City Clerk AJ Jalloh sent out notice today of a special meeting called by Mayor Adrian O. Mapp for 6 p.m. Monday in City Hall Library. Three resolutions are on the agenda, one authorizing an "emergency demolition," another establishing an appropriation of $250,000 to pay for it and a third awarding an emergency contract to Yates Real Estate Inc. to do the demolition at 117-125 North Avenue..
I recently wrote about the building in question, noting the fire that damaged the building occurred on Dec. 17, 2011 and including links to prior stories about the aftermath. I asked, "What will it take to resolve this situation?" and now we see what is proposed.
People are already questioning the urgency of the proposed action after all this time, the suitability of the contractor and the cost. Between now and Monday, one can bet that the Plainfield grapevine will be in full effect regarding this matter.
--Bernice
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Once Yates finds a demolition company to do the actual work, maybe there will be enough profit to fix up Abbott Manor and turn it into veteran's housing. That's one way of getting public money into private hands. Of course it would be a lot less costly for taxpayers if the City contracted directly with a demolition company. Hear 'emergency' and smell a rat. Is there a PMUA connection? I wonder.
ReplyDeletePlainfield or Chicago who wins the corruption title, if the money not approved what are gonna do put it back up. Or better yet city demo than I buy no demo fees it's scam and Mapp is a scam artist. Cutting iron beam with flammables all around? Please!!!!
ReplyDeleteA firefighter was hosing down the wood beneath the person with the blowtorch.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe device is an acetylene cutting torch.
DeleteBernice,
ReplyDeleteDo I understand this correctly. The building was damaged in 2011 and has stood in dangerous disrepair since then. And today,March 21, 2015, the building is being demolished, but the money to pay for the demolition, which will be paid by Plainfield taxpayers instead of the owner of the building, does not come before the city Council until Monday March 23,2015 at the earliest. And lastly, the company the Administration has hired to take the building down, before the funding has been approved, does not have the proper licenses to do the demolition and then will be forced to hire a qualified contractor and collect a finder's fee in the process.?
If that's true, it seems Yates is getting a gift at the Plainfield Taxpayers' expense. The City should contract directly and cut out an unqualified middleman.
Tom Kaercher
I do not know the qualifications of the firm that did the demolition nor do I know the qualifications of the contractor on the resolution for Monday. The work was largely complete when I went back later on Saturday and I do not have any factual information on any contractor or sub-contractor. As I note, there is a lot of questions about the process but the facts remain to be revealed.
DeleteTom.. If there is one thing the city of Plainfield has managed to perfect in all these years is watching a building in disrepair to decay to the point of danger.. Uneven sidewalks ?? Now that's something I'd be interested in knowing about.. how many homeowners have been dragged through the mud in the last 4yrs for uneven sidewalks while this monstrosity slowly finished falling down..
DeleteWould anyone in the City care to provide that information ???