Redevelopment Must Be Done Right

Plaintalker's original goal in June 2005 was to help residents keep tabs on redevelopment. Lots of other topics have come up in the meantime, but redevelopment is still a key issue. Therefore Plaintalker's curiosity was piqued when the designated developer of the North Avenue Historic District proposed a totally new project on West Front Street. The idea was floated briefly at the Sept 29 meeting and was not even on the agenda, although officials indicated it had been discussed in closed session that evening. The proposal was for an office building incorporating an existing warehouse and two city-owned lots.

But the resolution available Monday in advance of the meeting only mentioned the two city lots. It was corrected by the time the meeting began at 8 p.m., perhaps due to Plaintalker's Monday afternoon query about the discrepancy.

On to another issue. The two city-owned lots were supposed to be the site of a 12-condo project. In a February 2008 city document, the developer, Heartstone, was named as having a developer's agreement approved by the City Council. But at Monday's meeting, Corporation Council Dan Williamson said the company only received conditional designation. The issue here was that another company with a redevelopment agreement had to get City Council approval to be released from it. So apparently the city document detailing Heartstone's status is wrong and must be corrected.

Next issue: Did the city in fact establish a park on the site and if so, do Green Acres rules prevail?

City Administrator Marc Dashield said the city-owned properties were always slated for redevelopment, implying the park status was irrelevant. However, in public comment, citizens recalled past instances where park designation of various lots caused major complications when the land was put to another use. The Park-Madison lot where a governmental office building now stands was once a temporary park and was mistakenly included on a list of Green Acres sites, leading to litigation that delayed the project for years.

Here's a current view of the park created through the volunteer efforts of Lucent employees.

There is language in the Green Acres part of the state web site that appears to raise issues about how property once named as parkland can be converted to another use.

Speakers Monday noted the vacant space was once the venue of the Stillman Music Hall, where John Philip Sousa performed. Later it was the Oxford Theatre, where Mary Pickford films were shown. Plainfield resident Nancy Piwowar suggested that a plaque noting the site's history should be placed in any building erected there.

The origination of the "pocket park" came under question, as avid councilwatchers said they had no recollection of action by the governing body to name a park.

Here is one of those markers that shows the history of a building. The Appliance-Arama warehouse was apparently once the Jersey Tire Co., Inc. Interesting that a prime downtown property was given over to tire sales.

Part of the plan was to make a link through the proposed office building to the rear city-owned parking lot. Here's a rear view of the warehouse.

And here is a view of a memorial for a man who was murdered in the back lot.

It's difficult to know how to make sure the city does its part according to the land use law, and how to make sure developers get everything right. The city does need new development and investment, but if rules are broken along the way, elected officials will have a lot of explaining to do.

At any rate, the council did approve the conditional designation Monday of Landmark Development LLC as the developer of Block 249, Lots 5, 6 and 7 on the Tepper's block. Developer Frank Cretella must now seek Planning Board approvals and secure funding for the project. Construction is projected for Spring 2009.

--Bernice Paglia