| Author | Message | ||
     srg227 Citizen Username: Srg227 Post Number: 22 Registered: 6-2004 |
as a relative SO newbie, I'm not entirely familiar with the town's redevelopment over the last few years. However judging by the rancor and cynical comments made on this board, it sounds like the lack of progress has been going on for quite a while. Town leaders say 'coming soon'; whatever was supposed to come soon doesn't occur; and town leaders just push the goalposts back a little further, finishing up with the same mantra. so let me ask a different question. Is there anyone in a position of power who conceivably stands to benefit from a lack of redevelopment, and who therefore might have an incentive to actually thwart redevelopment? I have no idea how such a benefit might occur, but my view is that people generally do things for a reason, and 'follow the money' is usually not a bad way to figure out what is really going on. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 345 Registered: 7-2004  |
I don't think anyone has purposely held things up. Some people in charge are just a little lazy and very incompetent. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 2496 Registered: 5-2001  |
SRG, You ask a very good question and one I've wondered alot myself. When I'm feeling extra-cynical, sometimes I wonder if things are delayed intentionally because the prospect of "Coming Soon" is more enticing than the reality of what these projects may turn out to be. In other words, real estate values have continued to climb (mostly because of the train) and there is "hope" that the downtown will turn around someday and we will no longer see boarded up old buildings. However, imagine if/when these projects actually materialize & they are not successful and we see boarded up NEW buildings, the exodus will be fast & furious. I hope I am wrong. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1170 Registered: 8-2002 |
First, welcome SRG227 Another opinion -- First, if there were TONS of money to be made, someone would have long ago built something and cashed in! So, IMO -- it isn't easy to make it happen here. That said, I don't think there is anything purposefully malicious or self serving (financially) going on. But, I'd say there is a need for control and micromanaging among at least some within town. MHD -- interesting point. I recall my realtor, now 4+ years ago, making "hay" of all that was coming in SO. Also, her take on the "high taxes" (this was before the Maplewood reval) -- was that Seton Hall was sucking the town dry for police and fire services (!). Pete | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 685 Registered: 5-2003 |
Incompetence; idiocy; ignorance; corruption; cronyism; lack of planning; lack of insight; lack of foresight; egotism; small-mindedness; lack of professionalism; laziness; lack of vision; lack of imagination.... | ||
| Uhuru Citizen Username: Uhuru Post Number: 85 Registered: 5-2005  |
they purposely hold off irvington ave. | ||
| gotcha Citizen Username: Gotcha Post Number: 6 Registered: 5-2005 |
For what reason, Uhuru?? | ||
| SO Refugee Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 441 Registered: 2-2005  |
It's part of the plan to have Mwood and SO consolidate. If our BOT can delay things long enough, Maplewoodians will take pity on SO and lead us out of the darkness of the 20th century. The Gaslight will then serve merrily to citizens of all ages, the THFKATBL (Town Homes formerly known as the Beifus Lot) will be brimming with new taxpayers, the Quarry will have hauled their rocks to west Jersey, the SOPAC will honor the works of local celeb Duncan Rogers, and one half of the citizens will sing Kumbaya, while the other half protests the song selection. The more things change... | ||
| shestheone Citizen Username: Shestheone Post Number: 166 Registered: 5-2003 |
hmmm...so refugee, are you a friend of fred? | ||
| SO Refugee Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 442 Registered: 2-2005 |
No. Wouldn't know him if I saw him in the street. Just seemed a plausible enough theory as any other... Should we start thinking of new town names? | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1650 Registered: 6-2001  |
South Orange, maybe? Maplewood was once part of it, and I cannot support a name change. It would be a true travesty and slap to the face of history. We could lose the "Township of" part; I don't think it's still necessary for state aid. SOUTH ORANGE | ||
| berry festival Citizen Username: Berry_festival Post Number: 149 Registered: 9-2003 |
Southwood (sounds like it's from a soap opera) | ||
| Lucy Citizen Username: Lucy Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2005 |
For weeks on end absolutely no construction has been progressing on the SOPAC site or the Shop Rite site. Does anybody really know why? | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1654 Registered: 6-2001 |
I'm sure there will be more activity in March/April 2007. | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 686 Registered: 5-2003 |
It is particularly frustrating when you drive through Livingston and see the progress that is being made on their two big projects--a big addition to their library on Livingston Avenue, and the redevelopment project at the intersection of Livingston Ave and Rt. 10. What is wrong with our town? Why do other towns get things done and we stagnate endlessly, with huge holes in the ground, vacant stores, rubble-filled empty lots? Once we had a nice downtown; now it's beginning to look like a war zone. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2005 |
ITs because they do not have professionals who know about redevelopment. Why is the furture of our largest financial investment being managed by a bunch of amateurs. As goes the downtown, so goes our home values. Take a look at who we are being asked to trust with the downtown...our mayor, whose own store looks terrible...the rug guy whose store is awful...Befius whose dealership looked run down...and some people who plan to open a supermarket whose track record is unproven. | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 898 Registered: 12-2003  |
Hard to imagine why more businesses don't want to come to town. We seem like such an easy-to-please bunch. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 2498 Registered: 5-2001 |
oh...of course. The Market has been empty for 4 years, Beifus has been an empty lot for 2 years and SOPAC is permanently "under construction" because of a few critics here on MOL. It all makes so much more sense now.  | ||
| red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 122 Registered: 3-2005 |
Proposed new town name for South Orange: Maplehood. Refer to the thread about the school system crime stats. | ||
| Two Sense Citizen Username: Twosense Post Number: 183 Registered: 7-2004 |
srg227: This corollary to your thoughtful question would be "Is there anyone who stands to benefit from persistently backing incompetent developers?" |
