The promise of a veterans' center in Plainfield goes back longer than some wars have lasted, but on Veterans Day 2014 it will come true.
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp will present representatives of two veterans' groups with keys to the center Tuesday and finally they will have their own place to meet.
The veterans' center was part of a project that included 63 condos and a new senior center at 400 East Front Street. Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs signed a contract conveying city-owned land to Glen Fishman's development company in January 2007.
Unfortunately for the veterans, the occupancy of their center hinged on success of the condo sales. Early sales were slow and eventually the developer began renting out unsold condos, which left the veterans' center in limbo. The space continued to be used as a sales office for the condos.
Other disputes arose, mainly the issue of how much the city should pay the developer for fitting out the senior center and for condo fees, as both the senior and veterans' centers were designated as city-owned condos in the building.
The first indication that the veterans' plight was resolved came during an Oct. 6 City Council meeting, when Mapp announced that the city had the keys to the veterans' space and the developer would no longer be allowed in it. On Monday, the City Council is expected to vote on a lease by the city with two veterans' groups for $1 a year. Terms of the lease call for the veterans to pay for insurance on the premises and maintain it in good order. No alcohol or smoking will be permitted and electrical use will be limited. The space is to be used for meetings only.
Veterans had been making do with access to a meeting room in the senior center, but complained that they could not come and go at will and had to be let in by a city employee. The new lease is with Plainfield Memorial VFW Post 7474 and Johnson/Jeter American Legion Post 219 and can be renewed annually. Mapp will welcome the veterans to their own center at noon on Veterans Day.
--Bernice
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I'm glad to see the mayor can get something done. It's clear that many on the City Council want us to stay in the limbo Sharon had us in for eight years. It's about time.
ReplyDeleteMap should give them the Keys on Veterans Day.
ReplyDeleteTuesday is Veteran's Day. Hello!
DeleteIt's about time! And BTW, Tuesday is Veterans Day.
ReplyDeleteHow do you limit electrical use?? Will they use candles or cell phone lights maybe? Are they in India where they have roaming blackouts? Sounds odd.
ReplyDelete