| Author |
Message |
    
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1215
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 2:43 pm: | 
|
Pizzaz --
Bunny's is pretty centrally located -- maybe you and Dave and Jamie can hook up some "Coming Soon webcams" -- Sopac, ShopRite, Beifus, nearby, can you see the rug store from your roof, too?
That could be the most reliable info on "coming Soon" !
Pete |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 1814
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 2:48 pm: |
|
SO1969 - please see my pre-election post:
http://www.southorangevillage.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?tpc=129&post=381576#POST38157 6 |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6646
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 3:05 pm: |
|
The Beifus lot will be used by the US Military to simulate combat situations in Afghanistan's Zabol Province. Apparently Zabol and South Orange have similar geological formations and political communications strategies. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1999
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 5:26 pm: |
|
I like Pete's idea. Sounds good to me.
Pizzaz: As far as I know, Beifus is still planning to start building as soon as he gets final approval from the state. They are expecting that by July 1st.
Of course, as I have said in the past, I have no confidence in Beifus or his ability to get to the next step.
|
SO1969
Citizen
Username: Bklyn1969
Post Number: 56
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 6:13 pm: |
|
Mark
I don't think you need to work on communicating with constituents. You do a great job here on MOL and it sounds like you do so in other ways as well.
I was ignorant of the history on office hours and made a snap judgment - that didn't include you in my mind, for what it's worth - from the comfort of the AC in my living room. Perhaps office hours aren't a panacea. Consider that portion of my post retracted with apologies to you and the other Board members. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 2000
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 8:28 pm: |
|
SO1969: Ok, take care and keep cool. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 2523
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 8:53 pm: |
|
Does anyone know what catastrophic event happened over the past month to delay the Supermarket at least 5 ADDITIONAL months?
Also, why is Beifus getting ANOTHER extension? |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 24
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 9:38 pm: |
|
I think this is just more proof that the town council members have no business trying to be in the real estate development business. It belongs in the hands of professionals. Its the years its taken for the Beifus site, SOPAC, the Midas site and so on. And what's going on with the Sickley building, the historic house behind the senior apartments, the promised restoration of the train station, Saiyd's site, the Gulf station and so on. We've heard things about hotels, condos, historic restoration. Is anybody in charge? Its a sham. |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 157
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 10:42 pm: |
|
MHD,
From what I understand from one of the Trustees, the reasons really come down to Mr. Beifus not being the best of businessmen. However, it would take a lot more time for them to start from scratch rather than continue to nudge Mr. Beifus in the right direction. The comment I got from one of the trustees was they will "carry him over the finish line if that's what it takes".
I think the lack of redevelopment and constant slow downs are frustrating to everyone but definitely nothing the Village President or the Trustees could foresee. (Honestly, who would want to have these projects delayed...?)
Yes, there are parking disparities in South Orange but I DO NOT want to see a parking lot and I hope others agree.
I still think there needs to be a lot more "PROFESSIONALS" involved with the process of all these projects that are being constructed and re-constructed and heck ressurected...
Maybe we don't need another "March on Village Hall" but rather a march to the Benz place with some letters from citizens...  |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1217
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 10:44 pm: |
|
umm, jayjay, the persons in charge are the owners of the property.
with the exception of the train station, its all privately owned.
if Tony chooses to sit on the Midas site instead of opening up his store there -- what exactly do you expect anyone to do about it? Obviously its not in his financial interest to open the store, or he would have.
Or if the owner of the carpet shop decides to tear down his building, and then happens to realize he doesn't have the financing in place to build his plans -- well, he's either incompetent or acting stupid -- but again, he owns it, its his right .
Likewise across the board. I really don't think we want the village to be owning more properties (ShopRite) and then struggling to get things moving.
That said, in May the BOT pushed through tax abatements on ShopRite and Beifus with promises of quick action. Whether it was the BOT/lawyer/adminstrator that screwed up or the property owner/developer -- who knows exactly.
In that case, however, expectations were set by the BOT -- and those have not been met. That's where some "agressive negotiations" are in order! And that's where the BOT has failed consistently.
The village is not the developer or owner of these properties. And unfortunately we seem to have more than our share of inept and/or uncaring business people as property owners.
Blame the BOT for those things that its responsbile for -- but also wag the finger at the host of less than stellar business owners in this town.
If the BOT moved forward with tightly written development agreements for Beifus and ShopRite -- those developments could have been an example for development in this town. Alas, that is obviously not to be...
Pete |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 158
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 11:03 pm: |
|
SO1969,
in case you already know this information, disregard
If you need to contact any of the Trustees, from my experiences, they have been quick to respond.
I've met personally with Trustee Taylor, Trustee DeVaris, and Trustee Jennings to have some questions answered outside a "public forum" and Trustee Rosner responds back to you before you can blink your eye.
Another really good contact person is Laura Harris, she pretty much knows anything you can think of or can direct you in the right direction.
If more people utilized communicating with the trustees, there would be a lot more public input on issues. Moreover, it ensures that people are getting the correct information (ideally) instead of speculating. |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1157
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 11:15 pm: |
|
One thing the BOT could have done, which it failed to do, was to put a reversion clause in the New Market agreement.
A reversion clause is almost standard procedure in redevelopment areas where a municipality conveys property to a redeveloper.
A reversion clause provides that if the developer does not meet specified timelines, the property reverts back to the municipality - most of the time at the same price as the developer paid to the municipality.
Most likely New Market will be developed. But there is always the chance that something will occur which causes it not to be developed. There should have been some protection given to the Village so that the property doesn't just sit there. The only recourse then would be to go through condemnation procedures. |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1158
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 11:37 pm: |
|
In some cases, the property reverts back to the municipality at no cost. This provides a further incentive to the developer to develop the property. Otherwise, he can just sit on it and the worst that can happen is that he gets his money back. He hasn't lost anything except the interest on the acquisition cost. |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 159
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 12:17 am: |
|
Spitz - do you know why a clause like that wasn't put in the agreement? It makes a lot of sense... |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 1392
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 1:00 am: |
|
 |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 1393
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 1:08 am: |
|
MHD- Don't you know what happened to change things? The election is over; that's what. I'm getting as tired as the next person about the lack of promises being followed through.
Mark What do we have to do to convince you to run in 06? |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 1394
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 1:16 am: |
|
Mark-
You're not the only person to mention how hot the BOT meeting room is and several people have mentioned they thought they'd have heat stroke. This might not be the place to ask, but...
Is there any way under the American's With Disabilities Act the town could be forced to put some sort of air conditioning in that room? I know while going go grad school one of my classes was held in a room similar to the one the trustee meetings are held.
One of the students had a medical condition that made it hard to breath in those conditions. The school had two choices, put in an air conditioner or move the class. It's unlikely to BOT meetings can be moved to another room, so putting in some kind of air-conditioning would seem like the best solution.
Maybe this way more people would attend the meetings. Just my thoughts... |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1159
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 6:59 am: |
|
Sheena -I have no idea. I never heard any discussion of a reversion clause at any public meetings. As I said, a reversion clause is pretty much standard in these kind of agreements because they do make a lot of sense.
People talk mainly about the convenience of a market and the aesthetics of the downtown. Just as important is getting these projects built in a timely fashion so that they will start paying taxes.
We have two gigantic properties in the central business district which generate a total of $20,000 a year in taxes. I'm all in favor of not rushing into a deal and making sure we get the right development. But once we have a deal, it just makes sense to provide some incentive to make sure the project is started in a timely fashion.
|
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 291
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 10:00 am: |
|
To my knowledge the property has not been tranfered to the developer. In fact, we raised question on how payment was constructed in the developers agreement - could be at the time to Condo units were sold! |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 2526
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 10:26 am: |
|
Sheena,
Above you stated "I think the lack of redevelopment and constant slow downs are frustrating to everyone but definitely nothing the Village President or the Trustees could foresee."
As I have said here many times, the town politicians LOVE to take "credit" for things when they are running for election. However, nobody wants to take responsibility.
I manage multi-million dollar IT projects, but when something is delayed, the client doesn't hold the software developer accountable, they hold ME accountable because I am responsible.
The same is true in government & politics.
My questions above remain: Does anyone know what catastrophic event happened over the past one month to delay the Supermarket at least 5 ADDITIONAL months?
Why is Beifus getting ANOTHER extension? A deadline was agreed to in writing within the Developer's Agreement. That deadline has passed. Period. |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1161
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 10:30 am: |
|
I was wondering whether the properties had been transferred to New Market. My recollection is that upon transfer, there was an upfront payment and the Village held a mortgage for the remainder. The mortgage was to be repaid as the units above the market were sold.
Is the Village not going to convey title until the equipment is actually on site and there is no doubt that work will start?
When will title pass?
|
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1162
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 10:36 am: |
|
"nobody wants to take responsibility."
Actually, Bill Calabrese said at the debate two years ago that that was the reason he wasn't in favor of a redevelopment corp. He was the one who was responsible and he made a point of this.
|
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 292
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 12:38 pm: |
|
So we continue with delayed/postponed tax revenues that we are told would be greater to the Township under a Pilot. |
Lucy
Citizen
Username: Lucy
Post Number: 11
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 7:33 am: |
|
I am so glad the market will be done by Thanksgiving. I will be planning the menu this
weekend and gathering family recipes for the big event!
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page