Can we get this built at the North End? No parking required. Paul Goldfinger photo. NYC, Fifth Avenue. ©
As you BF readers probably know, we have been talking about a variety of related issues including parking in general, parking at the Aurora, parking at the North End, and parking plans.
And then there is the August 22 piece about “removing parking spaces.” Kevin Chambers dug into the weeds and came up with a comment to that article. Just go there and read what he says:
Removing parking spaces/Kevins comment 8/22/20
Inevitably, parking ties into other related matters including bits and pieces about zoning, State RSIS standards, and plans for redevelopment at the North End.
Which brings us to Jack Bredin who has a few things to say, beginning with Kevin’s comment. So here’s Johnny! I mean here’s Jack. Just read it slowly and try to connect the dots:
“Long Time OG Lady, Kevin Chambers is correct, but his comment only touches the ‘tip of the iceberg.’
“But, the fact is that in many cases, right or wrong, innocent or guilty, has nothing to do with a court decision.
“And, as for the North End mess, Blogfinger has suggested that the North End proposal ‘has more loose ends than a Calcutta brothel.’
“So, what developer in their right mind would go forward with the problems Kevin and others describe in Township records, such as the OGNED mayhem at the North End or the parking issues at the Aurora “historic” condominiums?
“Regarding that North End Redevelopment Plan, last year Mayor Carol Rizzo got ahead of the approval process, signing a contract (Redevelopers Agreement) permitting the Redeveloper (OGNED) to build 160 residential units plus a Boardwalk commercial area with no financial guarantees that the work will ever be completed. This was done even though the State had not completed its approval process. That’s a ‘no,no’
“We have a Planning Board Attorney, a Township Attorney, a special Redevelopment Attorney, a Planner, and an Engineer; but who advised the Mayor to do this?
“The premature ‘Township final approval,’ coming before the State’s final approval (currently being evaluated in Trenton by the DEP,) was a big mistake! This error could lead to some court battles.
“The DEP decision on the OGNED application, currently stuck in the mud, has been declared “..still deficient” by Trenton as of August 25, 2020. We are following that.
“After a DEP decision, any aggrieved party (developer or resident) can file a law suit.
“If the court finds in favor of development, anyone can file a law suit.
“And if the court finds that the project cannot be developed, the developer, with a signed contract in his back pocket, can sue the Township for his anticipated profits, and taxpayers will pay in either case.”
JOHNNY MAESTRO AND THE CRESTS: “Trouble in Paradise.”