Facts About the Proposed Basketball Practice Facility and Stormwater Concerns

Updated June 21, 2023

University Discusses Flooding Concerns with Student and SGA President

Seton Hall's Vice President of Student Services and Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations met with students, including SGA President Kai, via Teams to discuss concerns arising from recent media reports about the University’s role in stormwater management and its influence on neighborhood flooding.

We clarified our ongoing collaboration with Newark to monitor flow rates and maintain efficient drainage systems. Additionally, Newark has started installing extra catch basins to accommodate more water.

Bi-annual meetings with the Town and residents have been planned to keep the community informed. Completed studies on the matter should now be accessible on the South Orange Planning Board's website. Together with Newark, Essex County, South Orange, and the State of New Jersey, we aim to employ federal funds for stormwater management and flood mitigation to benefit the Ivy Hill community.

Updated March 14, 2023

University Holds Town Hall Session with Community, Government Officials

The University hosted a town hall meeting on March 14 with community members and city, county and state government officials. At the meeting, Newark officials presented the study conducted by the City of Newark of the proposed practice facility and the surrounding area.  The study corroborated and confirmed what University and other government engineers have previously concluded: that due to Seton Hall’s voluntary actions (I.e., the institution of retention and drainage systems 25 percent larger than requirements as well as the implementation of a series of other infrastructural and engineering solutions) the practice facility will actually help mitigate existing water runoff from the site and thereby reduce flooding in the Ivy Hill neighborhood.   

Furthermore, the Newark study also confirmed that although improvements have been made over the years, the applicable portion of Seton Hall’s campus has held the same amount of impervious coverage for the past 30-40 years.

As Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said of Seton Hall to Newark residents, “We want them to build more mitigation systems. And any project that does that, helps us.”

We are pleased to have convened this meeting and facilitated the partnership with Newark, Essex County, South Orange and the State of New Jersey to work toward a full-scale collaborative solution for the people of Ivy Hill. And, of course, the effort to secure funds already provided by the federal government to New Jersey for stormwater management and flood mitigation.  

University Holds Town Hall Sessions with Students and Faculty

The University hosted two town hall meetings for student leaders and the Setonian (January 31) and for Faculty Senate and priest community representatives (February 7). Facilities, engineering and legal team representatives met with the students and walked through the plans and the mechanics of the engineering of the project designed to exceed state and local requirements by 25 percent and to lessen the amount of water runoff in the area as it currently exists. The University representatives answered questions and dialogued with the students, referencing drawings, renderings, and plans to explain. The engineers demonstrated that the practice facility project will actually reduce stormwater runoff.

Special Meeting, March 14

Seton Hall appreciates the South Orange Planning Board’s thorough consideration of our application and welcomes a special planning board meeting, now scheduled for March 14. We do empathize deeply with our neighbors and the community and the concerns they have shared. That is why we have convened over 30 meetings with our neighbors and local, county, and state government leaders to seek multifaceted solutions to this multifaceted problem.

Updated January 23, 2023

On January 10, 2023, updated documents were submitted to the planning board to address review comments dated January 3, 2023. Subsequently, Seton Hall received a copy of the memorandum dated January 19, 2023, from the Planning Board Consulting Engineer (Bowman) to the Planning Board Secretary, stating, “Based upon the information provided, our office has confirmed that the testimony provided has addressed the regulatory requirements as they relate to stormwater management. Further, the comments contained in our prior memoranda have been addressed to our satisfaction.”

Updated January 5, 2023

Seton Hall decided to postpone its practice facility application in order to provide the Planning Board’s engineer with clarifying information requested at the December meeting. We are compiling and will be providing this information shortly. We fully intend to proceed with the application after submitting the requested materials.

December 15, 2022

Engineering and Stormwater Management

Water retention and runoff is an engineering issue. Importantly, on Seton Hall’s invitation, engineers from various government entities examined the site of the proposed construction, the construction proposal and the affected neighborhood. Newark, South Orange and Seton Hall engineers have agreed that because Seton Hall has voluntarily chosen to increase the size and number of drainage pipes and expand its stormwater retention basin to the maximum size available within the topography (stormwater retention and drainage capacity designed 16 percent above state and local requirements) that the project will actually help to mitigate existing water runoff and make the situation better.
 
Downhill from Seton Hall and a large portion of South Orange, we understand that the area in question functions as a basin and is a multifaceted problem that needs a multifaceted solution. The proposed student recreation center and basketball practice facility are the first step in that solution by decreasing water runoff in the area, according to the engineers. 
 
In seeking additional solutions and assistance for our neighbors in Ivy Hill, over the last four months, Seton Hall has proactively convened more than 30 meetings with area residents, officials, and engineers from Newark, South Orange, and Essex County as well as members of the New Jersey DEP and the DCA, who have expressed a willingness to engage both time and resources in coming to a shared responsible, equitable and sustainable solution. 
 
We have always stood by our neighbors in Newark and always will. We are proud to have played a part in that great city’s renaissance and look forward to a shared future and are committed to continuing as a partner in its flourishing. For over 162 years, we have done our best to be good neighbors, honoring our Catholic mission to do good in the communities of which we are a part. Doing so provides both economic and societal positive impact.

Seton Hall Provides a Significant, Positive Economic Impact

An independent analysis in 2021 found that Seton Hall University produces a $1.6 billion impact in New Jersey annually. Locally, the impact of annual operations amounts to $270 million for South Orange and $504 million in Essex County, which houses all three of Seton Hall’s campuses and supports 3,680 jobs with $234 million in earnings. 

In Newark Since 1951, Expanding Our Presence

Notably, our Law School has been in downtown Newark since 1951 and at its present location at the corner of Raymond Boulevard and Market Street since 1991. While other institutions left the City, we rebuilt. And we are proud to have played a part in Newark’s renaissance and just as pleased to continue as a partner in its flourishing.

Seton Hall recently expanded its presence in Newark with a satellite space and Welcome Center in the heart of the city’s Gateway Complex. The space is also envisioned as another home for some of Seton Hall’s many longstanding, Newark-focused community outreach programs, including public health, financial literacy, pro-bono legal services, and nonprofit internships.

Beyond Finances: Investing in the Good of the Community Through Education and Service to Newark

Significant service programs undertaken by the University as part of its mission provide additional, impactful value to its local and regional communities, including Newark. Throughout the University, more than 3,000 volunteers provide approximately 50,000 hours of service annually. Some examples of our service to Newark and our adjacent neighbors can be found below.

Seton Hall Provides Numerous Newark-Centered Service Initiatives

The Greater Newark Healthcare Coalition comprises significant decision-makers in the City of Newark who tackle some of the most enduring healthcare challenges in the city. Seton Hall Law faculty, students, and the Center for Health & Pharmaceutical Law play a prominent role in the Coalition.

Seton Hall Law School sponsors the Institute for Pre-Legal Studies, a pipeline program with a special admit Legal Education Opportunity Program and a partnership with NJ LEEP, which has opened the door of opportunity to thousands of students from Newark and the surrounding areas, providing dedicated scholarships to graduates of these programs as well as Newark residents.

Our Center for Community Research and Engagement (CCRE) was established in 1997 to address the needs of Seton Hall's neighboring urban communities in partnership with nonprofit organizations and community residents. A recent signature of CCRE is its Seton Hall Experiential Learning and Leadership through Service (SHELLS) program. This program is designed to expose students to careers and opportunities to serve in the nonprofit sector by expanding the service-learning program at the University through the integration of academic and community-based intellectual work.

Much of CCRE’s work is Newark-focused and includes, most recently, the Change for Good program initiated with the Newark Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery. The program is designed to give high-risk adults a second chance and area youth what may be their first. Participants are given the opportunity to heal, transform their thinking and engage in a curriculum designed to foster a variety of career paths and enable these young men and women to become more productive members of society.

Investments in Local K-12 Students

The University is a regular supporter of local schools such as Columbia High School and Cristo Rey Newark High School. Seton Hall students participate in service efforts, including tutoring opportunities in the South Orange-Maplewood School District and the 'Pen Pal Day' initiative that pairs University athletes with students in Newark.

The University has a formal partnership with the Newark School District for clinical interns, which brings Seton Hall students directly into area classrooms. We have an Affiliation Agreement with Newark Public Schools for our initial licensure teacher candidates and regularly place 12-25 students in district per semester in schools such as: Arts High School, First Ave School, Salome Urena, Lafayette St School and Park Ave School. The University also partners with St. Benedict’s Preparatory School and are waiting to finalize Affiliation Agreements from two charter schools in Newark – Link Community Charter Schools and Great Oaks Legacy Charter Schools. 
 
In addition, Seton Hall Law School sponsors the legal pipeline program known as the Institute for Pre-Legal Studies, a special admit Legal Education Opportunity Program, and a partnership with NJ LEEP, a program that uses legal training as the basis for preparing Newark-area high school students for college and beyond. These pipeline programs have opened the door of opportunity to thousands of students from Newark and the surrounding areas.

Seton Hall, Part of Newark’s Renaissance

Seton Hall’s School of Law provided nearly 18,000 hours of legal services through its Center for Social Justice. Valued at almost $2.2 million, the services were provided free of charge to members of the community, many of whom reside in Newark and adjacent cities. Also, Seton Hall University’s College of Nursing has been awarded a $3.6 million grant by the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through its Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention-Mobile Health Training Program to provide mobile health services to residents of the City of Newark.

We remain committed to working collaboratively with our neighbors, local elected officials, the City of Newark, and Essex County to foster greater understanding and to explore and arrive at mutually beneficial solutions. For over 162 years, we have done our best to be good neighbors, honoring our Catholic mission to do good in the communities of which we are a part.

November 21, 2022

Seton Hall has applied to the South Orange Planning Board for approval to develop a state-of-the art basketball practice facility on its campus, largely within the existing footprint of the Richie Regan Recreation and Athletic Center.

About the Proposed Basketball Practice Facility Project

Competing in the BIG EAST Conference provides the University with an enhanced level of visibility and recognition, particularly beyond the Garden State. This recognition helps Seton Hall recruit exceptional student athletes, attract top students from across the nation, and keep many outstanding New Jersey students in state.

A recent analysis revealed that Seton Hall’s basketball practice facilities are woefully inadequate, especially in comparison to competitor BIG EAST schools.

To retain our prominence within the conference and position the athletic program for future success — particularly in terms of recruitment and team preparation — a new practice facility is essential. It is imperative that Seton Hall’s facilities receive a state-of-the-art upgrade to align with the training requirements of today’s student athletes.

Listening to and Responding to Neighbors’ Concerns

In response to the University’s application, some of our neighbors in the Ivy Hill section of Newark reached out and expressed concerns that the proposed basketball practice facility would contribute to stormwater flooding in Ivy Hill. Our neighbors, like Seton Hall and other communities throughout the State, were severely impacted by the unprecedented rainfall that occurred during Hurricane Ida.

After hearing our neighbor’s concerns, Seton Hall immediately postponed the initial public hearing on its application. The University then hosted community meetings with Ivy Hill to present the development plans for the practice facility, hear concerns, answer questions, and evaluate how the University could improve the project

Following these discussions, the University swiftly took several steps which had been requested by our neighbors. By way of example, the University:

• Agreed to participate in a joint stormwater study;
   
• Increased the capacity for the proposed stormwater storage system associated with the proposed basketball practice facility well beyond all State, local, and other regulatory requirements;
   
• Modified its plans to provide for additional curbing and catch basins along the joint boundary between Seton Hall and Ivy Hill;
   
• Restricted egress through the swipe gate leading from campus to Woodbine Avenue in order to reduce pedestrian traffic, at our neighbors’ request;
   
• Installed privacy fabric on the fences between campus and the Ivy Hill neighborhood, at our neighbors’ request;
   
• Relocated trash receptacles located closest to site of the proposed basketball practice facility to other portions of the campus;
   
• Offered to examine applicable Newark sewer drainage outlets, whose maintenance and capacity may have a significant impact on area flooding.

We have always been, and remain committed to responsible growth by meeting, and often exceeding, the demands of state and local building codes and ordinances – by incorporating additional features geared toward environmental responsibility and sustainability.

Notably, the enhanced stormwater detention system for the practice facility exceeds all State and local requirements and, once installed, will improve existing conditions.

Seton Hall’s Commitment to the Community

Seton Hall has been a staple in the South Orange and Newark communities since 1860. The University prides itself on providing a world class education to its students, the majority of whom hail from New Jersey, and believes that investing in our students and communities is essential.

• We have and continue to strictly adhere to all building and environmental regulations in the design and construction of any improvements to our campus;
   
• The University’s plan for the project features an enhanced stormwater detention system. The stormwater detention system meets and exceeds State and local requirements for the project. It stores and detains approximately 16% more stormwater runoff then what is required under the applicable NJDEP and South Orange requirements for the project;
   
• Seton Hall was also impacted by flooding during Hurricane Ida, sustaining significant damage to newly-renovated facilities within the Recreation Center;
   
• University property in the Ivy Hill neighborhood also suffered damage.

We remain committed to working collaboratively with our neighbors, local elected officials, the City of Newark, and Essex County to foster greater understanding and to explore and arrive at mutually beneficial solutions. For over 162 years, we have done our best to be good neighbors, honoring our Catholic mission to do good in the communities of which we are a part.

Questions regarding this community update may be shared with University Relations. Members of the media should contact the Director of Media Relations at 973-378-2638 for inquiries.