Up on the Roof

While waiting for a train to make my escape to Westfield Saturday, I noticed workers putting a new roof on the old Mirons warehouse.

After many weeks of inactivity, work has resumed in earnest at the site, which Frank Cretella's firm is renovating for commercial and residential use.The building was dubbed "Luxury Condos" by a previous developer. Cretella is using the name "Gavett Place Properties LLC" for the site and has approvals from 2010 to renovate the building for commercial space on the first floor and 12 apartments on the upper three floors.

It was such a thrill to be able to walk around comfortably after the polar vortex. Getting an update on a Cretella project was a plus.

--Bernice

Celebrate!

Today is:

The Pagan holiday Imbolc

The Christian holiday Candlemas

Groundhog Day

Super Bowl XLVIII

(Go Seahawks!)

Long-awaited Woodland, Cook Improvements Approved

Word has come that projects at Woodland and/or Cook School were approved by the Schools Development Authority this month. The concept sounded familiar, and a look at Assemblyman Jerry Green's blog made me realize why - they have been under discussion since 2008.

Apparently the "and/or" means officials still haven't decided on priorities. So who has the final word? The district? Jerry Green?

This attenuated process does not exactly inspire one to jump for joy at an announced approval. I wasn't sure the SDA was still viable after such a long time with no action, although I did post a notice about opportunities for minority firms to take part in construction projects. .

 Check this update (last updated in 2009) on Woodland School. Here is the Cook project description.out of date

Here is the text of the news release (emphasis added by Plaintalker):.

Christie Administration Announces the Approval of Five Additional School Construction

Projects Throughout New Jersey

Trenton, NJ – The Christie Administration today announced the approval of five projects to be added to the New Jersey Schools Development Authority’s (SDA) Capital Portfolio that will remedy the needs of students in some of the state’s neediest districts. The projects, approved at the January 2, SDA Board of Directors Meeting, became part of the portfolio following expiration of the gubernatorial veto period on January 21, 2014.

“The significant reforms instituted at the SDA by the Christie Administration over the past four years, especially in terms of the efficient, cost-effective advancement of Capital projects, have positioned this agency to positively impact the educational opportunities afforded thousands of New Jersey students,” said SDA CEO Charles McKenna. “The facilities projects announced today, combined with those previously approved, bring us one step closer to fulfilling our mission ofproviding all the children of New Jersey with appropriate learning facilities.”

These five projects, with a preliminary estimated value of at approximately $200 to $250 million, alleviate facility deficiencies and in one instance alleviate an overcrowding problem. The projects include:

Projects Addressing Overcrowding Needs

1. Vineland New Middle School

Projects Addressing Facilities Efficiency Standards (FES) Compliance Needs

2. East Orange George Washington Carver Elementary School
3. Irvington Madison Avenue Elementary School
4. Pemberton Denbo Elementary School
5. Plainfield Woodland and/or Cook Elementary School

“Proper educational facilities are a vital component to improving the academic achievement of our students,” said Irvington Superintendent Dr. Neely Hackett. “The SDA’s commitment to address the conditions at the Madison Avenue Elementary School will help us to deliver our educational program.”

“We are extremely excited the SDA has advanced this project to address overcrowding and facility upgrades in our district,” said Plainfield Public Schools Superintendent Anna Belin-Pyles. “We are happy this project will provide Plainfield Public Schools with the opportunity to enhance the education programs in the Plainfield community.”

With the inclusion of these projects, SDA’s Capital Project portfolio stands at nearly 40 projects statewide with total project cost estimates of more than $1 billion. As a result of the significant reforms implemented, construction activities have already advanced on nearly half of these projects.

The projects announced today were evaluated using the same factors established in 2011, including high educational need, facilities needs and efficient construction factors. In addition, the SDA reviewed the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) 2013 Educational Facilities Needs Assessment (EFNA) to ensure the utilization of the most relevant up-to-date information.

The SDA’s current portfolio of active projects is valued at more than $2 billion – including the Capital Project Portfolio (approximately $1.5 billion), emergent projects ($100 million) and Regular Operating District grants ($450 million state share).

HAP Plans Senior Housing, Land Use Boards Get Busy

The troubled Elmwood Gardens housing complex, now slated for demolition, will be reborn as senior housing, according to a legal notice.

The Housing Authority of Plainfield is soliciting proposals for redevelopment of the site on West Second Street with one-bedroom, age-restricted Section 8 apartments. The proposals are due on Feb. 14 at HAP offices on East Front Street.

Next week the city's land use boards will hear applications for other proposed projects, including a new restaurant on South Avenue and 20 apartments on West Front Street.

Alicia Lam of Westfield is proposing a 17-seat takeout restaurant at 638-44South Avenue, along with a warehouse and two apartments.(I'm told  the owner received approval for the 1st floor restaurant a few months ago- she is before the Planning Board because she is requesting to add a second residential apartment to the second floor. The building presently has the restaurant and 1 apartment, if approved by the Board, the building will contain the restaurant and 2 apartments.) She is seeking relief from numerous land use regulations in her application to the Planning Board, which meets at 7 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 6)  in City Hall Library. (Note the time change, which was ordered by new Chairman Ron Scott-Bey at the board's Jan. 16 reorganization.)

Spark Properties LLC is proposing to demolish a building at 719-731 West Front Street to make way for a three-story structure with seven commercial units an the first floor and 20 apartments on two upper floors. The applicant is seeking preliminary site plan approval and various waivers. According to a legal notice, the hearing will be at the Planning Board's  Feb. 6 meeting.

Documents related to these applications will be on file in the Planning Division office for public inspection.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment also meets next week, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 5). Legal notices cite two applications, one seeking "certification of a pre-existing non-conforming status" for a building at 130-32 North Avenue which has a restaurant on the ground floor and apartments on upper floors.

Another application is from Keystone Enterprises LLC/Dawn to Dusk Preschool to construct an additional classroom on the second level of an existing building, making a total of eight classrooms to accommodate the previously-approved capacity of 120 children at the daycare. it is located at 1500-1512 West Third Street.
(I'm told this one will not be heard in February- the Applicant did not provide notice to the newspaper in time- most likely it will be rescheduled for March 6.)

Documents for the Zoning Board applications are also on file in the Planning Division office on the second floor of City Hall, 515 Watchung Ave.

Note: Legal notices are a handy tool for tracking redevelopment. Besides being published in the newspaper, they can also be searched for on the New Jersey Press Association web site.

--Bernice

Happy Lunar New Year

Happy New Year

to all who are celebrating

the Year of the Horse!

In the spirit of diversity, here is an Latin Times article on greetings for the New Year.

What Is the Human Relations Commission?

So just as nominees were up for approval to serve on the Human Relations Commission Monday, it turned out no one could state the purpose of the commission. I must admit, even after covering city government for 30 years, I myself could not have named its duties. I do remember being at a Human Relations Commission hearing on alleged police brutality many years ago and recall the commission's purpose as having to do with race relations. Of course, the thing to do nowadays is look it up online, so here is the purpose as stated in the Municipal Code:

The Human Relations Commission shall:

A.        Advise and consult with the City Council, Mayor, City Administrator, Deputy City Administrator, and Department Directors concerning proposed and existing municipal ordinances or resolutions, administrative directives and departmental or divisional policies and when requested by appointing authority render advice as to the appointments to Boards, Commissions and public bodies and for appointments of administrative employees.

B.        Exercises such powers as are allocated to a Human Relations Commission under State Statute NJSA 10:5-10 in such capacity shall attempt to foster through community effort or otherwise, good will, cooperation and conciliation among groups and elements of the inhabitants of the City as well as to make recommendations to the City Council for the development of policies and procedures in general and for programs of formal and informal education that will aid in eliminating all types of discrimination based upon race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status or sex.

C.        When requested by the Mayor, City Administrator, or Deputy Administrator, may hear and render advisory opinions on any complaint brought before the Office of Information and Complaints and may request of the Mayor, City Administrator or Deputy City Administrator permission to review any such complaint.

OK, I get Part B, but Part A sounds like a bureaucratic nightmare and Part C refers to an office I never heard of. I do know that before the role of Deputy City Administrator was changed to leading economic development, the charge was that of an ombudsman for the people. That would explain the part about dealing with complaints.

But here's another little-remembered fact about the commission. In the Municipal Code it was empowered to have a director and staff. Shhh, don't tell - we don't need any more new positions.

From the Municipal Code:

Sec. 2:5-5. Human Relations Commission Director; staff.

(a) The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council, and after prior consultation with the Human Relations Commission, shall appoint a Director of the Human Relations Commission.

(b) The Director of the Human Relations Commission shall provide staff and research assistance to the Human Relations Commission and shall be responsible to the Deputy City Administrator to provide staff services in the field of human relations, including but not limited to educational programs, liaison activities with private community agencies and individual citizen groups.

(R.O. 1957, 2:21-1 through 4, as amended Oct. 5, 1970 and A.C. 1969, 3.5.)

Sorry this doesn't clear things up entirely, but the revisions to the office of Deputy City Administrator made other parts of the code murky. If you ever saw the two huge binders containing the Code, you could see how changes in one part might accidentally make other parts wrong.

For now, Part B sounds like plenty of work for the commission and we wish all the new members well in addressing that charge.

--Bernice

Showtime for Bill Reid

Councilman William Reid wants you to know he is in an art show.He wanted you to know so much that he left the dais near the end of Monday's meeting, while a citizen was speaking in public comment, to come over to where I was sitting with pen and notebook. He handed me the postcard pictured above, explained he was in the show and suggested I might like to go to Morristown to see it. Upon returning to his seat, he spoke to Councilwomen Gloria Taylor and Vera Greaves about the show, while the hapless resident was still speaking.

Reid had already been chided by Council President Bridget Rivers for speaking out of order earlier. Rivers banged the gavel and threatened to adjourn the meeting, but Reid was not fazed. His disregard for the decorum of the meeting later by intruding his personal business was an insult to the public.

Regarding the postcard, anyone who regularly reads the blogs knows that I do not usually do event publicity, while Dan welcomes it. I prefer to use my time reporting rather than trying to convert posters and such into blog posts when there are other outlets for publicity.

Nonetheless, let it be noted that Mr. Reid is in an art show. You can click on the image to enlarge it for details, and/or look at www.artintheatrium.com

--Bernice