| Author | Message | ||
     Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1813 Registered: 11-2001  |
That's a false assumption. Think about what legal standing (or lack thereof) the Village has with respect to the developer's agreement drafted by no other than Mr. Hariseldon or his look alike.  | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 641 Registered: 3-2002 |
Skay, Where is the outrage, you ask. Mine may be going underground for a while. First, I'm feeling a bit like Bets right now. Two meetings into the new cycle, I'm just feeling tired and frustrated about the whole thing. Second, I think we who question the status quo are in a trap. Every time the board minority (the loyal opposition?) opens their mouths to question the status quo, the board majority says "the election is over, quit being political, let's move on and do what is best for South Orange", and tries to claim the high road. I think that continued outrage and infighting is only going to marginalize the loyal opposition, based on the two meetings that I've just seen. Much as I'd like to continue venting about committee assignments, possible backroom deals, Gross's salary and non-transparency, I think it only plays into the hands of the status quo. Time to move on to seeing who can actually be the best trustees. Maybe once some of our new trustees are seasoned, they will have enough independent thought to discuss the hard issues? I hate sounding defeatist about this, but I'm frustrated by what I see as possible useful next steps... | ||
| Uhuru Citizen Username: Uhuru Post Number: 29 Registered: 5-2005 |
just another lie in a string of lies | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1151 Registered: 8-2002 |
MR. Pogany, or Mr DeVaris -- or other business/property owners in the downtown area -- do any of you have any personal contact or reelationship with Mr Beifus? Not asking for betrayal of a confidence -- but I am very curious -- does anyone personally know this guy? I wonder what he thinks about this? /p | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 206 Registered: 8-2004 |
I repeat if mr beifus cared about this town at all he never would have allowd his dealership to fall into disrepair. If mr beifus cared about this town at all he never would have allowd this location to sit empty for some 10 years. Why is anyone surprised about this situation? | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1814 Registered: 11-2001 |
I do know Mr. Beifus, but I have not spoken to him in over a year, maybe two. I have no idea what his construction plan is or whether he had knowledge of the agreement written by the VA until such time that it was delivered to him. I wonder what date that occured on? Mr. Beifus has his office on Valley Street. He really is an articulate and friendly person. If anyone owns a Mercedes, I would suggest a car service over there and ask to speak to him. I'm sure he'll engage you in conversation.  | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 208 Registered: 8-2004 |
Engage in conversation? I think the residents in this town are done listining to BS. I think the residents of this town who are paying some of the highest taxes in this country deserve more that a sit down with mr. beifus. Enough is Enough. He should either get this project under way or the town should condem it and give it to Donald Trump! And by the way the piece of property he ownes on valley is starting to look like the way the the one on south orange ave looked before he decided to shut down. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1815 Registered: 11-2001 |
Again, I do not have the answers we (the village residents) seek. But I'm sure there is much more to the story than just the fault of Mr. Beifus. I still don't understand why he did not build during the first two years of his Planning Board approval. Knowing that the original planning board approval was flawed by way of height and parking considerations, we are now told that the recently approved project is better for the village under this agreement (reduced height, good; less parking,???) than otherwise. Go figure? | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 209 Registered: 8-2004 |
I get all that but lets face it he allowed this dump to sit for over 10 years do you agree to that pizzaz? Why does it surprise anyone in this town that we are still looking at a dump! He had a mercedes dealership! Could you imagine the level of business he would be doing in our town my god every other car is a mercedes! No vision. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1816 Registered: 11-2001 |
His franchise was pulled by Mercedes. Corporate considerations for expanding the dealerships in both Summit and Morristown. I agree that the development of his property has taken way too long. Initially he was to develop a hotel. Plans were drawn, however, market occupancy studies showed it would not do well. From there, we still await for the construction of a dual commercial and residential development. I agree, "it's about results". Do you think SOPAC is on schedule for the first movie to be shown next May? I hope so, but don't hold your breath. | ||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 210 Registered: 8-2004 |
His franchise was pulled? that speaks volumes. the bottom line here is results and he from what I can tell does not have the ability to pull this off. It sat empty as a total discrace for some 6 or so years then to make things worse there was a fire so then it sat in worse condition for some 2 or three years. I believe he should not be given the chance to develop this property. he has shown no ability what so ever. It will continue to be a mess watch and see. SOPAC I'll put it this way you better add 10 more pizza ovens once that gets going. As for when.... | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1817 Registered: 11-2001 |
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| Two Sense Citizen Username: Twosense Post Number: 155 Registered: 7-2004 |
As repeatedly told by Beifus, he had concerns about S.O.'s future, and wanted to move his dealership to Short Hills or thereabouts. Morristown Mercedes objected, because of its proximity (and Rt. 24 link) to Beifus' preferred destination. Mercedes USA flinched, and agreed to purchase his dwindling dealership, yet let him keep the property and his body shop on Valley. Now that the real estate market has turned, he wants to cash-out on S.O. Avenue by building and selling condo's, probably cash cow his repair shop into the ground, and hunt for a new MB dealership further west for his son, who runs his body shop. At this point, we're counting on a real estate speculator who long ago wrote off S.O., and who really wants to get out of dodge. Despite his historical "ties" to our Village, he's lived in Morris county for some time. What's more puzzling is why incumbent Trustees cut him so much slack, including negotiating a 30-year, transferrable PILOT when they thought he couldn't pull off his planned development -- otherwise, why impose such a strict deadline for Beifus to commence construction? | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1153 Registered: 8-2002 |
...did notice a construction trailer on-site now. (of course, no clue what they might be constructing...) /p | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1556 Registered: 6-2001  |
Singlemalt, Sorry I missed your post. Here's my reply. I can post the links and the quotes from minutes and the endless back and forth legal mumbo jumbo until my fingers are bloody stumps and my hair gone totally gray as many on this board no doubt secretly wish for, but the fact is the village LIED to the voters in the days leading up to the election AGAIN, and those LIES could have been corrected by John, Eric, and Howard, by enforcing the PUBLICLY PRESENTED resolution that required Beifus to have a signed deal within 10 days of the resolution. Under what was presented, South Orange would have obtained the property and sought other developers. John and Eric would probably have to recuse themselves from the latter process (isn't the New Market site within 200' from Prescription Counter, btw?), but at least there would be an end in sight instead of this continued insanity. Howard and Mark may have balanced Arthur/Allan. And they would all have been really helpful in many other matters currently afflicting this town. It really shouldn't be this difficult. | ||
| Eliot Spitzer Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1115 Registered: 3-2003 |
Bill Calabrese said at the BOT meeting before the election that the rationale for this deal (if in fact the Village uses the site as a parking lot for 18 months) is that the Village doesn't have to come up with the funds at this time to acquire the property from Beifus. If the Village does in fact acquire the property after the 18 months, it will have to come up with the funds at that time. This brings up the deal the Village has for the sale of the Shoprite property to New Market. About a year ago, when the subject of condeming the Beifus property was mentioned at a BOT meeting, Steve Steglitz said the Village would have the funds from the sale of the Shoprite property. In one of Howard's posts prior to the election, in which he linked part of the developer's agreement with New Market, it appears that the Village took back a mortgage on the property. If this is the case, the Village wouldn't have the funds availabe from the sale of the Shoprite property to use in acquiring the Beifus site at this time and might explain why the Beifus deal is structured as it is. This is not relevant of course if Beifus has met the conditions or the conditions are waived and the Village does not use or acquire the property. It would be helpful to know if the Village has conveyed title to all the relevant property to New Market and what the consideration was and what the terms are. At this time it's not relevant to Beifus, but is relevant in understanding the New Market deal. | ||
| Eliot Spitzer Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1116 Registered: 3-2003 |
One more post, and then I'm going back into retirement. This past Monday, the BOT instructed the Finance Committe to take up the matter of financing the parking deck that might be built on the N.J. Transit lot. Eric is on the Finance Committee. Will he have to recuse himself from any discussion about the parking deck which takes place in the Finance Committee? | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1819 Registered: 11-2001 |
I like your line of reasoning.  | ||
| Daniel I. Goldberg Citizen Username: Dig Post Number: 120 Registered: 8-2004 |
The contemplated mortgage on the New Market property is $1.6 million. This is to be repaid as the condo. units above the market are sold. In addition, we are to get $1.1 million at the closing on the sale of the Shop-Rite property to the developer. John Gross indicates that the developer will spend an additional $1 million in remediation, but it is not clear where this is coming from. It may be part of a grant from the State. So, we are going to take in a minimum of $2.7 million. Don't know if there is any more money coming in from the sale of the Shop-Rite properties, but it would be interesting to know what we have paid to acquire these properties. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 2483 Registered: 5-2001  |
Parking Deck?? Which side of the 2 conflicting campaign promises did TerriAnn land on: "*I think it would destroy the character of our lovely downtown to locate a massive parking deck in the NJ Transit lot. " "*I recommend increasing parking at the main train station to the extent possible while designing any structured parking there to be aesthetically pleasing and in context with the river greenway project and the development of the plaza area by SOPAC and the nearby restaurants. " |
