July 9, 2025
Suleiman Urges CRDA to Insert “Use-It-Or-Lose-It” Reverter and Make Housing a Priority in Pacific Avenue Auction
(GALLOWAY) Michael Suleiman, founder of the nonprofit think tank South Jersey Forward, today urged the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to strengthen its auction of the former Delilah’s Den site by inserting a hard-deadline reverter clause into the contract and to prioritize residential proposals.
“CRDA can’t auction this or any other site without consequences for inaction,” said Suleiman. “We need a use-it-or-lose-it clause: if the buyer hasn’t started to develop this property within three years, then ownership should revert back to CRDA. This simple safeguard would force development, not foot-dragging that has become commonplace over the years.”
Despite prime zoning and federal Opportunity Zone incentives, the Pacific Avenue property carries no guardrails in the draft contract to prevent speculative land banking. South Jersey Forward first called for reverter clauses in its first report in 2023 on ways to spur more owner-occupied middle class housing in Atlantic City.
“Atlantic City and Atlantic County face severe shortages of affordable middle class housing, and this sort of redevelopment one block from the Boardwalk is uniquely positioned to facilitate much-needed neighborhood revitalization,” said Suleiman. “By giving special preference to housing proposals, and by ensuring that this property is actually developed, we can turn ownership of public land into real, on-the-ground progress.”
