If I had my wish, a "state of business" address for the city would tell me how things are going in the downtown and on South Avenue - new businesses, successful business retention efforts, the turnover rate and especially how Urban Enterprise Zone funds are being used to support business since the state turned the money back to the city to manage.
How is the city interacting with major commercial property holders, such as Paramount? Are Latino and Asian merchants sharing in business discussions or are merchants on their own? What is the status of a proposed business registry?
There was talk a while ago of developing a "neighborhood commercial district" on East Second Street. It appears this district may be up for a study now and one hears of meetings to advance plans over there. Any specifics? Will an upgrade be only cosmetic, with new benches and such, or is a theme contemplated?
I did hear the mayor this week talk about the TOD-D concept and the transit village designation. The transit village idea was raised in 2006, but an application just went to the state in late 2012. Granted, the linked article from 2006 reveals that the administration did not understand the concept, but why such a lag?
And once again, the TOD-D plan that someone at City Hall didn't trust me to write about got glossed over at Wednesday's meeting. Do you know there is a Cleveland Avenue Arts district proposed, or that Lot 6 is once again being eyed for a parking deck? No, we heard that transit villages will have places to walk and bike, but not much on the attractions.
And what of the parking deck that is already downtown? Is the development entity of the as-yet unnamed county building still thumbing its nose at the city by refusing to share the deck, move the Park Avenue clock or finish off the 50-plus conditions imposed by city planners on its occupancy?
I did not attend Thursday's meeting, as I planned to go to another meeting at night, but if I missed anything, feel free to fill me in. The mayor did offer Wednesday to provide copies of a Rutgers report on community and economic development in Plainfield. I have seen it: it's 148 pages, but well worth a look, even if you just read the major findings and recommendations. The next step was supposed to be "Plainfield 2021," a report produced over six months. That was in late 2011. May we know its status?
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And what of the parking deck that is already downtown? Is the development entity of the as-yet unnamed county building still thumbing its nose at the city by refusing to share the deck, move the Park Avenue clock or finish off the 50-plus conditions imposed by city planners on its occupancy?
ReplyDelete... Why would the developer finish or do what they're "supposed" to do? The developer knows push come to shove the city will back down. In any other city when the governing body says "do it" they come back with a time-line and a list of consequences ( fines ) that are imposed when it isn't done.
In Plainfield: " Oh..did we forget about that again ??? "
Bernice: you may not have missed much. According to Mark Spivey's article in The Courier. the mayor gave a political speech on how electing her to a third four-year term will magically solve everything - after eight years of lassitude. Will Jeff Dunn and the "Chamber of Commerce" invite Adrian Mapp to give his political pitch? Not bloody likely.
ReplyDeleteHi Bernice,
ReplyDeleteI think we all should stop referring to the eastern shopping area of Plainfield as South Avenue and start calling this district by it's real name, NETHERWOOD.
Netherwood is a name that Plainfielders' should be proud of as it is rich in our own history.
The Netherwood section of Plainfield spans from the south at Watchung Avenue and to the north at the Greenbrook. It has it's own train station, it's own post office, it's own firehouse, it's own historic district and it's own zip code. At one time a six story hotel was located in the heart of Netherwood in the area known as Netherwood Heights. In a 1920's New York times article the Hotel was referred to as "the place to be between New York and Philadelphia".
In the shopping area I refer to as Netherwood, there is a sign that reads Plainwood Square. This is also the name of the merchant group started by stores in the district. I was told that part of this name refers to Scotch Plains and Fanwood, as if shamefully hiding from it's Plainfield origins.
When you mentioned the TOD-D concept in your article, that designation means Transit Oriented Development - Downtown. As you have reported before the TOD-N has cleared the planning board and now heads for council approval, this designation given by the city is TOD-Netherwood, not TOD-South Ave, and certainly not TOD-Plainwood Square.
Let's start calling this area of Plainfield what it truly is, NETHERWOOD, much like areas that proud New Yorkers refers to like, Tribecca, Chelsea, SoHo, Noho . . .
jim spear
Shady Sharonda strkes again and I hope the voters don't buy into Sharon's BS. If she did nothing in over seven years what are are the chances this shifty leopard will change her spots? We need a positive change and Sharon's not it! This time vote like your future is at stake. Do you trust your future to Sharon?
ReplyDeletei noticed that when you mentioned local merchants that you left out african american/black merchants but did mention the latino asian merchants this seems to be a growing trend the exclusion of the black community in any dialogue about the future growth and developement of plainfield coded and loaded language is use such as day laborers to imply only latino men are seeking work when in groups but others when two or more are loitering with intent to commit a crime and told to move on just as blacks contributed to the building of america we will contribute to saving plainfield. norman johnson community organizer for peace progress and prosperity for all.
ReplyDeleteMr Johnson, stop being so racist and making every issue about the black community. you say peace progress and prosperity for all yet you continually focus on the black community, all you clearly care about is the black community and your statements make that obvious. The black community will not save plainfield, the latino community wont save plainfield, the asian community wont save plainfield, the white community wont save plainfield, is any of that sinking in?? The only thing that will save plainfield is a community that can work together without racial divides that you as a community organizer are promoting! The logical reason why african american/black merchants were not mentioned is because they were the ones in charge and running the business community, and we can see how well that has worked the last few decades. If you followed the census and the trends the latin / asian community is increasing over the years and so is their merchant community. The real question is why the black community is not including them as merchants. As they grow their voices need to be heard to encourage growth and development for the entire community of plainfield, not just the black community.
DeleteAn open-minded plainfield resident