| Author | Message | ||
     mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 172 Registered: 5-2001 |
The propoganda spin on the Village website continues....announcing 69 "for sale" luxury single family attached homes. Is the Village now in the PR buisness for TCR? "Single Family Attached Homes" is quite an oxymoron. These are multi-family townhouse units. It's like saying a "New pre-owned car". I didn't know the village was now in the marketing business. | ||
| NancyJanow Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 777 Registered: 5-2001 |
"The South Orange Planning Board approved the site plan for 69 "for sale" luxury single family attached homes" The way I read this announcement is that the homes are for sale and NOT rentals. I see it announcing the Planning Board approval, NOT advertising the homes for sale. Perhaps, Mayhewdrive, your opinions are coloring your judgement. NCJ aka LL | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 174 Registered: 5-2001 |
LL, I know your pal Mary thinks this is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I am just commenting on the semantics being used by the Village: Read the following words carefully: single family attached homes. These are not single family homes. They are townhouses. There is a very clear distinction and to represent otherwise is "intellectually dishonest" (to use one of the Village's favorite phrases) | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 195 Registered: 4-2002 |
Most people think of townhouses as a row of several homes that are attached and usually smaller than those that were approved in the quarry. The ones in the quarry are quite large and are two single family homes that are attached. Some people refer to these as "back to back" single family homes. While it might sound like an oxymoron to you, it is an acceptable description that is commonly used by builders. A quick search on the web and you can find many different types of "single family attached homes" but the common theme is that these homes almost always give the look and feel of a single family home both on the outside and the inside. My feeling is that there was absolutely no wording that would have been acceptable to you, but why don't you send me what you think it should have read and I will take your suggestion to the BOT. I personally do not think that townhouses would have been accurate either. (I have never used the term "intellectually dishonest" and not sure what it even means). I remember when you criticized the village for not have a web page that posted current information. I found the report on the web page was fair and not slanted one way or the other. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 2726 Registered: 5-2001 |
As a Maplewoodian I usually stay out of South Orange issues. However, when we moved here neighbors of the quarry were complaining about the truck traffic, noise, dirt and general danger of having a quarry in their back yard. The quarry closed, which probably made most happy. However,it is totally unrealistic to expect that the site would not be developed. In the end 69 upscale townhouses seems a heck of a lot better than nearly 200 rental units. With that said, and not being a RE developer, I consider the term "single family attached homes" a head scratcher.  | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 175 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mark, I went to an online dictionary and found the following definitions: Duplex: A house divided into two living units or residences, usually having separate entrances. Townhouse: A row house, especially a fashionable one. Either seems to make the most sense to me. Although I certainly would have preferred to be looking up Park: An area of land set aside for public use, as: A piece of land with few or no buildings within or adjoining a town, maintained for recreational and ornamental purposes. I would guess that when somebody may attempt to apply for a mortgage for one of these things, the bank will ask them if it is a single family house or not. They will not be able to say it is. A single family house also typically denotes ownership of the property, as well. Which I do not believe is the case in this situtation. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 196 Registered: 4-2002 |
Ok, how about "large duplex homes in a park like setting" ? Or maybe "luxury duplex townhomes"? Other than this, I thought the website was fairly neutral. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 176 Registered: 5-2001 |
"Duplexes in a hole & no natural sunlight", would probably be most appropriate, but that's just my opinion. I did notice that the Gaslight took it even a step further and managed to omit the word "attached" all together until the very end of the article. So, according to the Gaslight, there are going to be 69 single family homes in the quarry. Is the author of those articles, the same author as the articles on the web? Would it happen to be John Gross? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 197 Registered: 4-2002 |
The gaslight is indepentently written. The person responsible gets her information from many sources including the website which might be why much of the information looked familiar. I only see it when it comes in the mail and the board of trustees has no input into the piece. | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 271 Registered: 6-2001  |
Mark - Do you think they could put a link to the sopl.org (Library) web page i? I went looking for it and ended up going to Google (which, ironically, returned me to http://southorange.org/library.asp which isn't an available link anywhere on the web site). Thanks! | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 201 Registered: 4-2002 |
I agree. I will pass your post onto Mr. Gross and prod him to get it on there. | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 272 Registered: 6-2001 |
Thanks much! Now if I could just access my library account online..... | ||
| NancyJanow Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 783 Registered: 5-2001 |
Bets, all you need is a pin number and your library card. If you haven't registered for a pin, either call or come in and put in a private number. The library is open from 9-5 today (973-762-0230) Then you can access your account 24/7. NCJ aka LL | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 273 Registered: 6-2001 |
Thanks Nancy, for your privateline as well. The PIN doesn't work, so I'll either call or come in. It's really wonderful to have access online, and the renovations are beautiful as well. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 193 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mark, While the website progress was moving at a nice pace for a while, it seems to have come to a screeching halt. Has something happened? There are still quite a number of things still listed as "Coming Soon" (Calendar, Virtual Tour, Local Maps) that it is beginning to resemble our Supermarket! Also, I notice that the meeting minutes have not been posted/updated in a while. Finally, All the scrolling text on the home page , plus the clock makes the page look way too busy. (I won't even get into the content of the "Village Speaks" material right now). Although, I am relieved to see the offensive duplexes for the quarry have at least moved off the front page. Could you pass along these comments & see what can be done to improve the site & the pace of progress? Thanks. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 205 Registered: 4-2002 |
I guess my going away had more of an impact than I thought - j/k. I will pass on the comments and let you know. | ||
| NancyJanow Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 788 Registered: 5-2001 |
Bets, Just saw your post. Hope you are able to access your account now. The renovations are lovely. We have been getting many compliments, especially on the adult configuration and children's room and the new playhouse. What fun! NCJ aka LL | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 202 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mark, I noticed that the Village website still has not been updated (see my note above). In addition, the agenda for tonight's Trustee Meeting still has not been posted. I noticed in the official Maplewood section of MOL, the Agenda for tomorrow's meeting was posted last Wednesday with an invitation for questions on any agenda items prior to the meeting. I think replicating that for South Orange would be quite beneficial. Although attendance in person at the meetings is often rather scarce, I know a number of people watch at home, particularly when they have an interest in something that is on the agenda. Could you please see if you could do something about this? Thanks! | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 220 Registered: 4-2002 |
Mayhewdrive: I will pass the info on. I would agree that the agenda should have been posted sometime last week. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 222 Registered: 4-2002 |
Mayhewdrive: It appears that because there were a couple of open items, it did not get posted in a timely manner. I have asked that in the future that we post the draft version a few days before and the final version on the meeting day. |
