On Monday, Rev Gerald Lamont Thomas addressed the City Council during public comment regarding the future of the Muhlenberg campus. Adam Beder, JFK Health System's vice president for governmental affairs, attended the meeting but declined comment Monday when asked by Plaintalker. He has now provided answers to three questions posed by Plaintalker, which we are posting here.
Please note this post is informational only and Plaintalker will not take comments on this one.
Has JFK been meeting with clergy at large or only Rev. Thomas, and what is the goal?
JFK has met with dozens of community leaders, including the clergy and hundreds of community members over the last 18 months to solicit feedback from the community on the future of the Muhlenberg Campus. Through that process, we have confirmed that the Community’s top priority for the campus is to preserve access to healthcare and enhance the emergency and outpatients healthcare services offered. 18,000 residents use the emergency department on the campus for their emergency needs and we would like not only to continue this access but enhance the facilities to provide it. I am pleased to tell you that JFK shares that value, and our plan for the Muhlenberg campus features the construction of a new Satellite Emergency Department and Outpatient healthcare facility. The Community’s second priority is creating new jobs and economic development that will help Plainfield grow. Our plan would create over 700 temporary jobs, 100 permanent jobs and attract over $100 million of private investment in the city. This investment would generate nearly $2.5 million in annual property tax revenue and help to support the growth of the community at large. These new resources will help to support our public schools, expand the property tax base, enable the city to hire new police and firefighters, and address other priorities that are so needed in Plainfield.
Community members have helped us to develop our plans for the campus. Many of their leaders have committed to join us to support the redevelopment of the Muhlenberg Campus because they recognize the great benefit that redevelopment can provide to the community.
Has any land use application for the Muhlenberg campus been filed with the city, or is one anticipated soon?
JFK has submitted a letter to the Mayor and Council requesting that the City rezone portions of the Muhlenberg campus to allow for it to be redeveloped into a mixed use healthcare, residential, educational and retail campus.
Do you have any comment on Adrian Mapp's proposal to seek taxes on the property or on the city study of possible uses for the campus?
JFK does not object to the City hiring experts to help them in this process, but will not support added delays to this process. The focus should remain on thoughtful redevelopment of the campus into a mixed use healthcare, residential, educational and retail campus that would generate almost $2.5 million in annual taxes to support the City, County and public school system.
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