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Atlantic City Market Update
by Paul P. Josephson
Hill Wallack LLP, which has handled major land use and development matters statewide for years,
expanded further in the Atlantic City and South Jersey marketplace in January 2007 with our acquisition of
Sandson & DeLucry LLC. The Sandson firm has long been at the center of land use and business matters for
casinos and developers in Atlantic City and throughout Atlantic County.
Our new Atlantic City office, conveniently located in the heart of Atlantic City and next to the Casino
Reinvestment Development Authority, consists of four full time attorneys backed up by our Princeton and
Pennsylvania offices, and is already poised for growth. Led by partner-in-charge Paul P. Josephson, the
Atlantic City team includes Richard F. DeLucry and Timothy J. Lowry, experienced land use and real estate
practitioners, and former Atlantic City Assistant Solicitor Joseph R. Dougherty. We expect to be adding more
attorneys to satisfy client demand for top flight representation on complex projects.
The team is bullish on Atlantic City’s prospects for further growth. Governor Corzine and his economic
development czar, Gary Rose, have placed Atlantic City high on their list of priorities. Three new casinos,
and two major casino redevelopments, are slated for the near future. In addition, no less than fifteen major
residential projects are currently proposed within the city proper.
Hill Wallack LLP attorneys are playing a key role in several of these developments, especially in the
North Beach area near Absecon Inlet.
One client, industry leader Lennar, seeks to continue its success with development and construction of
Reflections, a mid-rise, luxury condominium community located along the Absecon Inlet waterfront. Lennar seeks
to develop the 2.26-acre parcel with a 370,676 gross square-foot, six-story building comprised of 179
condominium homes on five residential floors.
Another Hill Wallack LLP client, Scannapieco Development, has developed Atlantic City’s first
ultra-luxury condominiums, the Bella. The Bella is a 27-story, $34 million high-rise comprised of 200
condominiums. Townhouses ring the perimeter at street level, masking the structured parking garage and
creating a relationship with the surrounding low-rise residential neighborhood.
Another 1,100 residential units plus retail are planned for the neighborhood.
Hill Wallack LLP attorneys also play a major role in negotiating the assemblage of key parcels and
land use approvals for other residential and commercial projects all over the city. Historically,
new development in Atlantic City and other urban areas has been hampered by high local property tax rates.
We have worked closely on behalf of our clients to secure both short and longer term tax abatements that
reduce these impediments to urban redevelopment. Opportunities abound for profit and non-profit development
in Atlantic City and throughout the region. We encourage you to contact any of our Atlantic City attorneys
to discuss your needs and opportunities in this exciting environment.
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