| Author | Message | ||
     mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 507 Registered: 5-2001 |
I do not understand the details, but it sounded like the combination of the Shop Rite site, the parking lot and the Vose ave site were somehow split as 3 separate properties. It sounded like the Village has Closed on 2 of the 3 properties. It was not clear which specifically was still outstanding. Mark? Patrick? | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Kevin Post Number: 115 Registered: 2-2002 |
I guess that I thought that the Village already owned everything they needed for their project....I wonder if the 3rd parcel will cost us any more that we have yet to hear about. Thanks for the recap, Mayhew. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 769 Registered: 4-2002 |
We have been advised not to comment on the shop-rite in public until the property transfer is completed. Since I am unsure of what liability I might have if I now comment, I will refrain. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 508 Registered: 5-2001 |
Kevin - I completly agree. We were ALL under the impression the Village had everything they needed, and all that was still needed was a completed "developer's agreement". Now we hear the Village won't even own all of the property until sometime next year, we are still paying interest on $2.3 million on bonds for the property and it needs $1.5 million in environmental cleanup. Yet we still hear it is "Coming Soon". Mark, I appreciate the muzzle that Matthews forces on everyone, but this really is totally unacceptable. Who is going to take responsibility for this mess? | ||
| vermontgolfer Citizen Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 184 Registered: 12-2002 |
mayhewdrive, what's your take on Gross' comment that if the property wasn't condemnded we would be at least 5 years away from any development? I for one will make a concerted effort to attend the meeting on the 24th to, at the very least, make an effort to get the 'facts', you know as Sgt. Joe Friday used to say. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 509 Registered: 5-2001 |
VG, Do you realistically think we are still any closer than 5 years away from any development? (i.e. an open and functioning gourmet supermarket) | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 51 Registered: 1-2003 |
Where is the contamination at the Shop Rite site? In the building? Under the lot? Has anyone looked into purchasing an environmental insurance policy that could cover potential costs over the estimate? | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 343 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hasn't a developer been drawing up plans and presenting them for changes/approvals? WOuldn't the developer be working on some premise of timing? Otherwise -- why would they be investing in all this preliminary legal, design, and architectural work? It just does not make sense to me. (unless of course the developer is also Beifus) Pete | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 511 Registered: 5-2001 |
Fred - as I think I heard last night, the site has an asbestos problem inside and potentially underground fuel tanks. Pete - The Planning Board approved the plans for development about 6 months ago. As discussed last night, the Village does not yet own all the parcels of property for the site, so development cannot begin. In addition, the site requires environmental remediation first. Both of these issues appear to significantly impact any premise of timing. | ||
| vermontgolfer Citizen Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 186 Registered: 12-2002 |
mayhewdrive, I don't know what I believe anymore, realistically or otherwise, but I found the comment, let's say interesting, and was seeking other opinions. | ||
| patjoyce Citizen Username: Patjoyce Post Number: 40 Registered: 7-2001 |
I don't know what legal issues restrict full discussion of this point publicly, but I do want to clear up a mis-perception which occurred at last night's meeting. I was responding to a resident's question regarding whether a Phase I or Phase II environmental inspection was done prior to the Village taking title to the Shop Rite site. It was suggested that I was a member of the BOT at the time that this acquisition occurred. In February 2001 the BOT passed an ordinance which gave the Village the right to obtain the property(ies?)through condemnation. In April of 2001 the BOT passed a resolution authorizing the Village to enter into an agreement to convey the property to the present developer. When I became a member of the BOT in 5/02 I may have mistakenly believed the Village owned the property, due to published reports that it had agreed to sell the property to a developer in April. I am not sure I would have had the foresight to request these investigations were I on the Board at the time the actions of acquisition occurred, but the BOT should have been informed of the need for this information prior to its actions. The fact that we can now justify why we would want the property despite its infirmities is no excuse for a lack of due diligence. I don't believe the BOT was informed on these issues prior to its votes in February and April of 2001. I was not aware until last evening that we did not own all the parcels of land needed to complete this development project. I have requested some documents from the Village Administrator which will hopefully shed some light on this issue. patrick | ||
| deepthroat Citizen Username: Deepthroat Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2003 |
From what I was told by an older feller is that the Shop Rite site was, at one time, a filling station, and that the owners buried car batteries on the property. I've also been told that the Sumas family took their boiler when they were kicked out and that the pipes inside the store burst, filling both the basement and sub-basement with water up to the floor joists. SOFD won't touch it. Who was the brain-trust in charge of securing this property after the town took possession? The big question is, really, who's going to be the new village attorney and how many billable hours will it take to recover the balance of this money from Mr. Matthews's insurance company? I would like a list of any properties that the town owns, just to see if there were any other little tiny oversights that may have occurred due to negligent counsel or just plain stupidity. WTF, Mate? PS--Thanks to Dave for getting me into those anger management classes. They really did the trick. I'll keep digging, just for you! | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 515 Registered: 5-2001 |
Patrick, I am "glad" to hear that you weren't informed either that the Village did not own all the parcels for the Shop Rite site. Why does the Village Counsel not only hide things from the public, but from the BOT, as well? BTW...as a correction to your post above, you became a Trustee in 5/01, not 5/02. (i'm sure it was just a typo, but worth noting) | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 352 Registered: 3-2003 |
It is my understanding from watching the BOT meeting on cable last night that much of the clean-up cost results from the landfill which must be cleaned up because of the underground parking which is planned. The first point is that the underground parking would not be required if the developer hadn't insisted on building a 200 unit, 5 story condo as the price for S.O. getting a market. The planning board pushed through approval of the development one week before the election, voting on the project at 12:30 a.m. Many people probably would have objected or at least raised questions had they known a vote was going to be taken that evening (or early morning). I had been concerned that there really wasn't going to be enough parking for shoppers. I don't rmember the exact numbers, but a sustatial number of the parking spaces in the Shop-Rite lot were going to be lost because they would in effect be used for the condo owners. I had visions of trying to go to the new market, not being able to find a parking space, and saying screw it and continuing to shop where I've been shopping. It just wouldn't be worth the hassle. Maybe the BOT should take a good hard look at the situation, and decide if another alternative isn't really better. Some people have suggested that there be something like the Amish Market on 9th Ave. in N.Y., or a group of vendors with all different kinds of foods and produce. South Orange could certainly support something like this. Also, by keeping the existing parking lot, perhaps there could be some permit parking to help solve the commuter parking problem. Think about it. | ||
| patjoyce Citizen Username: Patjoyce Post Number: 41 Registered: 7-2001 |
mhd -thanks for the edit - yes it was 5/01. Patrick | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 415 Registered: 6-2001  |
doublea, the Village is required to cleanse the site environmentally before they can - under due diligence - sell the property (that same due diligence that should have been performed before purchase). I'm sure that I am not the only one unsurprised at this latest expense burden on homeowners. You've seen the posts on MOL about the site; are YOU shocked to learn the pricetag of 1.5 million for cleanup? Are you angry that you were misled? What I find MOST distasteful is the treatment that an elected trustee is enduring. Pat Joyce was elected in May 2001 as a Trustee of this village, and yet he finds himself, in November 2003, of ignorance on an issue that was tantamount in his campaign. That happened for one reason: the Board of Trustees, the Administrator, and Counsel misreprerented that issue as a fait accompli, done deal (again), and not only barred our elected representative from discussions on the Quarry but also deliberately withheld information on another vital project! More than 2 years after he was elected by a majority vote! I really, seriously, want an explanation. This behavior is abhorrent and counter-productive and, in my eyes, illegal! | ||
| John Deere Citizen Username: Localhost Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2003 |
When you have part-time representatives, you get part-time representation... | ||
| lamppost Citizen Username: Lamppost Post Number: 29 Registered: 8-2001 |
Here is the bottom line: The Shop Rite site is very contaminated and no respectable lawyer would have permitted a client to buy it without having it first cleaned up. Why didn't our Village Attorney do that for us? If there was negligence, why should we pay for it? What about the malpractice of the Village Attorney? | ||
| tototoo Citizen Username: Tototoo Post Number: 146 Registered: 1-2002 |
Better still Lamppost, what about the malpractice Insurance Carrier for the village attorney? In a real estate transaction of the "Shop Rite Site" magnitude it is unheard of not to have environmental inspections done. Correct me if I'm wrong, it sounds like Real Estate 101. Maybe the village attorney missed that class. I don't know how much more bad legal advice this Village can stand. But I think on this issue that village counsel dropped the ball and his malpractice carrier should be contacted to clean up this mess. | ||
| lamppost Citizen Username: Lamppost Post Number: 30 Registered: 8-2001 |
Ok, tototoo, so who starts? If everything were normal, the "Trustees" should be offended that we are faced with unnecessary expenses. They should be demanding compensation from their attorney. But they sit back and are silent. How about the Village Administrator? Shouldn't he go on record as saying that the Trustees should take action? |
