A Pre-Election Note from OHNO60

A Pre-Election Note from OHNO60

Friends, after six months of continuous information sharing and lobbying our group is still surprised to find itself at the tail-end of a primary election campaign.An effort to inform and educate has morphed into a determination to get the best possible result, and along the way we’ve found a willing and able candidate to represent us on this issue and so many others impacting Maplewood. We suggest that you cast your vote for Township Committee for Greg Lembrich, Box 5B on the ballot.[1]

Through Facebook posts, tweets, emails, Open Records requests, Township meeting attendance, multiple balloon exhibits, discussions with architects, engineers, lawyers,investors and planners, and eight Saturdays in the Village, we have come to know hundreds of you and have learned a myriad of details about this process, the JMF proposal, and the existing Post Office building. Tonight we want to share some summary points that we feel may inform your vote:

• Scale:Even without the insights of Mr. Meier and Mr. Eisenman, to us, and virtually all of you, it is clear that the structure is out of proportion, and detracts from one of the Village's most alluring attributes: its human scale.Our balloon massing diagrams done two weeks ago demonstrate this, and show the JMF renderings to be greatly distorted.
• Parking:Through study of site plans and the sales contract we know that the availability of public parking will be at least 22 spaces fewer than required;we also know that 20 tenant spaces will be off-limits to the public, consuming precious Village real estate, and that the current site presently increases parking by 27 spaces because postal vehicles are no longer present.
• Retail Uses and Economics: No studies have been presented to show what specific retail operations are most complimentary to the Village, and JMF Properties has said it is too soon to know who his retail tenants will be.Our concern:this proposal will send rents and lease payments to the landlord, located outside of Maplewood; the tenants themselves will mostly commute to NYC and contribute a pittance to our local economy; and the retail stores which will likely to be larger multi-location businesses, will also send profits to headquarters outside Maplewood.The net contribution to our local economy might well be negative.
• Financials and PILOT:The Township proposes to sell the site for a profit of $700,000, 42% of its estimated value as a Post Office. Many smaller buildings in Maplewood are appraised 3 to 4 times higher, because of their revenue-generating business tenants.The revenue expected from the new building is less than 25% the rent obtainable were the existing building improved and leased again. Indeed, the US Postal Service paid nearly double in rent than what JMF will pay in taxes.
• Risk to KINGS:In the days before JMF made his first formal presentation of his proposal two weeks ago, it was discovered that the plan precludes use of the KINGS driveway for deliveries.It also reduces the Ricalton parking area, preventing delivery trucks from using that space as they do daily.
• Service to Maplewood Residents:The JMF proposal offers no services that address existing needs of the community.It has amenities for tenants, and five retail stores.This is a very unfortunate outcome for land and structure that is currently in the public trust.It's behavior expected of a municipality in crisis, not one in which housing prices are rising.

Our leadership tells us that this plan has been in the works for years, envisioned well in advance of the US Postal service lease expiration. Indeed, two of our committee members have held seats for nearly 20 years—it would be only human for one's expectations to be self-conditioned after contemplating the same outcome for so long. Yet at this late stage we see a myriad of issues, and must wonder what malfunction in our governing processes might be the cause. The image below is one possibility--a bit too much influence by a small group of appointed committee members--some filling four or more roles in an approval process. The other possibility is lack of expert input analysis: Township records show that no studies were done as to feasibility for re-purposing, environmental impact of not doing so, economic studies, or parking studies in contemplation of the redevelopment plan. Maplewood, a community of professionals, and a population of nearly 25,000. We think we could have done better.

We've concluded that our leadership must be refreshed, and that this project must be re-started. We did not put up the first balloon expecting to reach this juncture--yet we are now certain we've arrived for good reason.

Tomorrow, please vote box 5B, Greg Lembrich for Township Committee.

We wish to thank you all for listening, watching, commenting and engaging on this topic all of these months. Tomorrow we vote, and Wednesday we rest! The task is not done, but we are thrilled that it has grown in to a key element of the election season. That tells us all that these are issues of real import.

With our gratitude,

Dave, Inda, John, Helen, Indira, and Lara

.....and the intrepid red balloon brigade.

[1] The three candidates and their views can be easily accessed via yesterday’s article in the Village Green(http://villagegreennj.com/towns/government/poll-will-win-maplewood-democratic-primary-township-committee)

Please. I hope the election marks the end of efforts to spare this tired ugly post office and begin to get back on track with improving our downtown.

Given ON60's effort to turn this primary into a de facto referendum on the PO project, I'm curious where that leaves their group should their candidate lose. Will they acknowledge that most locals do not, in fact, agree with their position? Somehow I doubt it, but we'll see what happens.

If you value better infographics, vote for Jerry.

Since this election is about a lot more than one candidate's position on the post office site as represented in campaign literature sent out on that candidate's behalf with or without that candidate's endorsement, and since despite all the conversation this election has generated here and elsewhere we can still expect that most eligible-to-vote locals will not be going to the polls today, I don't see how anyone could conclude that the results of today's election can serve as a vote of confidence for or against anyone's position on the post office site.

Woot.........do you realize how many times you have used the word ugly in reference to the Post Office

Are you blind to the fact that if it is refurbished it will have a different appearance

To all ............during the American Revolution only 40-45 per cent favored pursuing the path to Independence.

Good thing they did not follow the polls.

So why save it if the appearance will be different?

It is ugly...it shouldn't be repurposed, it should be recycled. I am no fan of the current drawings, but why wasn't the building of the post office protested originally as not being in sync with the look and feel of the village back then when it must have really looked blatantly out of place? But I will edit to add that its not as ugly as some of the vitriol I've heard in this campaign aimed at the incumbent. Ugly talk isn't passion. It actually loses votes.

Dave.............this is a football.

No one wants to save it as a museum or artifact. The point is to retro fit or refurbish it for practical use.

As has been pointed out..........it is the strongest building in terms of structural soundness as well as being

the youngest building in the village The steel and concrete are as they were when the building went up in the 1950s.

Potential uses are limited only by the imagination...........one or more restaurants. Also the indoor outdoor variety.

Apparently the building is so strong a second floor could be added without complications

I have posted former Post Offices that are now Restaurant/Bowling Alleys.

The building is so much more sound than the Women's Club which even the Township has said will require over a million dollars in repairs to bring it up to code.

I believe it was the Queen Mary , a great old cruise ship that still sits in the water and is now used as a hotel long after her ocean going days are over.....with a little elbow grease and imagination the human spirit can produce so very much

dave said:
If you value better infographics, vote for Jerry.

*emoticon

But Greg makes better coffee.

Where does this "youngest building in the village" horse poo come from?

author said:
But Greg makes better coffee.

Not right now he doesn't. Right now Greg gets wet outside the train station

Ridski........if you are referring to the age of the Post Office........it was built and in service in the 1950's.

For example the Village Coffee building went up in the 1920's

I think it is fairly typical of the Village Buildings

Although to be exact the Gen Wealth building on Inwood went up with in the last 10 years

It is not a building used much by the shopping public.

It is kind of sad to see how some opportunists have turned the P.O. affair into an wedge issue to increase their political power in town. It isn't as if the outcome will be any different if Mr. Lembrich wins today.

Gang---I guess I just don't give up....Someone, anyone--candidate or not--please present a reasoned analysis. Someone, please respond to any of the specific points. Someone send an email and ask to review the public record with one of us. This is a conversation about planning, dollars, responsiveness to community needs, environmental responsibility, and YES--electoral politics. That part is Democracy 101. My only request and motivation since the beginning is that the public be kept informed, and that we debate on factual material. Look up op-eds written in 2013--that's what they say. What you read from OHNO60 is analysis based on what we've read, always based on the public record, and almost always obtained through Open Records act requests--the stuff no one would otherwise have been shown. And always summarized for easier reading. Read it too--then give your opinion. And if you aren't certain it's accurate, ask for the source documents, or the reasoning. I promise, this theme will continue once this project is done--just as it started before the project began. I hope whoever wins the primary values it--we will live in an even greater place if they do.

And when the Persian War Chief demanded surrender of Leonidas and his 300 Spartans, at Thermopylae

he told him,"I have thousands of archers. Our arrows will blot out the sun"

Leonidas replied "Then we will fight in the dark"

Make that two who won't give up.

so the election is a referendum on the Post Office if Lembrich wins. But if he loses, it's not.

heads I win, tails you lose!

I'm voting for Ryan and Adams.

1. Dave, that's an excellent chart at the bottom. I love it, but I think it could be even better and even more accurate.

A few notes:

1. Seeing multiple people who are not TC members on multiple committees, to me, means there are very few people willing to volunteer their time for the various causes, which is unfortunate in this seemingly activist town. There are numerous able and competent people, who have shown their voices lately, some of whom would just rather complain about other volunteers than volunteer themselves. It might be easier To have more positive change in the township if the same energy was put to good use within the political system.

2. Your chart should be adjusted to note which various committee members are required to be TC Members. It's spelled out on the township website and in the township ordinances, I believe they are noted as Class 1 and Class 2 (I don't have the ordinance on my to verify correct terms).

3. It would be nice to see annotatedwhich members have been voted in and which have been appointed to their positions and who appointed them

Then, in the spirit of transparency it should be made into a nice clear info graphic and posted for all to see.

I love it.

davehelmkamp said:
A Pre-Election Note...

Delete...............

I give the "keep the post office" crowd credit for solidifying my vote for Ryan/Adams.After awhile,I found the non stop posting/thread hijacking, to be annoying at the very least.Have we heard the last from them? Doubtful.

The committees in question are advisory committees of the Township Committee. Each is headed by a township committee member and additional township committee members may serve on each committee as well. These appointments are usually announced publicly at or before the annual reorganization meeting.

Davemelenkamp , you asked people to respond to specific points so I will respond to this:

Our concern:this proposal will send rents and lease payments to the landlord, located outside of Maplewood; the tenants themselves will mostly commute to NYC and contribute a pittance to our local economy; and the retail stores which will likely to be larger multi-location businesses, will also send profits to headquarters outside Maplewood.The net contribution to our local economy might well be negative

This is so typical of the misinformation, and blanket assumptions made by the anti development crowd. Support the development or not, but do so it's merits or on legitimate faults don't be swayed by made up garbage.

You say : This proposal will send lease payments to the landlord, located outside of Maplewood.

So what ? Why is this relevant ? A quick look at the tax records shows that almost all of the properties in downtown Maplewood are owned by out of town landlords as has been the case for decades. The following are owners of downtown Maplewood properties - and none of these landlords are located in Maplewood: Valley National Bank, Jean Burgdorff, Saul Fish, Lost Picture Theater Inc, Kings Supermarkets, First States Investors, Shirley Levy, Sovan Associates, Gloral Property, Anthony Lofredo, Theodore King, One eighty one apartment Corp and East Coast Maplewood LLCC.

You say: The tenants themselves will mostly commute to NYC and contribute a pittance to our local economy.

This is offensive. Thousands of Maplewoodians commute to NYC and whether they are renters or homeowners, they contribute more than a pittance to our local economy. Some of the most philanthropic and involved people in Maplewood have been commuters for many years.

You say: and the retail stores which will likely to be larger multi-location businesses, will also send profits to headquarters outside Maplewood.

Again, made up baloney. How do you know this. What is this based on. And , if like Kings the business is one that serves a need why is that a problem.

Understood, which is why it should be noted that the members aren't just serving in various committees to monopolize in any issue, but because it is required by ordinance and because it's a topic important to them, most likely.

ETA:

A Planning Board is hereby established consisting of nine members and two alternates who shall serve for a term pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-23. The members of the Planning Board holding office on the date of the adoption of this chapter shall continue therein until present terms expire. The Class I member shall be the Mayor. The Class II member shall be an official of the Township other than a member of the Township Committee, and appointed by the Mayor. The Class III member shall be a member of the Township Committee and appointed by it. The Class IV members shall be appointed by the Mayor. The terms of all Class IV members first appointed under this section shall be determined so that so the greatest practical extent the expiration of such terms shall be distributed evenly over the first four years after the appointment. The term of each Class IV member shall not exceed four years.

joan_crystal said:
The committees in question are advisory committees of the Township Committee. Each is headed by a township committee member and additional township committee members may serve on each committee as well. These appointments are usually announced publicly at or before the annual reorganization meeting.

Most of the points in the OP are opinion and conjecture, not facts. Which is fine and good. Davehelmkamp's opinions are as valid as anyone else's. Also, no more valid than anyone else's. I respect his opinion that the proposed building is not to scale with the rest of the village. And I share his concern that the retail establishments are not chains, and bring goods/services that most of the township's citizens will benefit from.

but where we differ is that I believe that people are going to continue to raise their hands and voice, and the process will result in a good outcome. I don't believe we'll have chain stores in the village. I think five retail spaces will bring us more diversity of businesses. (But I have to admit if it's 3 nail salons and 2 pizzerias, I'll be really annoyed.) I am confident the Kings delivery issues will be solved.

Differences of opinion are good. And generally the ohno people have made a positive contribution to the site plan. At some point I hope they'll declare a well-deserved victory and let the rest of the process play out.

Just got back from voting (Ryan & Adams) ... There is no referendum on the ballot about this ugly POS building ... Glad that today's election will put an end to most of this nonsense.

author said:
Ridski........if you are referring to the age of the Post Office........it was built and in service in the 1950's.
For example the Village Coffee building went up in the 1920's
I think it is fairly typical of the Village Buildings


Although to be exact the Gen Wealth building on Inwood went up with in the last 10 years
It is not a building used much by the shopping public.

Nope. 14 Highland Place, which was built in 1983, which I imagine as an apartment building is lived in by members of the shopping public.

Woot said:
Please. I hope the election marks the end of efforts to spare this tired ugly post office and begin to get back on track with improving our downtown.

+1

The above posts are why you twelve are the only ones continually posting while everyone has quit. Like a bunch of teenaged girls....