| Author | Message | ||
     South Orange Alliance for Redevelopment Citizen Username: Soar Post Number: 20 Registered: 10-2004 |
SOAR was approached by a number of individuals whose businesses surround the SOPAC pit. They are extremely upset about what has transpired in the last 2 weeks and we feel that the community should know what is going on down there. First off, the people digging the pit hit an oil storage tank, spilling oil. Then they suposedly covered it back up without properly capping the tank. The ground was contaminated...and Sayed from the rug store illegally (this was brought forth at last night's planning board meeting)took dirt from the SOPAC pit to use as fill dirt for his own pit. When his dirt was tested it came back as contaminated as well! Next, the diggers at SOPAC dug too deep into the water table and they have been pumping water 24 hours a day into the brook...BUT how do we know that the oil leak hasn't caused that water to be contaminated? There were reports that the fire department, the police dpartment and Village officilas were swarming around the pit. Now we learn that the site has been closed down and a new company has been hired to do the work, the last being fired. NJ Transit has shown up as well as they are extremely nervous about the proximity of work to their high voltage cables! Verizon lines were sliced and businesses were without telephone service for a full day. All this on top of reports that the so-called performing arts center may run an operating shortfall of anywhere from $300,00- to $800,000 annually only lead us to believe that the project should be shut down until a full analysis lets us know whether this is a viable project or not. It seems we may be throwing good money after bad. We the taxpayers will be on the hook as the Village has guaranteed all loans for SOPAC. That means all of us will be on the hook to pay should it fail. The orignal budget for SOPAC was $7,000,000. They fired the original design firm because their design came in at around $11,000,000. Mind you that was because the powers that be kept adding features and when warned that the budget would be exceeded, simply said go ahead, the money would be found. Now the project stands at $13,000,000 and counting. When will enough be enough! | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1868 Registered: 5-2001  |
Unbelievable. Thanks for sharing. Hey...maybe the Arts Center is simply going to play COMEDIES full time. Looks like we already have a South Orange Reality Comedy in full-time production at the Arts Center. | ||
| South Orange Alliance for Redevelopment Citizen Username: Soar Post Number: 21 Registered: 10-2004 |
Just an update...after speaking with one of the trustees, we learned that, according to them, the water is being pumped into a holding tank. The orginal sub-contractor on the foundation hasn't shown back up for days so they have found a new company just in case! Everything else stands. | ||
| Ginny Brown Citizen Username: Ginny_brown Post Number: 22 Registered: 1-2005 |
Is the original subcontractor not showing up b/c of all the mistakes? Has S.O. paid any money to him? If so, is anyone considering any recourse on behalf of the village? | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 685 Registered: 12-2003  |
"All this on top of reports that the so-called performing arts center may run an operating shortfall of anywhere from $300,00- to $800,000 annually only lead us to believe that the project should be shut down until a full analysis lets us know whether this is a viable project or not." Can you direct me to where these "reports" were published? (Somewhere other than the SOAR Web site.) Again, not necessarily disagreeing with you, would just like to take a look at the numbers myself. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1460 Registered: 11-2001  |
"the water is being pumped into a holding tank" - I don't think so.  | ||
| Addy Citizen Username: Addy Post Number: 348 Registered: 12-2003  |
An arts center shouldn't pollute the environment!!!!  | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 1765 Registered: 9-2003 |
Pizzaz - you're close to this location - what's really going on? Obviously, it would be illegal to pump oil contaminated water into the brook - so what's with the holding tank comment and frowny face? Marc - I know you are not on the SOPAC committee but do you have any comments? | ||
| doublea Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 879 Registered: 3-2003 |
Suggested weekend tour - Start at the Reservation to see the cruisers, go past the "Mushroom House" now that you can actually see it, proceed to the NJT lot to see the contamainated water being pumped into the holding tank or brook, and end up at Carmelita's to support a local business establishment. | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 293 Registered: 8-2004 |
Don't forget to take a few minutes to gaze upon the old Biefus lot on the Ave. and the old Shop-Rite building. | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 294 Registered: 8-2004 |
Don't forget to take a few minutes to gaze upon the old Biefus lot on the Ave. and the old Shop-Rite building. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1462 Registered: 11-2001 |
SoOrLady: Good day to you. My frown is that a statement of rebuttal was provided indicating that ground water is being pumped into a holding tank. I do not know whether the water is contaminated or not, I'm only suggesting that the water is not going into a holding tank. As to the other statements provided by SOAR, I find their statements nearly accurate. The Planning Board had asked Sayed to test his fill at the December(?)meeting. He did not test the fill but secured the test data of the SOPAC ground that the contractor had performed. This test data was performed sometime ago, and certainly, before the back hoe operator broke the neck (where the oil is filled) to the buried tank. And before we had 6 inches of rain on top of the buried tank. Well what happened next? With all the water above the tank, the oil came out and the water went in. Now, seeing a real problem, the mess was buried and the oil continued to seep into the ground water filled pit. The village was notified by our attorney as to problems existing on the site. It appears Sayed received unclean soil from the SOPAC site, the question is who authorized the delivery of SOPAC soil to Sayed's site. In addition, the handling of the contamination, post soil study, is in my opinion (I'm not an expert) not in the best interest of the public welfare. SoOrLady, if you wish to talk more, I'd be happy to buy you a pint of Guinness. | ||
| PARROT HEAD Citizen Username: Island_jack Post Number: 32 Registered: 3-2004  |
Sight seeing in South Orange -The mushroom house. (it's a nice house now that you can see it) -Our new gourmet Village Market. (they have the best "coming soon signs" in N.J.) -The Beifus Rubble Pile. (If you stare through the fence long enough, you can get an image of a hotel and mini-mall in your head) -Don't forget about The South Orange Grand Canyon behind Bunny's -If you get hungry, try Washington Mutual Bank. The Sloppy Joe is out of this world. -Or you can visit the Midas building-the birthplace of the Sloppy Joe. Enjoy South Orange. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1692 Registered: 4-2002 |
SoOrLady: It is difficult to comment on rumors interlaced with facts. SOPAC has a contract with a builder. From what I have heard but have not confirmed, a new sub-contractor was hired. I was told that the soil that was used as fill behind the old rug store was done so legally and that it had been tested prior to be being moved. Obviously the post at the top contradicts that but nothing has been said to the BOT that confirms what Shelley posted (I wish I knew for sure, but village hall is closed today). The person I spoke with at NJ Transit said they had no problem with the construction being close to the cables (ok, yes there is always some concern), but they did want to make sure it did not interfere with their construction and to make sure that everyone was aware, etc. The original budget for SOPAC was actually closer to $5,000,000. We are also talking 8 years later, and a larger building than originally discussed. As pointed out a couple of years ago by SOAR, some of the features were dropped, cost being one of the primary reasons. When SHU came on board, some of those features were added back (those extras being paid for by SHU). I do not know about the water situation - I have only been told that it has been resolved. I would expect to get an update at the next BOT meeting (02/14/05). Nobody knows what the operating shortfall, if any, will be but depends on a lot of factors. Of course this leads to the philisophical question about SOPAC itself and whether it will be a destination that will bring people to the village along with more businesses and restaurants. Would one consider the theater successful if it helped increase the ratables in the downtown even if it operated at a loss? Some have argued that SOPAC is an "indoor park" offering cultural events and should not be viewed purely as a business (I am not saying that is how I feel, but was point of view stated at meetings) I am cautiously optimistic but as a trustee, I have no intention of writing a blank check each year for operational costs. While we (the BOT) all know there will be operating losses in the first few years, we all expect SOPAC at one point to run with no losses (and I doubt there will ever be a profit). I certainly understand the skepticism. I know that the SOPAC president has met with the SOAR to discuss the theater. On one side you have residents (SOPAC board) who see the glass as half full and are doing whatever they can to make the project successful. On the other side you have those who can only see the negatives. It would be very helpful if we could stick to facts and only post information that has been confirmed. SOPAC's executive director made a presentation to Main Street the other night and seems fairly open and willing to meet with people to discuss any concerns. She stated their website would be up and running within a very short time. When that is confirmed I will post. | ||
| doublea Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 880 Registered: 3-2003 |
Mark - My understanding of Sayed's situation is that the fill from SOPAC which Sayed used was used without Sayed obtaining the necessary soil disturbance permit from the planning board. At the January meeting, Sayed was told he at least had to have the soil tested to make sure it was clean. At this week's meeting, Sayed's lawyer offered a letter from his environmental lawyer saying the report taken from the SOPAC site several months ago was within acceptable limits. At this point Janine Bauer said she was an environmental lawyer and the report showed that the fill from SOPAC fell outside DEP limits with regard to pesticides. Furthermore, Sayed had been previously asked to have the sample taken from his property - there really is no evidence other than verbal that the fill came from the SOPAC site. So Sayed agreed to have a sample taken from his site. If if in fact exceeds DEP limits on for pesticides for instance, he will have to obtain either a waiver from DEP for what is referred to as "historical fill" or cap it or remove it entirely. The slab that Sayed is now proposing to use rather than a basement does not qualify as a "cap." I think that Pizzaz is correct that the fill that was used at Sayed's site was moved from SOPAC before the oil tank break. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1463 Registered: 11-2001 |
Yes, I am saying that. Moreover, why was the soil moved and who authorized it? | ||
| tom vilardi Citizen Username: Tlv350 Post Number: 13 Registered: 1-2004 |
There's been alot of talk about "DEP limits", but has the DEP actually been to the site/sites to test the soil? If so, what are their findings? If not, then someone should get them out there. What about local/county health agencies? Tom | ||
| PARROT HEAD Citizen Username: Island_jack Post Number: 33 Registered: 3-2004 |
Let's talk about contaminated soil. I work for DPW and I was there for the Groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of the SOPAC. It was 97 degrees that day, and I, with two of my fellow employees, had to set up 165 chairs, a stage and a sound system. We busted our butts that day to prepare for what was supposed to be the start of construction for something this town doesn't need. This was summer 2002. The SOPAC was slated for completion by summer 2003. I sat there in the sun and heat and listened to all the speaches, and thanks, and dedications, and promises to the village about how good this arts center will be. Then I watched the Emcee stick a shovel into a ceremonial patch of dirt(which DPW provided by the way)to begin construction. So far, the SOPAC has brought nothing but headaches and a lack of parking. You think that abyss behind Bunny's is contaminated? Well that's nothing compared to the political and financial s--t that was dug up at the groundbreaking. That, my friends, is the contaminated soil. | ||
| Matt Foley Citizen Username: Mattfoley Post Number: 88 Registered: 6-2004 |
Greetings from Asbury Park. | ||
| South Orange Alliance for Redevelopment Citizen Username: Soar Post Number: 22 Registered: 10-2004 |
Mark Rosner...just a note. I, Shelley Stile, did not post anything under SoarLady. Also, I think it is fair that at this point in time to consider shutting down the work at SOPAC until an independent study is done to see whether this structure, as designed, is viable. The half glass full analogy doesn't really work here. No matter what the intentions, the reality of the situation is that if this facility has serious design and financial limitations and issues, then the taxpayers in town will be the ones to pay...without ever having their voices heard (and there have been a myriad number of people voicing their concerns over this project for years!). As a property owner and an involved resident of this town, there is no reason for me not to want to see projects for redevelopment completed successfully. But the operative word here is successfully. SOPAC has been questionable from day one. All attempts for concerned citizens to become involved have been rebuffed for the main part. I have spoken with tens of people who tried to give their professional input and were rudely turned away or ignored. Attempts to get information on the project resulted in delayed OPRA mediations. Ity's been bad karma from day one. |
