| Author | Message | ||
     Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 942 Registered: 5-2004  |
user, particularly for the property next to Bunny's, I think your expectations are a little unreasonable. Also, remember that this is not the building next to the train trestle. It is the storefront adjacent to Bunny's. It's not in such shambles as you imply. There is indeed a for rent sign, however I believe that that is for the space above the storefront. John has indicated that he plans to in some way expand Bunny's into that space (if I remember correctly). I disagree that the building is in any way an eyesore. Does it need a tenant? Absolutely. But to compare the vacancy of a storefront for a few months to the fiascos that have been going on around town for years is ridiculous. | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 47 Registered: 8-2004 |
I just did a little homework the property was purchased november 10th 2004 over 5 months ago. I would think that 5 months is enough time to make some sort of improvement so we do not have to look at this empty property. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 2017 Registered: 9-2003 |
So tell me User58 -- how would you propose that someone improve the exterior of a property in the Winter? Seems to me as though you have something personal against John or Bunny's or both. | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 48 Registered: 8-2004 |
I have nothing personal against anyone I am just tired of looking at construction and fences sourrounding demolished buildings. I walk down south orange ave every day to get the train and back again in the evening and it looks horrible. What do I propose. I propose that an ordinance be put into this town that does not allow comercial property to sit in poor condition. If you do not paint your house you get a summons, if you do not cut your lawn you get a summons. Walking from Ridgewood to Sloan street you pass the following the old rug location leveled..and to your left is the Beifus disaster...then again to your right is the empty store next to bunnys followed by the two empty locations that were the sickley buildings. Oh and lets not forget the disgusting alley that is filthy that sits between sickley and the blue moon diner. | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 62 Registered: 2-2005 |
My only issue with Bunnys is that huge truck and small dumpster that apparently is allowed to block the driveway to the transit lot. Maybe the SOPAC construction could have come up with something better then forcing that into the driveway? | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 63 Registered: 2-2005 |
Correct that last post...its a "large SUV", I was corrected by my wife... | ||
| joso Citizen Username: Joso Post Number: 280 Registered: 5-2001 |
Anyone who thinks the THD will be reconstituted at the Midas site is drinking "Koolaid". The old THD was a quaint, and I suppose moderately successful business. But it hardly inspired visions of entrepeurnerial (sp) eptitude. Turning a former muffler shop (and i expect and environmental disaster yet to be discovered) into a sandwich shop I fear is beyond the means of this particular owner. Though I may speak to soon......I never expected Neicy's to re-open and yet I passed by recently to see a sign saying hours of the take-out kitchen would be changing in expectation of an early May opening! I saw many new tables and chairs! Dare we dream? | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 893 Registered: 1-2004  |
Why are we allowing more commerical space to be built when we have so many empty store fronts as it is? | ||
| SoxHater2090 Citizen Username: Soxhater2090 Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2005 |
How many of you (joso, User58, peteglider) have purchased one of the many properties you are complaining about and redeveloped it? What have you personally done to improve the Town? If the owner of THD purchased a building that has been an eyesore for several years, renovates it, and re-opens his business, and also rented the previous space to another business that formerly wasn't in Town, isn't that an improvement? I do not know how long you've lived in Town, but just 13- 15 years ago, all the stores except the Bun n Burger under the train were vacant. One by one, the stores have been leased, and now each weekend, you cannot even get a parking space. Rome was not built in a day. As Mr. Rosner stated in another posting (under the Town Hall Deli thread), the purchase was completed on Dec 31st... 3 1/2 months is a very short time compared to other properties you are referring to. | ||
| Washashore Citizen Username: Washashore Post Number: 221 Registered: 4-2003 |
SoxHater: On one level I agree with you that things take time. But if you look at our downtown with, as you say, all these new stores, what you'll find is, bank, bank, bank, nail salon, bank, nail salon, nail salon, empty storefront (former site of Victor's Florist, former site of used furniture store, etc). The town orchestrated the new bank on SO Ave in the former THD site, and the reloation of the THD to off town center. It makes more sense from a synergistic downtown growth persepctive to have the THD on the main drag than yet another bank. But, alas, after requiring the former THD to cut through the wall to provide access onto Kroll Plaza (a very bright idea, seriously), it is now bricked up for the bank. So once again, I am afraid, we are left with the awful fact that our leadership - elected as well as paid - have no vision, have no sense, and have almost no ability to deliver the right thing at the right time, in the right place. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 917 Registered: 1-2004 |
Washashore- I thought I heard the new owners of the THD figured out they could make a lot of money renting the building and moving the THD, which is why they did it. | ||
| hariseldon Citizen Username: Hariseldon Post Number: 307 Registered: 5-2001  |
Nah..more fun to blame the Trustees! | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1140 Registered: 6-2001  |
I blame hari seldon | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 49 Registered: 8-2004 |
I find it hard to believe that anyone feels that another bank in the town is better than the original THD. It had the potential to be a wonderful business. If the new owner had vision they would have realized it potential. It had the most amazing bones and perfectly located for such a business. Imagine if it had been cleaned up and had a full deli menu along with necessary items for sale like milk, eggs etc. It had a wonderful park setting that tables could have been placed for use by customers. This was clearly a monopoly board move to aquire valuable property in town. Now if you believe there is nothing wrong with that move then the owner is a genius. They own two pieces of property that will most likely be worth collectively 2-3 million dollars in the near future. And if the new deli location does not work out maybe they can rent it to a bank. | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 50 Registered: 8-2004 |
washashore do you walk through our town? I see candle shop, bunny's, reservoir, bluemoon, cold stone, on-track cleaners, urban femme, starbucks, comic book store, cait and abby, frame shop, bagles abroad, dunkin dough, jewerly store, dancing goat, block buster, antonellas, a great sporting goods store, we've got movies, several great tailors, cafe arug, pappillon, lot 15, toro loco, taste of asia, exxon, ridge tire, camera store, rite aid, neelam and on and on. Perhaps you should walk with open eyes! We have great business owners in this town!!!!!!!! To say we only have banks and nail salons is outrageous. Yes we need more businesses but if all you see are nail salons and banks then you must not be supporting the other businesses. lets hope a potential business owner did not read your post. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1847 Registered: 4-2002 |
User58: Well said, | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 51 Registered: 8-2004 |
If washashore is interested I would love the opportunity to arrange for a tour of the towns businesses. Washashore are you interested? | ||
| Larry David Citizen Username: Larry_david Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2005 |
User58, you make some very good points, but I think all of you are forgetting that there is free enterprise in South Orange. Yes a person has to go before the planning board and get approval, but they are also allowed to make profits on their business either in opening one, selling the space or leasing the space. Washashore, you sound like a such a dried up prune. I'm sure you have never seen a glass half full in your life. You're the typical person that sits in the comfort of her home blaming one and all, but doing nothing to change the situation except aggravate it. | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 52 Registered: 8-2004 |
Larry david you are absolutely correct free enterprise. I was just saying it is a shame that the owner of thd did not have vision. keeping the thd where it was and fixing it up and running it like a business could have shown rewards for the owner as well as the residents of south orange. Washashore still has not responded to any of the posts. where is washashore?????? Mr. rosner would you walk washashore around town and introduce he or she to the local businesses??? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1848 Registered: 4-2002 |
I would be happy to walk washashore through S. Orange. My guess is Washashore prefers to remain anonymous. |
