Mr. Goldsmith's practice focuses on redevelopment, downtown and urban revitalization, transit oriented development, project financing and incentives, sustainable building initiatives and public-private partnerships. His experience encompasses counseling clients on the specialized issues in redevelopment related to parking demand, design and construction. Mr. Goldsmith also has broad experience in complex commercial litigation, construction litigation and appellate work.
Lawyer Profile
Robert S. Goldsmith
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Recognized Since:2007
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Recognized in:Land Use and Zoning LawReal Estate Law
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Law School:Rutgers University School of Law, Newark
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Lawyer Page:
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Website:
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Phone:
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Location:75 Livingston AvenueRoseland, NJ 07068-3701
Lawyer Bio
Education:
- Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, J.D., graduated 1977
- New York University, B.A., with honors, graduated 1973
Bar Admissions:
- New Jersey, NJ - 1977
- New York, NY - 1989
Affiliations:
- Downtown New Jersey - President; Member, Executive Committee
- Metropolitan Builders & Contractors Association of New Jersey - Member
- Middlesex County Bar Association - Member
- NAIOP - Member, New Jersey Chapter
- New Jersey State Bar Association - Member
- Regional Plan Association - Member, New Jersey Committee
- Rutgers School of Law-Newark Alumni Association - Member, Executive Committee; Past President
- The Counselors of Real Estate - Member, New Jersey Chapter
- Urban Land Institute - Member, Northern New Jersey Chapter
- New Jersey Future - Trustee and Board Member
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:
- Land Use and Zoning Law, Woodbridge (2019)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Real Estate Law
Awards:
- Recipient of a New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award (2009)
- Recipient of the President's Award for Distinguished Leadership in Planning from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association (2007)
Areas of Expertise:
- Appellate
- Commercial
- Condemnation
- Construction
- Development
- Eminent Domain
- Finance
- Land Use
- Municipal
- Public Finance
- Residential
- Tax Certiorari
- Zoning
Additional Information:
Rutgers University School of Law, Newark
Developed and teaches a course in redevelopment law
Kislak Real Estate Institute at Monmouth University
Teaches a course in redevelopment law
Lawyer Client Comments
"As CEO of a redevelopment firm specializing in inner city housing and mixed use, I have found Bob Goldsmith to be responsive, effective, and efficient. He not only knows the applicable law, but also his way around the system. Being an attorney myself, I can appreciate not only the technical know-how, but the practical experience which Bob brings to the table. Some lawyers are "deal breakers." Bob Goldsmith is a "deal maker" - he is creative and he listens to his client's needs, preferences, and strategy in doing his job."
Michael Fink, Esq., Leewood Real Estate Group/NJ, LLC, Staten Island
"Bob Goldmsith has worked with our office on a number of projects over the years. I have worked personally with Bob for about three years and have always been impressed with his knowledge of New Jersey Legal issues, primarily those associated with Smart Growth. He approaches his work with passion and is a clear communicator, which motivates the entire project team. Bob and his firm are always at the top of our list for recommendations associated with planning, redevelopment, and other construction-related projects in the State of New Jersey."
Glenn Haydu, Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners, Lambertville
"Bob Goldsmith has served as special counsel and general counsel to the Parking Authority of the Town of Morristown for 25 years. Bob has the finest legal mind I have ever encountered. His immeasurable and unparalleled experience and extensive knowledge of redevelopment has earned him the reputation as one of New Jersey's most respected experts on redevelopment law and Smart Growth objectives. Through his leadership, the Parking Authority of the Town of Morristown has completed six major redevelopment projects that have contributed significantly to the revitalization of Morristown. He is revered for his friendly personality, intellect, integrity, and negotiating skills, which have inured to the benefit of the Parking Authority and Town of Morristown."
George Fiore, The Parking Authority of the Town of Morristown, Morristown
Firm Details
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP
http://www.greenbaumlaw.com
Headquarters
Metro Corporate Campus One
99 Wood Avenue South
Iselin, NJ 08830-2712
(732) 549.5600
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Lawyer Case History
Gallenthin Realty Development, Inc. v. Borough of Paulsboro
191 N.J. 344 (N.J. 2007)
First major decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court dealing with redevelopment in 35 years.
Mixed Use Redevelopment Project
Counseled a joint venture between developer Jonathan Rose Companies and JP Morgan Chase on title and construction loan closings for a mixed use redevelopment project in South Orange, NJ. The project will consist of a 215 unit LEED certified apartment building, retail space and a 500+ space parking facility, a portion of which will be available for public use. The firm advised on the transfer of property to our client pursuant to a Redevelopment Agreement previously negotiated by our team, and also negotiated a $38,500,000 construction mortgage loan for the project. The deal represents a major milestone for the project and a significant step forward for South Orange’s downtown redevelopment.
Counsel to the Morristown Parking Authority
Mr. Goldsmith has served as Counsel to the Morristown Parking Authority since 1983, leading to broad-based involvement in numerous downtown redevelopment projects in the Town of Morristown. That representation has included involvement in three structured parking facilities creating more than 2,000 parking spaces and leveraging more than $500,000,000 in private sector investment.
Epstein’s project
Involved in the development of the “Epstein’s project” in Morristown from 2002 to the present. The project now includes the properties known as 40 Park, the Metropolitan, the 14 Maple Avenue Office Building and the DeHart Street Garage, with an approximate value in excess of $300,000,000. Mr. Goldsmith’s services included declaration of the Area in Need of Rehabilitation, creation of the Redevelopment Plan, negotiation of tenant leases, negotiation of complex agreements for parking, access, development and allocation of costs between the Morristown Parking Authority and the private redeveloper, negotiation of contracts for the construction of the DeHart Street Garage and 14 Maple Avenue office building, and the Gold LEED certification for those properties.
Counsel to Morristown Partnership
Serves as counsel to Morristown Partnership, a Special Improvement District established in Morristown in 1994.
Headquarters Plaza
From 1978 – 1990, served as special counsel for the Headquarters Plaza Project, a then $100,000,000 redevelopment venture in Morristown, handling all aspects of the negotiations, contracts and litigation relating to the project.
Pier Village and Beachfront North
Served as special counsel to the City of Long Branch with respect to the oceanfront developments of Pier Village and Beachfront North.
Redevelopment of brownfield site
Represented Thorlabs, Inc. in negotiating the terms for the Redevelopment Agreement, Financial Agreement and financing for the redevelopment of a brownfield site in Newton for its $25,000,000 corporate headquarters and production facility.
Negotiation of Complex Financial Agreements
Represented Somerset Development and Avalon Bay in negotiation of complex Financial Agreements for payments in lieu of taxes for residential developments in Woodridge, New Jersey.
Redevelopment Project
Represented Landmark Properties in the development of the Landmark at Rahway redevelopment project which was recently sold to Roseland Mack Cali.
Redevelopment Project
Represented KHovnanian in the redevelopment project of the villages at Delaware Run in Trenton, New Jersey.
Revenue Allocation District
Represented the City of Millville, New Jersey in the creation of the first and only Revenue Allocation District in the State of New Jersey, the precursor to tax increment financing or what is now an ERG Grant.
Teachers Village
Provided pro bono counsel to the Discovery School, a charter school in Newark, in relation to its lease and occupancy in Teachers Village, a dynamic redevelopment project in the heart of downtown Newark. Mr. Goldsmith has been proud to represent this school, which changes the lives of inner city children.
Special Counsel for Redevelopment
Served as special counsel for redevelopment to the municipalities of Morristown, Woodbridge, Princeton, Westfield, Millville, Netcong, North Wildwood, Robbinsville and Belmar.
Redevelopment Projects
Provided counsel with respect to redevelopment projects in Woodbridge, Rahway, South Amboy, Jersey City, Morristown, South Bound Brook, Matawan, Wildwood, Stanhope, Netcong, Phillipsburg, Trenton, Aberdeen, East Brunswick, West Orange, Bloomfield, Hoboken, Newark, South Orange, Linden and Cranford.
Special Improvement Districts
Guided Newark in the creation of the Newark Downtown District SID, the Bergen Lyons and Clinton SID and the SID funding mechanism for the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Special Improvement Districts
Serves as counsel to Special Improvement Districts in the Wildwoods, Livingston, Seaside Heights, and Newark.
