing plans that she said would target essential workers and families who live and work in Newark. Fraser said recent ribbon-cutting sales demonstrated the organization's model: "We sold those two family homes for under $200,000," she said.
Deputy Mayor and Director Allison Ladd summarized the site's history: the property went into receivership because of code and subsidy problems, HUD and state vouchers were abated, residents were relocated, and the Urban League later expressed interest. Ladd said the city re-offered sites after a technical error canceled a planned auction and that winning bidders were offered the chance to buy at appraised value.
Council members pressed for documentation and more local consultation. Councilman Gonzalez asked where the appraised values were recorded and cited questions about a $4 million figure shown in Legistar; other members said they wanted ward-based conversations before finalizing sales, especially where industrial parcels abut housing.
The Urban League's presentation included proposed unit types and an affordability target; council exchanges referenced a draft mix that included 26 two-bedroom duplexes and six three-bedroom duplexes and potential pricing "under $200,000" for some ownership units, though financing and subsidy plans remain to be finalized. Fraser said construction financing and subsidy packages (including tax-credit and grant options) will be arranged after site control is secured.
Why it matters: the site has a fraught history of receivership, abated HUD/state subsidy, and resident relocation; council members said they want full appraisal, auction, and purchaser documentation and for ward representatives to be briefed prior to final approvals.
Next steps: Urban League representatives will continue project planning with the administration; council requested the Legistar file appraisals and said several items may be deferred until members can review full documentation.
"We're going to turn it into condos for ownership," Vivian Cox Fraser, president and CEO of the Urban League of Essex County, told the council, describing plans that she said would target essential workers and families who live and work in Newark. Fraser said recent ribbon-cutting sales demonstrated the organization's model: "We sold those two family homes for under $200,000," she said.
Deputy Mayor and Director Allison Ladd summarized the site's history: the property went into receivership because of code and subsidy problems, HUD and state vouchers were abated, residents were relocated, and the Urban League later expressed interest. Ladd said the city re-offered sites after a technical error canceled a planned auction and that winning bidders were offered the chance to buy at appraised value.
Council members pressed for documentation and more local consultation. Councilman Gonzalez asked where the appraised values were recorded and cited questions about a $4 million figure shown in Legistar; other members said they wanted ward-based conversations before finalizing sales, especially where industrial parcels abut housing.
The Urban League's presentation included proposed unit types and an affordability target; council exchanges referenced a draft mix that included 26 two-bedroom duplexes and six three-bedroom duplexes and potential pricing "under $200,000" for some ownership units, though financing and subsidy plans remain to be finalized. Fraser said construction financing and subsidy packages (including tax-credit and grant options) will be arranged after site control is secured.
Why it matters: the site has a fraught history of receivership, abated HUD/state subsidy, and resident relocation; council members said they want full appraisal, auction, and purchaser documentation and for ward representatives to be briefed prior to final approvals.
Next steps: Urban League representatives will continue project planning with the administration; council requested the Legistar file appraisals and said several items may be deferred until members can review full documentation.
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