With vigor, Cherry Hill has begun using redevelopment – a state-sanctioned combination of tax incentives, spot zoning, negotiated purchases, and the implicit threat of eminent domain – to start replacing vacant or shabby properties.
When a property becomes an eyesore or drags down property values, “it’s up to the town to take a good look and ask ‘What would be its best and highest use?’ ” said Erin Gill, chief of staff to Mayor Chuck Cahn.
The goal, Gill said, is to replace them with structures that bolster the tax base and please the eye.
With that in mind, Cherry Hill’s planning board on Monday gave final approval to what it calls the Park Boulevard plan, the first of five projects now in its redevelopment pipeline.