The plans were revealed at a public meeting last week that was publicized on short notice. The proposal then became a headline story in the Courier News the next day. More information is online.
If proponents are wondering why not everyone was instantly thrilled with the plan, Plainfield's recent history gives a clue.
In 2006, the year of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs took office, a proposal for 352 condos in five four-story structures over 700 parking spaces at East Third and Richmond was hurried through the multi-step development process. Planners found themselves mere players in a seemingly scripted process, as noted in this Plaintalker post. They were hustled through a Saturday special "emergency" meeting but details of the proposal did not emerge until a few weeks later. The whole thing eventually fell through when the developer asked to be released.
In 2007, an ordinance affecting just the Netherwood section was floated, but residents suspected it was groundwork for an as-yet unspecified proposal. This post notes the Omnipointe proposal and some others that fizzled for various reasons, including too-high density.
These experiences and others have perhaps made close observers of redevelopment in Plainfield a bit chary of big plans that appear full-blown at first glance. Anyone advancing plans for Muhlenberg has the added PR burden of residents' resentment over the hospital closing. Even after four years, the subject is too painful for some to "move forward" to a new concept for the site.
As Plaintalker has noted, there are many steps in the redevelopment process and residents must be heard from. What they want, most likely, is to feel they are being heard and not just handled as minor obstacles to a done deal. Residents must follow land use schedules and stick to the issues at hand when they have the opportunity to speak, without kitchen-sink arguments about the closing.
The weeks and months ahead will show whether there can be sincere dialogue on the concept itself, and informed, fair decisions by those appointed to the land use boards.
--Bernice
Who will rent the apartments? Green will not allow another development to become Section 8 so no poor people. Asians will never move to Plainfield in any numbers because of the school system (and they're afraid of black people). Euro-Americans? Nope, see above. Latinos? Maybe, but only those with secure jobs and clean immigration status, which eliminates many. That leaves middle-class blacks. Nothing wrong with that but if there were so many who wanted to move to Plainfied our housing prices would not be half of what they are in, say, Scotch Plains. So as they say, "Show me the demographics."
ReplyDeletePS Can we please stop repeating the adjective "luxury"? It's just hype.
With the economy in somewhat shambles as most financial istitutions have lost their "shirts"
ReplyDeleteI do not expect to have a turn around in housing demand anytime soon especially here in Plainfield...Thus I suspect we will see a shift in the subsidized (section 8) popoulation
at this new area...It is a fact that the old housing "Elmwood Gardens & area adjacent to 4th and plainfield aves will be demolished.
This is a reality and unfortunately the price for this transition will be the place of many of our births....I hope that all who read this take pictures of the site because it will be gone forever...Personally it seems that a major part of my history will disappear soon
I think that we should take alot of pictures of many parts of this beautiful town before all is lost to progress and the only thing we will have to share with our children will be the pictures
Let's remember that when the Elmwood Garden apartments are torn down they will be replaced with new housing. When completed a large portion of the displaced residents will return.
DeleteThe new housing complex will be smaller, there will be less density and the complex should be more "manageable'.
This has been approved by the Planning Board. The next step is the City Council. I am not familiar whether the Council has have signed off on it yet. Maybe Bernice knows.
js
Plainfield already has too much housing available for renters and buyers. I wonder who plans to make money from this. Probably our policiticians. I also agree with Anonymous, there is no such thing as luxury in Plainfield rentals and condos and let's not fool ourselves. Look at the Monarch, there never was a chance for that building to be luxury, especially in that neighborhood. Too many questions are unanswered here, so let's move slowly.
ReplyDeleteBernice on another note I have some information that I think the community should know. I usually give my tips to Dan but I need Dan to GET WELL. The Plainfield Housing Authority along with the Mayor tried to bambosal the council into getting into a shared service agreement with Eric Graham. Take tax payer's dollars and duplicate services that the City already have. When the Council said absolutly not which I was shocked that at least of the member's would have agreed to do it because it was the Mayor's doing the Executive director of the Plainfield Housing Authority, whom Owen Fletcher is the President decided they would func it another way. I am told that there is a grant that they have applied for to fund the position that have not been granted to them as of yet so The Housing Authoruty commissioner's from whicg Owen Fletcher is the President of the board have planned to use CDC funds to fund this position. Now I have worked for the Plainfield Housing Authority for a very long time and I have not gotten a $10,000.00, $20,000.00 or $30,0000.00 dollars increase in salary which I am told he will get. I would like to say this Guy just got here. Why do we as plainfield allow this crap to happen. I am tried of the OLD DOG POLITICS. Is's not what you know it's who you know. That's why i have decided to put them on BLAST. The commissioner's along with the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR need to be ashame of themselves. SHAME ON THEM. NEW 12 where are you let's stop all the CRIME within the HOUSING AUTHORITY along with all the other LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. Let's stop the corruption here in PLAINFIELD I'm tired. How do you move funds from the CDC when the money for his programs and his salary should be grant funded. If you don't have the grant then WAIT until you get it. WHAT IS THE BIG RUSH.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why you are bringing up personnel matters at HAP in this comment thread. I suggest people with general concerns go to the Star-Ledger Plainfield forum and post over there if you just want to vent. Or maybe you should take it up directly with the officials involved.
DeleteThe real problem is that developers dealings with Plainfield are difficult at best.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't anyone see development in Fanwood, Cranford, Westfield, Dunellen and wonder why not Plainfield.
It is a difficult place in which to do business. Many political loop holes to jump through as well as constant changes to what is required. If we actually had someone worth their salary who could attract good developers, and make it attractive to do business in Plainfield we would see much more creative uses of our land. Instead, we just look to "dump it".
Let the market decide. Put all available [the City owns MANY lots that should be sold] on auction and see who wants in!!
ReplyDeleteLets put in low income housing!
ReplyDeleteWhen Elmwood Gardens gets torn down. Then the city can relocate the residents to Muhlenburg Manor.
An added bonus is an ER just a brick throw away
Plainfield has had many proposals over the years. They dont happen because too many people have their hands out looking for a piece of the pie. The city was even offered financing from a major developer to assist in the revitalization of the downtown area and was turned down by Malcolm Dunn because the money was not black enough. (see CN article by BP, not made up) Money is green, especially when it is to help the residents of the city with new housing, business opportunities and jobs, not the politicians pockets. The construction jobs, housing and permanent jobs would have helped Plainfield make a major turn around. Instead, look at what we have now.
ReplyDeleteWhat we have downtown is a mess, plain and simple. You are right money is green and if it's truly for the betterment of Plainfield, who cares where it comes from. This is why we are always left with sub-par housing, retail space and commercial development. I blame it all on our leadership in Plainfield. We need to really clean house in order to move Plainfield forward. Do you have a link to the article you reference?
ReplyDelete