Two major developments - one each for the East End and West End - received unanimous initial approvals Monday from the governing body.
Each has many more steps to go, but the City Council's welcoming tone Monday stood in sharp contrast to the brush-off one developer suffered in August.
The South Second Street Redevelopment LLC, made public only this month, would bring a mixed-use project to a 5-acre city-owned property in the West End. It includes expansion of ABC Supply Company in Plainfield and creation of 90 units of mixed income housing over covered parking. The resolution approved tonight leaves execution of an agreement in the hands of Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, but Patrick Terborg of TD+Partners said the city will receive a minimum of $250,000 for the land and the company will spend $1 million to clean up the brownfields site.
For the East End project, Sleepy Hollow Developers Urban Renewal LLC must acquire and clear 11 properties to make way for 212 apartments with many amenities, including a fitness center, indoor and outdoor fireplaces and a meditation room. The council gave initial approval Monday to an ordinance for a "payment in lieu of taxes" (PILOT) plan for the $50 million project. The ordinance will be up for final approval next month.
Both projects would create jobs for city residents and provide work for minority tradespeople. In addition, Sleepy Hollow Developers promise $10,000 annually for events in nearby Plainwood Square Park, as well as year-round maintenance of the park. The West End developer offered to pay for improvements at Hannah Atkins Community Center.
Sleepy Hollow Developers received Planning Board approvals in August, but the West End proposal needs land use approvals as well as amendment of a redevelopment plan that includes the site.
After the meeting, Terborg told Plaintalker he sees a better climate now for development that he finds very refreshing. Good collaboration "bodes well for developers," he said.
Two council members raised challenges. Councilwoman Vera Greaves said there were proposals for both ends of the city, but asked, "Is there anything for the downtown, for the middle of Plainfield?"
Although there is no single project of the same scale, a map of downtown development shows a lot going on.
Councilwoman Gloria Taylor pointed out the Sleepy Hollow Developers PILOT ordinance still has to pass on second reading.
"It's not over yet," she said.
The next City Council meeting is an agenda-fixing session at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Avenue. The regular meeting is 8 p.m. Dec. 14 in Municipal Court.
--Bernice
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Only Gloria Taylor would announce and go on record that she is in fact the wet blanket, " it's not over yet. " Oh trust the citizens of Plainfield Gloria..we're well aware you have to find out how you are going to be told to vote. Your marching order are not in the least based upon personal common sense or the good of others, fear not, we know.
ReplyDeleteI'm just curious was any one advocating for the masses of unemployed locals im just curious. Because a town with so many community activist did any show up last night ? And speak about future set asides for locals going forth.
ReplyDeleteWhat, is Gloria Taylor waiting for JG's approval?
ReplyDeleteTo her critics, I say Mrs. Taylor is the councilperson, and you are not. She has to balance competing concerns. But foremost, she does not want Plainfield to become like East Orange, a city whose streets are lined with massive, run-down apartment buildings that were once signs of economic progress.
ReplyDeleteMy concern is that Plainfield should not be giving tax abatements worth tens of millions of dollars for new residential construction. Projects should be justified by economics, not government hand-outs to favored developers while the rest of the residents bear the full-tax burden. If there are tax incentives to be handed-out, let them go to businesses that bring in permanent employees. That's economic development. With jobs and income, housing will follow.
Gloris Taylor continues to prove that she likes to grandstand and do what Jerry tells her. Her days are numbered as I can't see her getting re-elected or put on the ballot again. Her actions have shown her to be pompous, anti-progress for Plainfield, and working only for herself, as well as, ignoring what her constituents want her to do. Maybe she's mad because the mayor won't give her a city car to drive around like her husband did when he was mayor.
DeleteI don’t think you or those on the Council understand PILOTS or, in general, how development business deals work – because that’s exactly what it is, it’s a business deal – it’s not meant to be a non-for-profit operation that doles out meaningless handouts, much like those provided by local political machines over the past few decades. Short term sacrifices for long term gains is what it's about.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to Plainfield, East Orange and surrounding communities suffered the wrath of the riots. Unfortunately those communities have not recovered to even a fraction of what they once were, economically or socially, in 40+ years. Plainfield was fortunate enough to keep it together, on some level, and not be fully consumed by the same, very noticeable struggles, one can witness in any of those Essex County communities. There have been some improvements, in recent years, in Orange and East Orange and it would be great to see them continue to progress – just as Plainfield should.
That being said, you have a very limited scope of reference if you choose East Orange as an example of what is successful development. Other than the usual honorable mentions of Cranford, Fanwood and Westfield, there are numerous NJ communities which are greatly benefiting from residential, commercial and mixed-use development including: Harrison, Union, Somerville, Secaucus, Montclair, North Bergen, Union City and West New York to name a few. All of these towns have a diverse demographic, comprised in large part of blue collar/working class folks. Development in all of these communities has proven to be a benefit for everyone by way of increased employment opportunities and additional tax revenue, in addition to all the indirect benefits and positive residual effects that result when there is a well organized and properly executed plan in place.
For someone who understands the process and the business of development, the decision-making process should be a no-brainer.
We should be thankful that developers are interested in investing in our community. Let’s not forego this opportunity.
I was fortunate to have attended the League of Municipalities’ conference in AC last week. It was a great learning experience. I do know there was at least 5 council members at the conference. On Thursday I attended a session on PILOTS and Tax Abatements, it was very informative and timely with all the new development projects being proposed here in Plainfield. Since the idea of a PILOT for the South Ave project seemed foreign to some council members; I was disappointed to not see any council members at this session, some could have really benefit from the knowledge that was shared.
DeleteRB
Not only did Cory Storch attend, he posted a summary on his blog:
Deletehttp://corystorch.blogspot.com/2015/11/league-of-municipalities-report_23.html
I stand corrected. Although I didn’t see Cory, I am glad he attended the session and gave such a detail report. My post really didn’t apply to him or any other member that clearly understands the logic of a PILOT.
DeleteRB
I agree with 10:47 whole heartedly. It is absolutely ridiculous to give tax abatement for residential construction. The proposed development is totally residential and not even mixed use!
ReplyDeleteYou really don't understand. You related to Gloria?
DeleteThe City received grant funds from NJ Redevelopment Authority in 2004/2005 to remediate the city-owned acres on South Second Street! We spent hundreds of thousands of grant dollars to clean it up to residential standards when it was targeted for the new middle school! Isn't there anyone at City Hall with an institutional memory of this? Has the property been properly managed and secured since then or has there been all sorts of illegal dumping on the site? If so after 10 years maybe it does need to be remediated again at the cost of another million. Someone needs to check with NJDEP/NJRDA on this site to check the status of these acres.
ReplyDeletePat Ballard Fox, previous Deputy City Administrator for ED
This was under Sharon's disasterous reign. Many grants went unused and had to be returned and lots of money went missing. Some people on the City Council act like they want these days back.
DeleteSouth avenue does not need apartments that will turn into low income housing. There is not enough parking now on South Ave. In the winter you can not park on snow covered roads like South Ave. Greedy developers want to leave Plainfied with a mess. Just look at the Monarch and Teppers. Look at the apartments that we have now, and you will see the streets overflowing with cars and even the Senior apartments do not have enough parking spaces. And downtown is a dirty mess. Councilwoman Graves is right to complain. DPW can not even keep the planters looking good. The have had dead bushes in them all summer,and trees have not been replaced,and they have weeds everywhere .
ReplyDeleteThe cars are all over because the landlords charge for parking in the apartment lots. Parking comes with the apartments, its not an amenity. New are not in New York.
DeleteMy comment about the environmental remediation of the S Second Street lots was about the S. Second Street city-owned lots cleanup that occurred during my tenure in Plainfield and under Al McWilliams. This was not under Sharon's reign.
ReplyDelete