Newark has been losing population steadily for four decades, although some progress has been made in recent years for replacing decrepit high-rise projects with more family-friendly townhouses. The New Newark plan is ambitious--all that's missing are the developers.

At issue is the $17.5 million worth of real estate, a total of three square blocks across from Military Park, that New Newark has under its control. The focal point of the sweeping proposal is the massive, one million-sf Hahne & Co. department store building, along with Griffith Plaza, that New Newark wants turned into luxury residences and ground-floor retailing. The buildings have been vacant for almost 20 years.

A 60-page RFP, just issued, aims to get developers involved as soon as possible. Among New Newark's other downtown holdings is the old S. Klein department store, also long vacant, but which has recently drawn some interest from telecom companies.