Earlier plans called for three new stories on top of the two-story Romonds building, but it was demolished for all-new construction. Known as Art Lofts I, the project will have 20 apartments over ground floor retail space. Developer Frank Cretella is pairing it with his rehabilitation of the former Mirons warehouse across Gavett Place, slated for 12 apartments.
The properties are between the main train station to the south and Municipal Parking Lot 6 to the north, which is targeted for a parking garage. No details have emerged at the land use boards on the parking garage.
Meanwhile, residents are questioning when they can use the nearby parking deck built by the Union County Improvement Authority to serve its office building on the block bounded by Park Avenue, West Front Street, West Second Street and Madison Avenue. Weekend and evening public use was promised as part of a settlement between the city and the authority, whose director presented a $1.09 million check to the City Council in December 2013. The settlement dates back to August 2013 and clears up issues that go back to 2001. As much as questions about the UCIA parking deck came across as troublesome to a certain politician, parking is an increasing concern in Plainfield as development builds. It would be helpful for summer events downtown if the public had weekend and evening use of the UCIA parking facility.
--Bernice
Did Mayor Mapp pay proper "homage" to the Democratic powers that be in Union County ??? If not, wouldn't hope to see that parking deck open for public use anytime soon.......
ReplyDeleteThe parking deck belongs to Plainfield and renting to the County which rips us off in taxes was a mistake by other administrations. We make little money off of the Park Madison site. Too bad for Plainfield. We need more parking garages in this town and less congestion. I come down West Fifth Sundays from church from Plainfield Ave. and the parking on both sides of the street is dangerous with kids and people running into traffic. I don't know what the Planning Board was thinking by allowing a mega-church with very inadequate parking to be built between 4th and 5th. That has to stop. All future buiding sites need to have adequate off street parking or they can't be built. We need to start now or Plainfield will have the same parking problems people see in places like Jersey City.
ReplyDeleteA parking garage or two in Plainfield makes sense and we need it, the County go to the devil. The County takes too much of our money and gives very little back except jobs to people like Sharon and Rivers as political favors and what do we get? We get bad county roads, a poorly run jail system, and over paid employees who steal from the county. We also get Freeloaders, I mean Freeholders, who do little to earn the large salaries and benefits.
ReplyDeleteThe parking garage should be built first,then let the developers start to build apartments downtown . For some reason the city has let the developers build apartments with not enough parking . Downtown is a hot mess it looks like one big low class below dollar store with not enough parking.
ReplyDeleteIs there really a need for parking downtown? Most likely the majority of visitor to downtown are not drivers but public transportation visitors. The idea for the apartments is that the tenants will be people that work in either Newark or NYC and choose to take public transportation. They most likely don't have cars either.
DeleteIn the grand scheme of things, you have to build the apartments without enough parking first. Then, when the problem exists, you can create a "need" for a parking garage. If "they" are smart, they will build a garage with apts or offices above it. Maybe storefronts at ground level facing the road.
ReplyDelete