Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Proposed Muhlenberg Development:Town Hall at Cedarbrook School


Tuesday, March 20, 2012 – 7:00 PM
Cedarbrook School
1049 Central Avenue

 
Dear Friends,

The Board of Muhlenberg has proposed demolishing the hospital and replacing it with 600 units of housing. Several questions arise, among them:



  • Does this type of development make sense? 
  • Is this too much density for that neighborhood? 
  • Is this what Plainfield needs? 
  • Are the ratables enough to offset the costs to the city and to the school system? 
  • Why housing only? Why is there not a commercial component to what has been proposed? 
  • What are the alternatives? 

What are your thoughts? Come share them with me and the rest of the Council, along with the Muhlenberg Board. 

Regards,

Adrian

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

TAX BABY, TAX. . .

JFK Health Systems made a colossal mistake when they did not include the community's input in their studies. The community will overwhelmingly come out against this proposal, it is dead on arrival.

The development requests are not permitted uses of the properties as currently defined in the Land Use Ordinances. The Land Use boards and the City Council would be within their rights to turn down JFK's 'dream'.

What I am afraid will happen is that the buildings will be boarded up and the property fenced in as JFK has stated that they will not continue to pay to maintain the campus. I would personally hate to see this happen as this boarded up dinosaur would be around for many years to come. Though, I must admit that some of the neighboring residents stated they preferred this to a development.

What then? The City should IMMEDIATELY begin the process to start assessing REAL ESTATE TAXES. The campus no longer has a license to operate as an acute care facility so it is no longer eligible for a tax waiver. The nominal square footage used for the Emergency Room could be deducted.

What would happen then? This will immediately put pressure on JFK to work with the City. I am sure they will sue, but let them,(more pressure). So mail them their tax bill today and make it retroactive to the day they gave up their license. MAIL THE BILL!

I don't feel we as a City should fear redevelopment of the campus, whether it is composed of medical facilities, residents, retail or a big green park. But the development should be done on a scale that fits within it surroundings, it should be sustainable, and the process must include the stakeholders.

TAX BABY, TAX

jim spear

Anonymous said...

Right on, Jim! TAX, TAX, TAX, retro to August 13, 2008. They may "abandon" the property but they will continue to have to pay, and lord knows the city needs the money to fix the PMUA problem among other things. Corporate greed strikes again and it has hit us hard.

Anonymous said...

Mayor Sharon Robinson Briggs is at it again with her administration especially Eric Berry. Lisa Logan Leach applied for a job as public information officer for IT. a made up position so she will have benefits. The morale to the story is that they are trying to hurry and put her there before her conviction come to the light. She crashed her car while drinking and driving and have pending charges. This administration is full of crap. Here we go again not giving people a chance other than the people the mayor protect. How can you get rushed into a position with pending charges. Jus because the charges are not in plainfield it still should not be swept under the rug.

Anonymous said...

Council President Mapp,

Please watch the IT Department they are doing the Mayor's Dirty Work again. Chris Payne and Eric Berry are trying to hiring lisa logan-Leach undercover. She have pending charges for DUI. Pleas stop this madness.

Anonymous said...

Watch IT budget Your honor the Mayor is trying to hire LISA LOGAN LEACH in a permanant position with IT.

Anonymous said...

The communication position you council member's thought Lisa Logan-Leach was getting was just a front. She was told to apply for that position so it would throw you council member's off. Watch the IT budget all permanent high paying positions. Lisa Logan-Leach have pending charges and they are trying to get her in a permanent positiong vefore the charges hit. PLEASE DONT BE FOOLED