Jersey City Redevelopment Agency Leader Tapped to Lead NJ Chapter of Urban Land Institute

By • Jul 20th, 2010 • Category: Blog, News

Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) executive director Robert Antonicello was installed as the new chairman of the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Northern New Jersey Chapter on June 30. He is the first public official to take that role since the council chapter was certified in 2003.

The ULI, which has members in nearly 100 countries worldwide, aims to provide responsible leadership in the use of land in order to enhance the total environment and to provide leadership in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.

Antonicello, who was named the 2008 Public Official of the Year by the Northern New Jersey ULI chapter, says he is “honored” by the appointment and “committed to continuing the excellent work and guidance ULI provides to the industry’s professionals.”

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is the founding editor of the Jersey City Independent; he now works for a public-policy nonprofit in Trenton.
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  • http://onejerseycity.org Dan Levin

    what a bitter pill for Jersey City to swallow. our Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment (PAD) plan gutted by the 111 First St. settlement and Toll Brothers amendments, was originally a massive compromise by the public, arts community, developers, preservationists and city government guided by – a 40-page study by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) called, “Powerhouse Arts District – Jersey City, New Jersey: A Strategy for Revitalizing the Warehouse District.” the plan was for a an arts district, with the old Hudson and Manhattan Powerhouse on First and Washington Street as an anchor for an arts and entertainment area in Jersey City.

  • Henri

    Congratulations to Bob Antonicello. Bob is an ethical, highly skilled technocrat, who unlike his HEDC counterpart – was uninvolved in the ongoing crruption investigation. Some may not agree with all of Bob’s decisions as JCRA director, but his love for Jersey City is apparent in the many city-wide projects he oversees.

  • Meghan

    Bernie Madoff has more friends and would get more votes than Dan Levin in a political contest.

  • Frank L

    Considering that the ULI is not exactly known for their warm and fuzziness toward city officials, this is actually a big deal and a good deal for both parties.

    And while development has focused so much on Downtown, Bob’s been pushing for redevelopment projects in Journal Square, in the Heights, at the Hub, Hackensack waterfront and in areas where the kunckleheads in City Hall don’t want to touch so I applaud his effort — even though most city council peeps still have no idea what “sustainable” means.

  • Synonoymous

    Good one, Meghan. Your HCDO masters will be pleased.

  • Bendel

    Good one Henri. Can theJersey City Independent shed some light on how the city continues to employ Czaplicki as the head of Housing and Development when it was proven that he met with corrupt developer Solomon Dwek and is named in the Operation Bid Rig scandal?

    Mariano Vega’s refusal to step down pales in comparison to Czaplicki’s continued directorship of HEDC. How do they keep a director of Development in power to approve and deny tax abatements and new development when he is known to meet with corrupt developers and give them an ear?

    Antonicello, public official of the year? I’m not sure those looking at the big gaping hole in Journal Square every day would agree, but at least he had the common sense to stay away from Dwek when his counterpart Czaplicki did not.

  • Marcus

    Kudos to Mr. Antonicello. His able leadership at the redevelopment agency and his constant presence at the HUB shows that this “Urban-minded” bureaucrat has the right focus and leadership that this City requires. His accomplishments both in JSQ, the HUB and infill areas throughout the City is being recognized throughout the country and region as a result of his assuming the chairmanship of ULI of NJ.

  • Frank L

    Bendel, I can see your anger about Vega and Czaplicki but what does that have to do with Bob becoming the ULI chair? If you’re suggesting that there is corruption in Jersey City then sadly I’ll agree with you but regarding Bob, I can tell you that he’s an honest guy who clearly cares about this town more than lining his own pockets. He’s one of the few people working for the city that has vision for a town that has been largely abandoned or sold out by our beer-and-hot dog chomping opportunists, i.e., city council, cops, firemen, city government. He’s not a career politician, nor a career functionary and for that reason the ULI sees the potential in having a person that can be bridge the gap between public and private. There aren’t too many people that can play in that space.

    And don’t blame JSQ on Bob. Blame it on the city council and Rich Boggiano — they’re the ones that lack the vision.