Once again the City Council heard the administration pitch a plan for the city to pick up a $6,500 monthly tab for upkeep of the Armory, this time with the promise of 25- to 30-year lease by a charter school company.The deal would include city use of the premises during off hours, Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson told the governing body Tuesday.
The charter school firm had previously made an offer, then withdrew. The city is facing a June 30 deadline for expiration of its $1 a month lease while seeking a long-term tenant, but Councilman Cory Storch questioned a lack of details about how the proposed tenant would use the building. Councilman Adrian Mapp called the building a "money pit" and pointed out that city use of the building would entail costs for personnel, maintenance and debt service.
As she has done previously, Council President Annie McWilliams said the city already has venues for events in the school district's community schools. Click here for Plaintalker's April post on the Armory issue.
The council's low interest in the scheme did not go over well with city resident Vivian Henry, who in public comment chided the legislators, saying, "If we don't use it, other people will come into Plainfield ... don't sit around and play games with that armory. Use that armory before someone else takes it."
Meanwhile, speakers said the Armory grounds are currently covered with high grass and the city can't cut it, as it is state property. Officials promised to come up with some solution to that problem.
--Bernice
Why does it always seem the Administration is trying to pull a fast one on us? Maybe the reality is they are.
ReplyDeleteIf REEDS, the charter school developer, has a real plan, let them come forward, and go talk with the state who owns the property. If there's another interested party, speak up. If the mayor has another idea, spit it out. If not, stop with the games.
Money doesn't grow on trees. The people of this city are hurting. Almost everyone is watching their budget. There are many with real needs that require public assistance, and it's no time for real estate shenanigans, or any other deceptions that drain our pockets without providing sustainable relief.
There has been talk of a cultural and arts center, but this is a residential area, and such development would be better off downtown where it could potentially spark new growth and be centrally located. The best bet, off the top of my head, would be to convert it to residential use and put it on the tax rolls. It's a short walk to the Netherwood Station, and fits with the Transit Oriented Development concept.
But a school though? There are already three or four within a few blocks. Maybe the whole idea is to bastardize the school district and create traffic safety issues all over.
Or maybe the idea is just to use public money to enrich someone or other by giving them a cutrate deal. How many employees has the city layed off to get the money to fiddle away? How many insults can the hard-working, or in-need of work, people of Plainfield take before they say enough is enough? For a short-term fix, let the mayor and assemblyman get on the phone with the governor and tell him they're bringing over their Snappers to mow the lawn, and they'll only charge the state $1.
What have other communities done with their Armories? Why doesn't someone take a look at that. I think the Mayor doesn't know what she's doing and she's being drawn in by the lure of $1 a year without really putting pen to paper to calculate the overall expenses of maintaining and operating that facility.
ReplyDeleteAnother charter school? Really? For a city with a horrible educational system we have schools sprouting up all over the place; why don't we just focus on what we have and improve upon that. (off topic, but. . . )Similarly with churches in this city -- so much sinning and violence on the streets of Plainfield, yet there are churches left and right . . . this is all a paradox of sorts.
Let's be creative about how this space will be used, if at all.
I think I first heard the $6,500 monthly tab for the upkeep of the armory from Tony Rucker. I challenged him on that number. He promised to get back to me and never did. Just heating the building would cost at least that amount per month. The armory is a white elephant that the state is trying to dump onto the City of Plainfield. It would have to brought up to code to serve any useful purpose which would cost the city in excess of 1 million dollars. A 30 year lease from a charter school means nothing if the school is out of business in five years. Instead of investing in useless buildings, useless technology, we should be investing in people.
ReplyDeleteBernice,
ReplyDeleteI was gonna comment here, but decided to aggregate my comments on my own blog. I am in agreement with the sentiments expressed by Nat and Alan.
Rebecca
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteBernice,
ReplyDeleteWhy would you post a comment like 12.56 pm ?
I realize it's your soapbox (as Dan Damon would say) but I am curious.
jim spear
Everyone should consider thinking outside the box. The Armory could be the site of the New Jersey Fire Museum. The State of NJ has in its possession the Ernie Day Collection of Fire Engines and Memorabilia, and Mr. Day was an area resident and businessman. His busieness was located in Greenbrook on Washington Ave., and his collection should come back to the area. There has been talk of placing it in Allaire State Park. The Armory would be a great and better place, and the building is already there and owned by the State of NJ. The armory is located near the Netherwood Fire House (on the National Register) and near the Netherwood Train Station within walking distance for people out of state. It has parking and storage for repairs to the equipment, etc. This could bring jobs, and cultural tourism economic development to the City. I only wish it was in the West End.
ReplyDelete