The city is seeking a real estate and redevelopment consultant specifically for future uses of the Muhlenberg site, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said Monday.
A request for proposals was published in Sunday's Courier News, seeking ""professional real estate and redevelopment consulting services" with a bid opening date of Oct. 15. In answer to Plaintalker's query, Mapp replied, "The RFP for Professional Real Estate and Redevelopment Consulting Services is aimed at identifying a consultant with a high level of expertise who will focus primarily on the Muhlenberg campus. Our goal is to aggressively market the Muhlenberg Campus so as to attract the right healthcare related uses back to our City. Now that the Planning Board has made its declaration, this is a critical step in a process that, we believe, will result in the restoration of healthcare services on the Campus."
Earlier this month, the Planning Board agreed on a "non-condemnation" route for redevelopment of the site where Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center closed in 2008. JFK Health, formerly Solaris, maintained a satellite emergency department at the site and is in the process of relocating it to another building on the Muhlenberg campus. The board's choice to avoid condemnation by eminent domain was supported at the Sept. 3 meeting by land use attorney Steven J. Tripp, who said Muhlenberg was opposed to condemnation and recommended non-condemnation.
The board's finding that the site is in need of redevelopment was recommended to the governing body. The next step is for the City Council to ask the board for a redevelopment plan.
The next agenda-fixing session is 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5 in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave. The regular meeting is 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 in Municipal Court.
--Bernice
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The limited purpose of the solicitation for Real Estate consulting seems appropriate. However, this morning I obtained the Request for Proposals Outsourcing of Planning and Zoning Services, the content of which was as anticipated, that is, it had no substantive content. The invitation requests that the Consultant perform all the functions now performed by the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment. It goes on to include Land use administration. PS: Bids are due Thursday, October 1st, at 11:00 AM.
ReplyDeleteThe bid elicits a single lump sum price for performing the scope of work described. In the name of common sense how can any responsible professional organization determine, absent a detailed study, how much work is involved in performing the specified duties? It would require a lengthy investigation, and very probably the necessity of embedding a representative within the existing department for a period of time as an observer, to formulate a truly responsive bid. The typical rate which Consultants charge for their services is from 200% to 250% of the actual payroll rate for each category of employee. Even if the Consultant could determine the scope of his work how could the Consultant with his necessary associated overhead and margin for profit be equal to, let alone be less, than the current department cost? It can not! Conspicuously absent from the documents are numerous customary quintessential elements, such as: the term ( duration ) of the contract, Performance Bond, the terms of payment, dispute resolution provisions, termination provisions, form of contract, method by which responsibilities are transferred from existing department to Consultant, etc. The inadequacy of the Bid proposal is reminiscent of the methodology by which the bids were solicited for the North Avenue Demolition: An invitation to trouble. Lastly, consider what position the City will be in if the Consultant. once hired, fails to perform. The long established, and as far as we can see, well functioning existing Planning Department will have been dissembled. The options will be more bidding with an uncertain outcome, living with an inefficient organization, or reassembling a municipally administered Planning Department. Three options that might be described as grim, grimmer and grimmest. Bill Kruse
All the moves except getting together a group of healthcare professionals and individuals in the legal and investment banking world with strong connections to the healthcare industry. Identifying a workable formula that makes economic sense, and the right partners to bring it about, are the most critical steps.
ReplyDeleteLET THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT GO. THEY ARE A WASTE OF JOHN DOE TAXPAYERS MONEY. THIS IS THE BEST MOVE THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE MADE.
ReplyDeletePlease explain why you feel this way.
DeleteHope they don't plan on re-using the existing buildings that JFK is allowing to deteriorate day by day. They do nothing to maintain or preserve them, allow leaks and mold and who knows what else, and then will rely on the deteriorated condition to justify their demolition so no one else, health care or otherwise, could use them.
ReplyDelete