The hospital closed five years ago, leaving a satellite emergency room in the building. The owner, JFK Health Systems of Edison, has been promoting a plan to put 600 units of rental housing on the Plainfield campus, but city residents have expressed disfavor with the plan ever since it was unveiled at a March 2012 town meeting.
A prominent clergyman's comments at a September council meeting rekindled the controversy. The Rev. Gerald Lamont Thomas spoke about working for the last 14 months with JFK Health Systems "to keep a hospital presence as well as developing the land." (See post here.) Thomas warned that JFK would leave if the apartment proposal was not accepted by the governing body.
Adam Beder, JFK Health System's vice president for governmental affairs, granted Plaintalker a Q&A interview on the issue (see here), reiterating JFK's stance that a zoning change to permit the residential development is necessary.
"Our plan would create over 700 temporary jobs, 100 permanent jobs and attract over $100 million of private investment in the city. This investment would generate nearly $2.5 million in annual property tax revenue and help to support the growth of the community at large," Beder said.
Meanwhile, the city issued a request for proposals for a planning study of the Muhlenberg campus and five firms responded. The Planning Division recommended award of a professional services contract to Heyer, Gruel & Associates of Red Bank and that is the resolution up for a vote tonight. The proposal calls for a six-month process involving the community at four public meetings. The cost of the study is not to exceed $48,000.
The proposed study drew applause and positive comments from residents at the Oct. 7 agenda-fixing session. The public can speak on the resolution or any other matter up for a vote tonight before the governing body takes action. The meeting is 8 p.m. in Municipal Court and the full agenda may be seen here.
--Bernice
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