
A foster mother's story inspires a holiday surprise in Irvington.
IRVINGTON — Sal Garcia just had to help Mary Reed. This year alone, Irvington resident Reed, 60, single-handedly took in 13 foster children — many siblings, all under 12. "She deserved to be rewarded," said Garcia, a 30-year-old real estate developer who saw Reed’s story in The Sunday Star-Ledger. "A person who takes in children like that — who aren’t even her own — is a special person. I didn’t want to just write a check. I wanted to do something bigger and more interesting.

A Developer's Blight Idea
It's difficult for a newer developer to get a foot in the door. But one underserved market is retail in lower-income neighborhoods, where many developers aren't eager to build, says MAS Development Group principal Sal Garcia; his firm recently transformed an abandoned drug- and crime-ridden block on Chancellor Ave in Irvington. Click here to see the full article at bisnow.com