Redevelopment Scorecard Needed
Before Tuesday’s agenda session, there was a closed City Council session at which these redevelopment topics were discussed: Marino’s, North Avenue, Richmond and Third, Madison Avenue and West Second Street, Arlington Avenue, Netherwood, Senior Center, Teppers II projects, as well as PBA Contract Negotiations and Kings Temple.
Under the Open Public Meetings Act, contracts and pending litigation are subjects that may be discussed in executive session, with the idea that once each matter is resolved, it will then be disclosed in a public meeting.
Tuesday’s public session lasted only about 20 minutes, most of which I missed. The meeting adjourned before other stragglers arrived.
The executive session list was much more interesting than the agenda for the public session, and reminded me that I have lost track of the timetables for some of the projects listed. It seems to me that the multiple extensions of some of the developers’ conditional designations must have expired by now, but I’m not sure. A consultant came before the council in August to explain that he attends weekly meetings on redevelopment projects, something that also made me think I have to sit down and get a grip on all these timelines.
The Senior Center project has passed the point of groundbreaking and there is a redevelopment agreement for the North Avenue project, albeit one that will most likely have to be modified, as other lots may be added. A redevelopment plan was just approved for the Madison and West Second Street project, suggesting construction of 12 luxury condos as the best use for the vacant lot. Consultant Mark Munley said in August he is helping the developer for the Marino’s tract find financing.
A developer for the Tepper’s II lots has made public presentations of his proposal for condos on West Front Street. The council recently approved the withdrawal of the Arlington Avenue developer. A study of the Netherwood area has been ordered, but its scope may be reined in due to recent eminent domain court rulings.
The project that has me drawing a big blank is the one for East Third and Richmond. It was proposed as a phased project for 352 condos in five buildings, starting on the former Cozzoli site. I can’t pinpoint the last extension given to the developer.
My big red accordion file on redevelopment has now spawned six separate files, with more to come, as the paperwork on each project increases. Early on, it was much easier to do a round-up of redevelopment. Now that there are 20 or so proposals to watch, it’s difficult. Maybe it’s time for a public accounting of where things stand.
--Bernice Paglia
Under the Open Public Meetings Act, contracts and pending litigation are subjects that may be discussed in executive session, with the idea that once each matter is resolved, it will then be disclosed in a public meeting.
Tuesday’s public session lasted only about 20 minutes, most of which I missed. The meeting adjourned before other stragglers arrived.
The executive session list was much more interesting than the agenda for the public session, and reminded me that I have lost track of the timetables for some of the projects listed. It seems to me that the multiple extensions of some of the developers’ conditional designations must have expired by now, but I’m not sure. A consultant came before the council in August to explain that he attends weekly meetings on redevelopment projects, something that also made me think I have to sit down and get a grip on all these timelines.
The Senior Center project has passed the point of groundbreaking and there is a redevelopment agreement for the North Avenue project, albeit one that will most likely have to be modified, as other lots may be added. A redevelopment plan was just approved for the Madison and West Second Street project, suggesting construction of 12 luxury condos as the best use for the vacant lot. Consultant Mark Munley said in August he is helping the developer for the Marino’s tract find financing.
A developer for the Tepper’s II lots has made public presentations of his proposal for condos on West Front Street. The council recently approved the withdrawal of the Arlington Avenue developer. A study of the Netherwood area has been ordered, but its scope may be reined in due to recent eminent domain court rulings.
The project that has me drawing a big blank is the one for East Third and Richmond. It was proposed as a phased project for 352 condos in five buildings, starting on the former Cozzoli site. I can’t pinpoint the last extension given to the developer.
My big red accordion file on redevelopment has now spawned six separate files, with more to come, as the paperwork on each project increases. Early on, it was much easier to do a round-up of redevelopment. Now that there are 20 or so proposals to watch, it’s difficult. Maybe it’s time for a public accounting of where things stand.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 8:19 AM
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