They have already joined with some of their new neighbors to start reactivating the district and are inviting others to join the effort.
"We are hosting an organizational meeting on Saturday, April 18 at 4 p.m. at our home, 966 Hillside Avenue, to re-establish the board and lay the ground work for an action plan that will include creating a regular communications channel for the residents in the district as well as plan key social and organizational activities for 2015 and beyond," Peter wrote in a message to local bloggers. .
Anyone living in the district who wants to participate in the reactivation can contact the Prices at (908) 222-1803 or by gmail at petenlib3. Congratulations to all who are working to keep Plainfield's Historic Preservation movement alive! Learn more here.
--Bernice
Thank you Bernice for covering this in your blog. We look forward to bringing the Hillside Avenue Historic District back to the strong contributor it once was just a few short years ago. Like many Plainfield neighborhoods we have new owners and new energy committed to preserving the past and making the City of Plainfield the best it can be. You're the best. Peter & Libby Price.
ReplyDeleteI think people believe they are gaining status in living in a historic district. In most cases (other towns) this is certainly the case. However in Plaimfield, one ends up in a bureaucratic nightmare, costly renovations, and in the end, you may as well just toss money out the windoww, or burn it in your fireplace. My husband and I have taken loving care in restoring our home, if it had been named a historic district, we would not have been able, nor would w have wanted to restore it according to the whim of a council. The reason? Our house today, after all the money spenton replacingold plumbing, windows, floors would probably sell for less than we paid for it 25 years ago. This town has many more issues to tackle and to improve before we concern ourselves without spending money that you will never recoup. Fix your house, but not under the guidelines forced upon you by the Historic restoration committee. When the town improves, revisit the idea, that is, if the town ever improves. I welcome all the newcomers, but trust me, they will soon become disillusioned. This town has all ththe potential to be great, but the potential lies fallow.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who lives in the district this is wonderful, yet surprising, news.
ReplyDeleteThis is in sharp contrast to the vehement opposition they spearheaded some years back when a communication was presented to the Historic Preservation Commission to prevent their former neighborhood from becoming a historic district. I certainly hope they don't have a change of heart for Hillside.
Anonymous of April 3 is correct. we were very critical of the HPC's efforts to expand a historic district to Martine. Many of the residents there including us felt like we had no voice in the process. Hillside is already an established district and bringing it back to full activation is certainly a benefit to the residents that live there and the city of Plainfield. if some other part of the city wants to become a historic district the residents should have a say in it and that was the point that we were driving home back then with the HPC. We still have those concerns. however we simply ask since you live in the district that you wish us well. Libby and Peter Price
DeleteRepaving Hillside, which is currently an ocean of potholes, peppered with islands of pavement, would be splendid way to celebrate the neighborhood redux. At least put us on the list. Bill Kruse
ReplyDeleteInteresting timing. The Historic Preservation Commission is again seeking to expand historic districts, per their March 24th agenda, posted on their website. If your neighborhood is in their sights, be aware of the HPC and others using emotion to lure you into desiring to be in an historic district. Please stick to facts like reading the HPC ordinances, attending the meetings to see how you will be treated, what application fee (was $60) you will pay, and the time you will spend going before the commission when you make repairs to your home. HPC supporters will say property values are higher in historic districts, however there is no unbiased data to support this statement. Did you know enforcement of the HPC ordinances is incumbent on neighbors turning other neighbors into the HPC?? This is divisive, who wants to wonder which neighbor turned them in? Why not visit one of the 29 Plainfield historic districts and sites and see for yourself? Does that neighborhood look better kept, does it have “cachet”, is it worth the HPC bureaucratic red tape to live there? For example: Drive down Hillside Avenue, between Martine and Watchung, or Belvedere Ave from 7th to Watchung. What do YOU think? Check it out, don’t let them tell you it’s better. If you are happy with the HPC rules, fee, additional government oversight of your property, then maybe being in an historic District is right for you. Just be knowledgeable.
ReplyDeleteWe are ready and more than willing to rally against this bureaucratic entity again. If this were a commission truly interested in bettering our neighborhoods we would absolutely be for it!!! There are plenty of ways to create a neighborhood, that looks attractive, and where neighbors work together.