A major redevelopment project on South Avenue needs two related approvals on April 13, one for final passage of the redevelopment plan and another to give a 90-day designation to a redeveloper, but City Council President Bridget Rivers suggested Monday that the designation is not a done deal.
"So the developer is aware he might actually not get approval?" Rivers asked Carlos Sanchez, the deputy city administrator for economic development.
"Correct," Sanchez replied.
The South Avenue Gateway Redevelopment Plan covers 12 properties and a right-of-way in the vicinity of Plainwood Square Park. Merchants and others heard a conceptual plan in July 2014 for more than 200 residential units before the many steps of the formal redevelopment process began in August 2014. The proposed redeveloper is Sleepy Hollow Developers LLC, at the same address as the presenter of the conceptual plan, JMF Properties.
When the 90-day designation resolution came up Monday, Councilwoman Vera Greaves asked, "Do we have a developer already for this?"
Sanchez said the resolution was not for a contract, but for a 90-day agreement. The resolution in the packet spells out all terms, including a $25,000 escrow deposit to defray certain costs of selecting a redeveloper. It would cover various expenses to city staff or agents and even $1,000 per special meeting of city boards for the process.
Councilman Cory Storch asked whether there would be any "reputational damage" caused by not passing the escrow agreement, that is, damage to the city's reputation among developers and investors. He mentioned the competition for development along the Raritan Valey Line and added, "This is important - people are watching us."
Sanchez said in talking with developers, "Their main concern is that Plainfield is not business-friendly."
Sanchez, the first cabinet-level economic development official since Pat Ballard Fox served in the McWilliams administration through 2005, said he has been working very hard with developers and the Planning Board on redevelopment. He said things have improved a bit, but part of the process involves the governing body.
The council agreed to put the escrow agreement up for a vote at the regular meeting, 8 p.m. April 13 in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice
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Pitiful!
ReplyDeleteAnyone who does not support economic development should be willing to "pony up". this is THE other revenue source along with property taxes, so if u don't want to pay higher taxes, SUPPORT the development in Plainfield!!
ReplyDeleteThe city council needs to stop the anti Mapp attitude and do whats best for the city - even though u might have a county job, don't pay property taxes, or don't pay your PMUA bill. This behavior hurts every resident in the city
We do not need more apartments on Plainfield ! We need to clean up our downtown area and east 2nd business area so people will feel safe to come here to live. Then all the empty homes can be sold and we can have the must needed owner occupied population to bring this city back to being the QUEEN CITY is once was. Plainfield can not survive with a 70% renter population! With no place to park your car and overcrowded schools Plainfield will look like Trenton
ReplyDeleteif it's big and will improve the looks of the city there is little doubt Jerry's kids will attempt to put the brakes on it until proper homage is given to all the proper people...
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