A property once owned by corrupt New Jersey developer Fred Daibes – who is in prison for bribing former Senator Bob Menendez with gold bars – is now at the center of new corruption allegations.
Cliffside Park is suing Edgewater officials for allegedly allowing construction at 440 River Road in Edgewater to exceed height limits. In the lawsuit, Cliffside Park officials accuse Edgewater leaders of improperly making “zoning and building decisions on its relationship with Daibes.”
News 4
News 4 Fred Daibes
Judge Gregg Padovano has issued a temporary restraining order on any additional construction as the two North Jersey boroughs battle over the height of the project for a new hotel and condominiums.
In its lawsuit, Cliffside Park said the project – now headed by a firm, North Star Partners – was supposed to be capped at 150 feet. But construction has allegedly surpassed 172 feet and could soon threaten Hudson River views and property values in Cliffside Park.
Handout
Handout 440 River Road Edgewater
The project has been planned since 2017. Fred Daibes was convicted in July 2024 in a wide-ranging bribe scheme with Menendez. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for making payoffs. He was sentenced to three years in prison in a separate bank fraud scheme, which runs concurrently with his 7-year bribery term.
Lawyers for North Star argue the plaintiffs have failed to establish grounds for relief under the law and the developer will face economic harm by any halt in construction.
But Judge Padovano issued the restraining order, saying the development “… is egregiously exceeding the height and mass of the project permitted …” under the 2018 approval. He added the local zoning board never provided any variance or public notice about any changes to the construction plans.
News of the controversy was first reported by NorthJersey.com.
Attorneys for North Star, Daibes, and the Boroughs of Edgewater and Cliffside Park did not immediately return calls for comment regarding the Judge’s restraining order.
The next court hearing is scheduled for September 4 at the Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack.
