Six hundred luxury apartments or maybe something else for Muhlenberg?
JFK Health Systems, owner of the former Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center campus on Randolph Road at Park Avenue, is actively promoting its plan that includes 600 apartments and is asking the City Council to approve zoning changes for it. See an animation of the development here.(Note: Video was deleted)
Meanwhile, Monday's City Council agenda includes a resolution to award a professional services contract to a Red Bank planning firm for a study of the Muhlenberg tract at a cost not to exceed $48,000. Bloggers will be checking the packet at the Plainfield Public Library today for more details.
At a March 2012 town meeting, residents and officials rejected the 600-unit apartment plan, but last month Rev. Gerald Lamont Thomas of Shiloh Baptist Church urged the council to accept JFK's proposal. See Plaintalker's follow-up Q&A with JFK's Adam Beder here. Beder, JFK's vice president for governmental affairs, said, "JFK does not object to the City hiring experts to help them in this process, but will not support added delays to this process."
The optimum result - restoration of a full acute care facility - appears to be fading as hospitals across the nation are facing the same issues that caused Muhlenberg to close in 2008, leaving only a satellite emergency room with links to JFK. That facility had been expected to close in August, but remains open as the debate on Muhlenberg's future continues.
The agenda-fixing session is 7:30 p.m. Monday in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice
After looking at the video this seems like the best for the city. Five years vacant will soon be 25 years like park Madison became only with an empty building.
ReplyDeleteHave some concerns about the study when they envision 50 new students at a cost of only $144,000. That's not real. Seems we are talking two or three new teachers at the very least. What is the current cost per student. Or do we assume the remainder of the costs will be paid by the state do to Abbott district.
How about a municipal complex and a true recreation center for the kids. We don't need anymore apartments.
ReplyDeleteI respectfully disagree 600 apartments is "best for the city."
ReplyDeleteWe have apartments going in downtown. We have a project "luxury condos" that hasn't sold, and now is being rented.
Plainfield needs development that attracts new businesses and jobs that doesn't add to city costs -- like schools and services.
600 apartments = more services, more kids in schools.
What about a speciality for-profit hospital related to senior medicine, with a housing component for assisted living, alzheimers and nursing home? That would provide a targeted "housing development" where the city doesn't incur additional costs like those associated to apartments.
Something like this would provide jobs, repurpose the campus.
JFK was advised by Jerry Green to go back out into the community. JFK has been holding meetings with some of Plainfield’s Clergy in hopes of getting buy in from them and any influence they might have on the city council. Keep in mind, Jerry Green hand-picked newly elected council member Reverend Tracy Brown for her seat and the fact that JFK was a contributor to Jerry Greens campaign this year and to Tracy Browns campaign last year, making this more than a little suspicious. JFK has gone directly to some of Rev Tracy Browns peers to gain favor from the city council. Jerry Green stands to gain greatly from this deal, including outfitting 600 units with top quality kitchen cabinets from the cabinet company that he owns, and I’m sure Tracy Brown’s only motive is to get at least 200 units dedicated for low income/affordable housing. At a recent city council meeting one of the Pastors that met with JKF asked the council to consider reading a letter JFK wrote. The letter was asking the City Council to vote in favor of granting JFK a variance to change the zoning that would allow the property to be developed into a 600 unit apartment complex. JFK is trying to convince the City Council that these particular Pastors are Leaders in the Plainfield community and they represent what the stakeholders want and need. I personally had a conversation with one Pastor and invited him to a block association meeting to hear from 3rd ward residence and he declined, saying he didn’t need to hear form us that he already made up his mind what the best use of that property was. He went on to say he was in favor of JKF’s plan for a 600 unit apartment complex.
ReplyDeleteUnless you are in favor of a 600 unit apartment complex in your community we need all stakeholders to attend City Council meetings to voice your concern and opposition of a 600 unit project in our low density single family residential community. Since we don’t know exactly when JFK will appear before the City Council with their request we need to be diligent about attending the meetings, calling each council member on the phone, sending emails, or writing letters putting pressure on them to REJECT JFKS REQUEST TO BUILD A 600 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX ON THE MUHLENBERG SITE.
Be sure to vote in November and make a statement by NOT voting for Jerry Green. WE CAN PUT A STOP TO JERRY GREEN AND HIS PLAN FOR THE MUHLENBERG PROPERTY. BECAUSE OF JERRY GREEN WE NO LONGER HAVE A HOSPITAL and he should not be re-elected.
We have to keep the pressure on them and keep it on until they say NO to JFK’s plan! And we say NO to Jerry Green.
Assemblyman Jerry Green (908-561-5757)
Councilman, Second Ward - Cory Storch – Cell: 908-565-3741 Email: cory.storch@plainfieldnj.gov
Councilwoman-at-Large - Tracy Brown- Cell: 908-499-9305 Email: tracey.brown@plainfieldnj.gov
Councilman First Ward William Raid – Cell: 908-759-1125 Email: reidworks@aol.com
Council President, Fourth Ward - Bridget B. Rivers Cell: 908-202-9448 Email: bridget.rivers@plainfieldnj.gov
Councilwoman-at-Large, First and Fourth Wards Vera Greaves - Cell: 908-472-3048
3rd Ward Council- Adrian Mapp-908-380-2241 Email: adrian.mapp@plainfieldnj.gov
Councilwoman-at-Large, Second and Third Wards - Rebecca Williams – Cell 908-705-2282 Email: rebecca.williams@plainfieldnj.gov
Bernice,
ReplyDeleteI have begun receiving a "form letter" via email (clearly "ghost" written by the JFK folks) from a few JFK employees urging the city council to support JFK's proposal and to pass it at the October 15 meeting. I started receiving these emails before I even got the packet with our agenda on it, so I found it incredibly presumptuous of Adam Beder and JFK to assume that their proposal would even make it to our October 15 meeting. We haven't even had the October 7 agenda meeting. Clearly, they are telling their workers something that would encourage their workers to support the proposal. I don't know if JFK is holding out the same "threat" to its workers with the doomsday scenario about what could happen if we don't support their 600-unit "luxury" building development. The JFK "study" reminds me of those "studies" on the dangers of cigarette smoking that were undertaken by the cigarette manufacturers to show that smoking was not harmful--the outcome would, of course, be favorable to the tobacco companies. I also don't like the tone of the quote attributed to Adam Beder: "Beder, JFK's vice president for governmental affairs, said, 'JFK does not object to the City hiring experts to help them in this process, but will not support added delays to this process.'" What do I care what JFK will or will not support? They don't control me, this city, or its residents! What is this rush to October 15 all about? The more JFK wants to rush things, the more I am CONVINCED that a slow, deliberative process with an OBJECTIVE study is the course for Plainfield to take to ensure that we do what is right for our residents. The people of Plainfield have spoken loudly and clearly about this. Nothing JFK has said or will say can change my mind about us not rushing the process. SLOW and DELIBERATIVE...looking at all options for that campus--not just the one that JFK wants to ram down our throats. There is no reason to rush. It would be foolhardy on the part of any municipality to hurry things along when so much of our city's future is at stake. JFK's hand-wringing, shedding crocodile tears of concern for our city's health care needs, and sinister warnings are insulting to the community they disregarded for so long. They have had nearly 5 and a half years (and years before that) to think about the future of Muhlenberg. Now they want to rush things? Offensive.
Rebecca
Rebecca is right! Members of this community have heard, time and time again, from JFK as to their proposal--and have rejected it. What we have needed all along is an honest and objective look at the property from a professional responsible to Plainfield, not to JFK. Looking at the agenda for Monday's council agenda-fixing session, the proposal for the city to hire its own planner for this is there, and the proposed project JFK wants to impose on us is not. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO COME OUT AND MAKE OUR WISHES KNOWN, LOUD AND CLEAR! Hope to see you all on Monday!!!
ReplyDeleteinteresting comment from anonymous at 12:09 ... but what anonymous doesn't realize is that Plainfield sold itself to whatever JERRY GREEN wants many years ago with their VOTE ONLY DEMOCRAT.. it is sad to think that this does in fact have a damn good chance of becoming reality because you have 4 members on the city council who beg Jerry for direction, consul, advice or marching orders, 2 who are simply waiting for the chain to be twitched at the proper moment at the proper time to do his bidding ( all in the name of Unity within the local Dem's ) and Rebecca.. so.. Now lets take a trip back in time to the original start of the whole closure...
ReplyDeleteHOSPITAL CLOSING: Where were Jerry and Sharon ??? Where were they ?? NO WHERE FOR MONTHS... it wasn't until it was almost a done deal when Jerry made his official comment which was bascially after they close I'll do everything I can to make sure Plainfield doesn't get short changed ( Dottie... remember that ??? That's when you were still in the Vote Sharon and Vote Jerry camp fyi ) and many were all wondering why wasn't this great and powerful man doing anything to fight the closure.......
I'm guessing your commentary, anonymous, holds as much water as most anything else... So Plainfield... was national party ideology worth being played for as the pawns you truly always were for the local Democrats ?? It's too late to suddenly "NOT VOTE FOR JERRY"... it's too late to suddenly start voting intelligently in local / city politics.. Your fate has been sealed... Go ahead with your protests.. .indignation and moaning... You'll get 600 apartments as 1 city council member can't stop it.
I am appalled that the health and wellness of residents in this city doesn't matter to JFK. We still need a bona-fide health facility for a city of this size. I support the council and hope they say no to the craftiness of JFK. WE NEED A HEALTH FACILITY...Enough already with JFK and their antics.
ReplyDeleteDee Dameron
We already said, "No"! We don't care what some preachers want. Why should I trust them? Let's find some more useful purpose for this property.
ReplyDeleteJFK rushing the process is good strategy. You only rush someone when you'd rather them not understand all of their options.
ReplyDeleteIt is up to the people to let all politicians know that either playing both sides of the fence or attempting to hurry this decision/development process is utter political suicide.
David Rutherford
Then we are agreed !!!
ReplyDeleteWe will do anything to get a proper facility for Plainfield ... except to every vote for a Republican or Independent.
No apartments! We have too many homes for sale. We need businesses here. It looks like JFK has done its marketing by USING the church. Someone is going to make a lot of money off this and it is not Plainfielders.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the money...watch out!
Agreed. We live in a sick system where, even with no many empty homes, the goal is to build new homes, keeping houses vacant (even with all the homeless on the street).
DeleteAdditionally, the only thing that our leaders propose for making our lives better is bringing in new people to a given community, not Plainfield in particular but working class and poor communities anywhere. What about making lives better for the people already living in our communities. Is bringing in new people the only way to do that? Not living wage jobs. Not industry. But new/more people. That's the same thing that JFK is trying to sell to us. It's the American model.
In this country, the ONLY blueprint for urban development is gentrification. Shame.
Gotta resist.
To those who didn't get my recent email about this situation (and want to be kept up to date) please contact me so I can add you to the "savehospital" list. Send an email to dottiegutenkauf@gmail.com and I'll be glad to add you. And in the meantime, show up at the Council meeting Monday!
ReplyDeleteCouncilwoman Williams,
ReplyDeleteThank you! I cannot imagine how this would in any way, shape, or form be good for our City. I URGE you and our other Council Members to vote NO.
Lilas Borsa
I echo Lilas' sentiments and urge all Council Members to vote NO. We face so many challenges as residents of Plainfield, we don't need to be adding to them by taking on a project that probably will not add to the city's coffers and instead put an additional strain on our resources.
ReplyDeleteadditional strain on resources ???? Why it's like you're taunting the city council to drop 600 apartments in Plainfield.... What's Jerry got to say????
DeleteEhhhhhhhh City Council ?? Bill, Adrian, Vera, Cory, Tracey, Vera ???
How about building a state of the art full service medical facility. A facility that offers ambulatory care, including diagnostic radiology, health education programs, hospital pre-admission, a blood draw station, nuclear medicine, a nutrition center, possible, a one-day surgery center, cancer services including radiation oncology, and an emergency room that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The site could also include a cluster of condominiums for assistant living. The demographics in the surrounding area will support the successful sale/rental of such condominiums. In my opinion this would be a perfect use for this property. Now I understand this may not be as profitable to JFK as cutting a deal to build a 600 unit apartment building, however, it does appear to be the best use for this property.
ReplyDeleteHere’s some food for thought, as a realtor whenever a customer sells a property they don’t usually care what happens to it after the sale. I find it so interesting that JFK claims to not have had any other interested parties for the purchase of this property, but has taken such a die-hard stand on selling it to a developer who wants to build 600 units. This plan of theirs is all about the money and has nothing to do with what’s best for Plainfield. A lot of pockets will be lined with this deal if successful.
JFK and others, NO MEANS NO. YOU DON’T OWN OR CONTROL PLAINFIELD AND IT’S STAKEHOLDERS.
Robin Bright
Reading these comments Bernice I have come to the conclusion that you only print lies about Jerry Green.
ReplyDeleteNumber one Jerry doesn’t own a cabinet company.
Secondly he has worked for over a year on bill that would help developers get bond money to improve health service on the campus
My understanding is that John Campbell has said he doesn’t support the 600 units but has yet to say to the public what he would do on the site.
All we’ve seen from the John Campbell is him posing on signs like he’s Plainfield’s Top Model while being unemployed living in his mother and aather’s house.
Plainfield needs to wake up and realize that John Campbell and his Republican friends are only out for the rich and don’t care about us working class and poor people.
It’s time we start asking real questions to Campbell and his family about giving luxury contracts to their lawyer friends from money that’s meant for the children of Plainfield.
Why aren’t covering that story bernice?
Campbell has to start telling people what he stands for and stop posing for every republican photo up with his friends like Steve Lonegan. Campbell’s a modern day Clarence Thomas only this time we have a choice about whether someone like Clarence represents us.
We don’t need another Clarence Thomas and if you vote for Campbell that’s what you’re going to get. When Campbell and his fellow Republicans had a chance to show sympathy and speak out against the decision in the Trayvon Martin case in Florida they said nothing do we really need more people like that representing us in New Jersey.
If the grammar was a little worse, I'd swear it was Jerry Green himself.
DeleteGhostwriter maybe. I was at St. John's Baptist in Scotch Plains for their anniversary and 6th most powerful man in Trenton shared these same sentiments. Using the pulpit as a soap box to bash a young man trying to make a difference? Please spare us next time because all you did was turn people off. I agree we don't need another Clarence but when Jerry Green is the alternative I would rather take my chances.
DeleteIt is Jerry, dictating to someone that is equally as smart.
ReplyDelete